Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 761: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the guidelines in place for teachers when dealing with children who might need medication to be delivered or administered during school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9461/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998 and the regulations of the Department of Education and Science, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.

It is important that the management authorities of primary and post-primary schools request parents to ensure that the school is made aware of any medical condition suffered by any pupil attending. Where the school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a consequence of a medical condition suffered by one or more pupils, it may be possible for the management authorities, working in conjunction with the parents, teachers and children to put preventative measures in place to lessen the possibility of any difficulties arising or to ensure that, if a pupil suffers from an illness requiring medication, that appropriate treatment is available. As the Deputy may be aware, the administration of medicines in the school is the subject of an agreement between the Irish National Teachers Organisation and the organisations representing school management at primary level. While this agreement specifies that no teacher can be required to administer medicine or drugs to pupils, it also sets out procedures that must be followed where a teacher or teachers agree to do so.

It is my Department's experience that once the matter has been discussed in detail with the Board of Management and teachers of a school, and once all parties are clear as to the procedures to be followed, arrangements can normally be made to administer the type of medicine which may be required.