Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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205. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on health and safety in one or two teacher schools where a teacher may have to leave a classroom unattended during the school day and the students are left unsupervised; her plans to allow small schools to recruit classroom assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32101/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department does not allocate classroom assistants to schools nor does it have any plans or funding to do so. In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The Statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils. The Health and Safety Authority in conjunction with the Kilkenny Education Centre issued guidance to all primary schools in relation to managing safety, health and welfare. These guidelines were developed following consultation with relevant stakeholders and include some specific guidance for a one-teacher setting. This guidance is published on the website of the Health and Safety Authority.