Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a report in 2005 by the National Back Pain Association UK that considered that the backward sloping chairs that are used in nearly all schools are the main cause of back pain; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the National Standards Authority of Ireland is proposing that this backward slope be increased from -5 degrees to -10 degrees. [41348/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Where the provision of furniture at schools is being grant-aided in whole or in part by my Department, schools must comply with my Department's specifications. These specifications require that school chairs conform to the Irish (and European) Standard which is I.S. EN 1729 Furniture, Tables and Chairs for Educational Institutions. This is a recent standard dating from 2006. Any proposed change to this standard is a matter for the National Standards Authority in the first instance.

Schools should be satisfied before placing an order that the items tendered are of an acceptable quality and finish. Health and safety is, in the first instance, a matter for each Board of Management and this includes ensuring that school furniture complies with the appropriate standards.