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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 5

Written Answers. - Child Abuse.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

116 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department accepts responsibility for physical and verbal abuse of students by teachers in day schools, including physical punishment, during the 1940s and 1950s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25924/03]

If the Deputy is seeking a legal view on the liability of the Department and the State for physical and verbal abuse of children in day schools then I do not consider that it would not be appropriate for me to provide that. More generally I point out to the Deputy that the system of education in day schools has long been very decentralised. While successive Ministers for Education determined such matters as curriculum, teacher qualifications and education quality, they did not become involved in the day-to-day operation of schools. In particular, Department personnel did not become involved in matters relating to discipline in schools, nor could it ever have been practical for them to do so. The rules for national schools provided for the use of corporal punishment but only to a limited extent and never in a situation which could amount to abuse. Corporal punishment was abolished in 1982. The implementation of the rules was a matter for the principal and the management authorities of the school.

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