Vol. 417 No. 9
82 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the extent to which his Department are encouraging the use of the Stay Safe Programme in schools; if his attention has been drawn to the reluctance on the part of some teachers to use the programme because of fear that they could become involved in litigation as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
210 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education if he will extend the availability of the Stay Safe Programme to all schools in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 210 together.
The Stay Safe Programme is being introduced to all teachers in counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, which is the Eastern Health Board area, during this school year. In order to assist the introduction three teachers were seconded to the health board. The cost of the teachers and their expenses is provided by the Department of Education.
A circular was issued to school authorities at the beginning of the school year encouraging them to co-operate with the programme teams and indicating the Minister's support for the programme.
I have not been aware of a reluctance on the part of teachers to use the programme. On the contrary the latest progress report available to the Department indicates that teachers' response has been positive and up to the end of February some 5,835 teachers have participated in the programme's training day.
The programme is designed as a preventative programme and is not being introduced into individual schools without the consent of management and parents.
The question of the extension of the programme to other areas is under consideration.
