Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
304. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education if a primary school principal must be the health and safety representative on the Board of Management; if she can make a statement on responsibilities of principals in terms of duty of care to staff as per the Education Act 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30938/23]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school on behalf of the Patron. The principal is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school as set out in sections 22 and 23 of the Education Act. 1998.
The body which has statutory responsibility for ensuring that health and safety requirements are met by all employers, including schools, is the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). The Authority also provides information and advice to organisations, including schools, to assist them in ensuring that their responsibilities in respect of health and safety in the workplace are met. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 sets out the responsibilities on individual school Boards of management to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The Statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils. The HSA has published resources specifically for schools to support them in managing health and safety in the school environment including the selection and appointment of a safety representative. It also provides a number of online training courses specifically for the school sector. Further details on the advice, resources and training courses available from the HSA can be obtained from the HSA's website, www.hsa.ie.
