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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 4

Written Answers. - School Medical Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

157 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that the best possible facilities are made available in respect of school medical examinations and inspections; if the full complement of staff is available for such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6232/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

159 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which children diagnosed as being in need of attention in the course of school medical examinations receive the required treatment; if it is expected that treatment is offered in all cases within a reasonable waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6234/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 159 together.

The provision of school medical services as an integral component of child health services is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. As a result of the identification of the need for a review of child health services in the health strategy, Shaping a Healthier Future, the chief executive officers of the health boards initiated a review of the services in question. This review resulted in the recent publication of the report, Best Health for Children.

In so far as the school medical service is concerned, the report makes a number of recommendations. The report recommends a core programme for child health surveillance for all primary schools in close co-operation with parents and teachers and with selective medical examinations of children with problems. In addition, it emphasises the need for adequate training of key professionals, provision and maintenance of appropriate accommodation and equipment and provision of appropriate referral and timely and effective treatment services as essential components of the school health service.

Health boards are in the process of reviewing the child health services with a view to bringing them into line with the recommendations in the report. A sum of £800,000 was allocated to the health boards this year to assist the boards in implementing the recommendations. In addition, the chief executive officers of the health boards have established a national conjoint child health committee and appointed national child health co-ordinators for the purpose of overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of Best Health for Children in the health boards.
The co-ordinators have indicated that the North Western Health Board began the planning phase of its pilot of the new school health service programme in its region late last year and that the pilot programme will commence over the coming months. This project will seek to develop a new partnership approach to working between the health services and schools and will also stress the importance of health promotion. Phase one will focus on primary schools in County Leitrim and Phase two will examine the development of a school health service in post-primary schools. The national conjoint child health committee will keep the Department informed of progress in relation to this pilot programme.
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