Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 353: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which school medical examinations have been carried out in all schools throughout the country over the past five years; if some schools have received less than the average number of examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13659/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The HSE has advised that data on the frequency and coverage of school medical examinations is not included in the core set of performance indicator data and will require a manual search by local Community Medical Services. The schedule and content of the examinations forms are outlined in the Best Health for Children programme.

Routine Medical examinations for school age children are not provided as they have not been found to be an effective use of scarce resources. The hearing and vision of children is tested, usually in junior or senior infants. The service is public health nurse led. In many schools a questionnaire is given to families about a child's health, but practice and the content of the questionnaire vary from area to area.

New structures for overseeing the screening of children are in the process of being established within the HSE and will include a Head of Childhood Screening and Surveillance. This will result in a more standardised approach to these services across the country and facilitate the implementation of a more evidence based approach that builds on the work already undertaken under the Best Health for Children programme.