Vol. 419 No. 6
61 Mr. Browne (Carlow/Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Health the reason the special programme to train teachers to assist in the introduction of child abuse prevention programmes to primary schools has been confined to counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and not extended to other counties.
82 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Health the reason the special programme to train teachers to assist in the introduction of child abuse prevention programmes to primary schools has been confined to Counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and not extended to other counties.
87 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the reason the special programme to train teachers to assist in the introduction of child abuse prevention programmes to primary schools has been confined to Counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and not extended to other counties.
89 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health the reason the special programme to train teachers to assist in the introduction of child abuse prevention programmes to primary schools has been confined to counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and not extended to other counties.
94 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Health the reason the special programme to train teachers to assist in the introduction of child abuse prevention programmes to primary schools has been confined to Counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and not extended to other counties.
106 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health the reason the special programme to train teachers to assist in the introduction of child abuse prevention programmes to primary schools has been confined to counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and not extended to other counties.
114 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health the reason the special programme to train teachers to assist in the introduction of child abuse prevention programmes to primary schools has been confined to counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and not extended to other counties.
148 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the reason the special programme to train teachers to assist in the introduction of child abuse prevention programmes to primary schools has been confined to Counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and not extended to other counties.
I propose to take Question Nos. 61, 82, 87, 89, 94, 106, 114 and 148 together.
I presume the Deputies are referring to the child abuse prevention programme known as the "Stay Safe" programme which was designed for use in primary schools.
This programme was initially introduced into 12 schools in the Dublin area on a pilot basis. It is currently being implemented in all the primary schools in the Eastern Health Board area.
The question of extending the programme to schools in the other health board areas is under active consideration at present. Any extension of the programme would require the assignment of a number of social workers by the relevant health boards and the release of a number of teachers by the Department of Education. The extent to which this can be achieved is being urgently examined by my Department and by the Department of Education.
