Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has seen a copy of correspondence (details supplied); her views on whether this is a flaw in the board's remit in view of the fact that the Catholic Church, through its role as patron of many schools, acts [i]in loco parentis[/i] for many children on a daily basis; her further views on whether the hierarchy of the Catholic Church should be obliged to report all allegations of abuse within Catholic schools to her, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Education and Science and the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church; the measures she will take to rectify the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30263/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have seen a copy of the correspondence to which the Deputy has referred.

Guidance on the reporting to the HSE of an allegation of abuse in a school or elsewhere is set out under the Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children. In 2001 and 2004 the Department of Education and Science issued Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures to all primary and post-primary schools, based on Children First. These guidelines outline the reporting procedures to be followed by schools when an allegation of abuse comes to light, including the reporting of same to the HSE and other agencies, such as An Garda Síochána. The guidelines for schools require each Board of Management to designate a senior member of staff 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 for any staff member who has concerns in this regard. I have no direct function in relation to the work of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church.