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Schools Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Ceisteanna (1012)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1012. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the supports and information made available to schools to deal with suspected and confirmed cases of domestic abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40480/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department of Education’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 are intended to give clear direction and guidance to school authorities and to school personnel in relation to meeting the statutory obligations under the Children First Act, 2015 and in the continued implementation within the school setting of the best practice guidance set out in the updated Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017.

The Department of Education’s Inspectorate monitors compliance with aspects of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 during all inspections.

The procedures apply to all recognised primary and post-primary schools and to all members of school personnel.

These procedures set out the responsibility on all school staff, including registered teachers as mandated persons within the meaning of the Children First Act 2015, to report allegations of or suspicions that a child has been, is being or is at risk of being neglected or abused.

The Child and Family Agency, Tusla have responsibility for all child protection concerns and the Children First National Guidance 2017 requires that Tusla should always be informed where a person has reasonable grounds for concern that a child may have been, is being, or is at risk of being abused or neglected.

In addition my Department has a representative on the Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence monitoring committee and the Thomas O’Malley implementation group.

Similarly my Department leads on a number of Actions for the Second National Strategy on Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SNDSGBV).

There are also number of programmes available to schools that address crimes related to sexual violence.

At primary level, the Stay Safe Programme is a mandatory part of the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme. The Stay Safe programme is a personal safety skills programme for use with primary school children from Junior Infants through to 6th class. The programme seeks to enhance children’s skills by participation in lessons on safe and unsafe situations, bullying, inappropriate touch, secrets, telling and stranger danger. The programme aims to give children the skills necessary to enable them to recognise and resist abuse/victimisation and teaches them that they should always tell (an adult that can help) about any situation which they find unsafe, upsetting, threatening, dangerous or abusive.

At post primary level, two programmes are in place which come under the heading of Personal Safety. One of these programmes is for junior cycle which addresses personal safety in relationships and explores topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent and domestic gender-based and sexual violence. The other programme, which is for senior cycle, addresses topics such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, dating violence and rape. Both of these programmes were designed by the Professional Development Support Service (PDST) and are intended to be taught as part of the wider Social Personal and Health Education /Relationships and Sexuality Education curriculum. Professional development support is available to teachers, directly linked to these resources.

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