asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that only 40 per cent approximately of national schools had medical examinations in respect of eligible children during the past three years; and what action he intends taking to ensure that early examinations are held in all national schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Medical Examinations.
1.
It has never been the practice to examine all children in all national schools annually and I do not intend to suggest that this should now be done.
The former arrangements envisaged that each child would receive three school health examinations during his school career and about 40 per cent of children at national schools were seen each year. The older system is now being progressively replaced by one in which all children will be given an initial comprehensive medical examination at age six to seven and a selected number of children, who are deemed to require it, will be given another examination at about nine years. A child may also be examined at any time at the request of a parent or teacher and, in addition, hearing and vision testing will be done annually in all schools by public health nurses.
This is in accordance with the recommendations of the Study Group on Child Health Services.
Would the Minister tell us when the initial examination from six to seven years will be given? Will it be given automatically in the schools or will it be on request?
It will be given automatically in the schools.
Does the Minister not think it would be a good idea, when the doctors are in the schools, to have them examine all the children and have an early diagnosis? We are not having that at present under the present scheme.
Under the new child health scheme of examination all children between six months and the time they go to school will be medically examined and, therefore, many defects will be discovered before ever children reach school. We consider that it is better to have this comprehensive medical examination of all national schoolchildren and then go on to a more selective examination. This is the advice given to me by the study group which had on it all the experts in this field.
Surely the Minister is aware that under the present scheme, if a child is examined in school and suffers from any complaint, the State pays whereas, if the parents have to bring the child to a doctor, the parents very often, they are not in a position to do that.
Is the Minister not aware that there is a possibility in some schools of children completing their primary schooling without ever having a medical examination? In some schools medical examinations are not held over a period of seven years, the normal period during which a child attends the primary school. Did I understand the Minister to say that a medical examination can now be requested by a parent?
Yes.
This is very important. Would the Minister take a minute to explain the procedure because I am sure the health board are not aware of it? It would be no harm to make them aware through this House that this is something a parent can get of right and not because of a gracious act by a health board officer.
The whole scheme is being carried out over a period of four or five years. It is spreading gradually. There is no use my answering the Deputy until I know the exact position in the area to which he refers. In actual fact there has been an increase in the number of children examined in the school health services between 1969 and 1970 so that the ordinary school health service is not diminishing and will not be diminished until we have the other system established. I will communicate with the Deputy as to what the arrangements are in west Cork at the moment.
I am calling Question No. 2.
May I ask the Mini-ster——
We have taken over five minutes now on one question.
I will be very brief. This is very important. Will the Minister state what schools are debarred from this scheme, or are any schools debarred, and does the State pay?
The State pays for this. It is the primary schools which are involved.
Question No. 2.
The Minister said the primary schools are involved. What does that mean?
The national schools.
Certain schools are left out of the scheme.
It does not apply to all schools.
Which schools are excluded?
The Deputy will have to put down a question about that. The position is changing every few months as the scheme develops. It is quite impossible for me to answer the Deputy's question.
When it is not in operation it is a little early to be changing it, is it not?