Vol. 452 No. 3
124 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education, in relation to her Department's guidelines on procedures for dealing with allegations or suspicions of child abuse dated November 1991, her views on whether it is preferable that the principal and chairperson of the board of management go to the Director of Community Care instead of a teacher and the chairperson of board of management. [5912/95]
The guidelines published by my Department were completed after extensive consultation with the education partners. Confidentiality, discretion and sensitivity are the three fundamental principles which underpin the guidelines. The entire thrust of the guidelines is to limit the communication of information to those who have an obligation to receive it.
I am not aware of any difficulty with this aspect of the procedures. I would urge all parties to adhere to the guidelines as published.
