Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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445. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the changes made since the publication of a report (details supplied) regarding the enforcement of legislation and constitutional provisions in dealing with religious patrons. [3459/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Procedures for schools on the implementation of Children First in the school setting were updated and published in September 2011. This was done following the revisions in July 2011 to the national Children First guidelines. The updated procedures are intended to better ensure consistent and uniform implementation of Children First across all schools.

The updated child protection procedures for schools include additional oversight arrangements that involve the following: - Specific reporting requirements by the School Principal to the Board of Management

- Standardised format for an annual review by the Board of Management of the implementation of its child protection policy

- Standard method for schools to report annually to parents associations (or parents generally) in relation to their implementation of child protection procedures.

- Confirmation of compliance with child protection procedures to be provided, if requested, to the School Patron and/or the Department.

In addition, any allegation of a child protection nature received by staff in my Department is dealt with in accordance with the Department's Procedures for responding to Child Protection Concerns brought to the attention of staff employed by the Department of Education and Skills. Under these procedures the Department does not make any judgment on the concerns brought to its attention and ensures that the details of the concern reported to the Department are immediately passed on to the relevant investigatory authorities, including the relevant school authorities, the Child and Family Agency and/or An Garda Síochána.