As Minister for Education and Science I am always concerned for the general welfare of children and any negative experience that interferes with a child's potential for learning is of particular concern to me.
The Department issued new child protection guidelines to primary schools in
2001 and to post-primary schools in 2004. These guidelines, which are based on
the Department of Health and Children national guidelines Children First, set
out the steps to be followed by a school in dealing with allegations or
suspicions of child abuse. The Guidelines state that the protection and
wellbeing of the child is the most important consideration in dealing with such
cases.
The Children First guidelines for schools require each board of management to
designate a senior member of staff, normally the principal, as the Designated
Liaison Person (DLP) for the school. The DLP acts as a liaison person with the
health authorities and other agencies on child protection issues and as a
resource person to any staff member who has concerns in this regard. Where
there are reasonable grounds for an allegation or suspicion of child abuse, the
school DLP should report the matter without delay to the Health Services
Executive (HSE) which has statutory responsibility for child protection.
The Department has provided an extensive in-service training programme for
school principals and teachers to assist them in dealing with child protection
issues and in implementing the Department guidelines.
The teaching of a personal safety programme to ensure child protection is now
an integral element of Social, Personal and Health Education. SPHE was
introduced to the primary curriculum in September 2003 and is also part of the
junior cycle curriculum at post-primary level.
In addition, a guidance and counselling service is available in all post
primary schools.
The National Education Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides
an educational psychological service to primary and post primary schools. NEPS
also supports all schools in the context of traumatic incidents that affect the
school community, arising from violence that might occur in the home or in the community.