John Stafford
Ceist:164 Mr. Stafford asked the Minister for Education if he will set up an investigation immediately into the training which should be available for teachers to help them identify abused children.
Written Answers. - Teacher Training.
A circular was issued to all primary schools in January entitled "Procedures for Dealing with Allegations or Suspicions of Child Abuse". This circular is intended to assist the school management authorities and teachers handling disclosures from children, by detailing the steps to be taken when dealing with such matters. Two Department of Health booklets accompanied this circular entitled "Child Abuse Guidelines" and "Child Abuse Checklist".
My Department are involved with the Eastern Health Board in the child abuse prevention programme. The programme involves a series of one day seminars for primary teachers in the Eastern Health Board area. Sanction has been given to the secondment of three teachers to work with three social workers in the Eastern Health Board region to implement the programme.
The need for additional in-sevice training for teachers in this area is under consideration in my Department in conjunction with the Department of Health.