Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 572: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the research carried out by an organisation (details supplied) linking back pain in children and adults with poorly designed school furniture and with backward sloping school chairs in particular; if she will provide for all children in public funded schools to be afforded the option of using chairs that do not damage their backs and hips in view of the research; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35418/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The situation generally is that where the provision of school furniture is being grant-aided by my Department, the specifications are based on Irish, European, International or British Standards, as appropriate. Irish Standards are set by the NSAI (The National Standards Authority of Ireland).

The health and safety of pupils is in the first instance a matter for each Board of Management and this includes ensuring that school furniture complies with the appropriate standards.