Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1993

Vol. 426 No. 1

Written Answers. - Child Abuse Prevention Programme.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

185 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he has reviewed any submissions or feedback from the Child Abuse Prevention Programme which was piloted in the Eastern Health Board area; if there have been any amendments to the programme since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The Child Abuse Prevention Programme referred to by the Deputy was introduced into primary schools in the Eastern Health Board area during the 1991-92 school year.

In May 1992 the organisers of the programme carried out a survey of a number of schools selected at random in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare to gauge the level of satisfaction of school principals with the programme and its impact on teachers, children and parents. This survey indicates a very high level of satisfaction with the programme and an extremely positive reaction to it from teachers, children and parents.

As part of the ongoing process of developing and refining the programme, a number of modifications were made to the materials used in it in the light of suggestions made by the respondents to the survey.

The programme is currently being implemented in primary schools around the country with the active support of my Department, the Department of Education and the health boards.