Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is an established and agreed process to amend all circulars. Once discussions have concluded with the education partners and the Department of public expenditure, we will amend the necessary circulars to reflect the required changes.

The Department of Education developed new guidelines and published them on 12 December 2024. They are entitled "Understanding Behaviours of Concern and Responding to Crisis Situations Guidelines for Schools in Supporting Students".The Department established a working group to develop these guidelines for schools on the prevention and management of behaviours of concern where such behaviours pose imminent danger of serious physical harm to self or others in the school environment. The guidelines have been the subject of extensive consultation with education stakeholders and advocacy groups. They support schools to develop a whole-school, positive approach to behaviours, with particular emphasis on prevention, early intervention and de-escalation. The guidelines have been developed to take account of national and international legislative requirements, school governance structures and duty-of-care considerations directly related to supporting the well-being and safety of students and staff. The guidelines place a strong focus on prevention and on early intervention and de-escalation strategies for the management of crisis situations. Physical intervention may be employed only as the last part of a comprehensive, positive, planned behavioural approach by the school. It is intended the guidelines will be a live document and, as such, will be subject to review and updated from time to time.