Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
378. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to make it compulsory that first aid be a basic requirement in all national schools and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36811/18]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to First Aid Training for Teachers and Staff.
Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school including the provision of training.
The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the students in their school and care and safety should be at the centre of all policy and practices.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) advise that, by law, employers and those who control workplaces to any extent, must identify hazards in the workplaces under their control and assess the risk presented by the hazards.
Employers must write down the risks and what to do about them. This is known as Risk Assessment. The aim of Risk Assessment is to reduce the risk of injury and illness associated with work. The Risk Assessment(s) will form part of the employer's Safety Statement.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 set out the First-Aid requirements for workplaces as follows: "Employers have a duty to provide first-aid equipment at all places at work where working conditions require it. Depending on the size or specific hazard (or both) of the place of work, trained occupational first-aiders must also be provided. Apart from some exceptions, first-aid rooms must be provided where appropriate. Information must also be provided to employees as regards the first-aid facilities and arrangements in place."
The HSA in collaboration with the Department published a number of resources specifically for schools to support them in managing health and safety in the school environment.
