Vol. 445 No. 8
4 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Education her views on whether flat top desks are unsuitable in schools in view of the medical backup of the Association of Physiotherapists in Ireland, the report by a person (details supplied) and the Department of Health advice in its booklet Back Care. [1186/94]
As previously indicated to the Deputy — I believe this is the seventh time — the medical advice available to my Department is that there is no scientific indication that the health of children is impaired by writing on a flat desk.
All school furniture for primary and post-primary schools grant-aided by my Department is designed in accordance with the relevant official Irish, British and international standards. My Department constantly monitors these standards and will update its specifications for school furniture in accordance with new and revised standards including those that might be set at European level.
On the occasion of the Deputy's previous question on this matter, I outlined the medical advice available to my Department. However, I asked the Deputy to direct my Department to research that highlights the different effects of sitting at a sloping or a flat desk. I also said I would ensure that my officials would respond in a positive way to new information.
I thank the Deputy for bringing my attention to further medical opinion in this area and I can assure him that the sources quoted by him will be fully considered by my Department.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): Brevity is important today but so also is common sense. I am appalled, for the seventh time, at the Minister's reply. I supplied her with a report of a study carried out by a surgeon who said that people like the Minister and those in charge of school furniture have forgotten about the problems in schools. How can the Minister give me the same reply for the seventh time, namely, that there is no medical evidence for this when I supplied her with a surgeon's report and with medical evidence from the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health and Ergonomics, in addition to evidence from the president of the Association of Physiotherapists in Ireland. Is the Minister seriously concerned about the damage that may be done to children's backs or has the Department any interest in this matter? According to the Department's publications, 80 per cent of people suffer from backache and, although medical proof of that has been supplied to the Minister, she continues to tell me there is no evidence to that effect in the Department. What is the Minister up to?
I am aware Deputy Browne has a strong interest in this matter and that he has gone to much trouble in this regard. I invited him to support his proposition that flat desks can cause back problems. From the medical advice available to us that proposition was not borne out. There is a Department of Health booklet on back care that makes a strong case for teaching children to sit up straight and for the use of proper chairs. The Deputy brought to our attention evidence from the Association of Physiotherapists in Ireland and he also quoted Dr. Mandel, the chief surgeon at the Vincent Institute in Copenhagen. I assure the Deputy that both these authorities are being contacted by my Department and I will keep in touch with the Deputy on the matter. We have, therefore, responded to the question put to us. I must say to the Deputy that there is a slight difference between this answer and other answers given previously, namely we are now pursuing the two sources cited by the Deputy.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): The Minister began her reply by stating that her Department does not have any medical evidence to support this proposition. That is the same stupid answer I received in December 1990 when I first asked this question. The Minister's Department has not moved one iota in this regard and if she does not take action it is quite obvious that no moves will be made, despite the available evidence. The Minister referred to the Department of Health booklet on backache——
The matter is leading to argument rather than direct questioning.
(Carlow-Kilkenny):——which advised people not to lean over flat desks. The advice from the Department of Health is to avoid this type of desk, yet the Minister's Department does not know anything about it.
I promised to follow up this matter and I have quoted the two sources which were supplied by Deputy Browne. I have no doubt, however, that if the Deputy feels I will not follow up on the two sources he has provided, I may be back in the House for an eighth time.
And for a ninth time.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): It is the Minister's Department.
The two souces provided by the Deputy were mentioned in the reply. I realise the Deputy is concerned about the matter and I look forward to the outcome of the contacts with those two sources.
The Minister will put her back out carrying all the replies.
While the time available to us for dealing with priority questions is clearly exhausted, I can take Question No. 5 in ordinary time by reason of a recent decision of the House.
