Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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567. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on files dealing with child protection concerns and allegations reported to the Health Service Executive which are held in schools by designated liaison persons; if she will ensure that all such files are inspected by the inspectorate of her Department during whole-school evaluations and random inspections to ensure the actions recorded in such files are in accordance with Children First guidelines and written school policies; if she will ensure that the outcomes of these inspections form part of the whole-school evaluation report in the same way as all other areas of school policy and work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25103/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The primary statutory responsibility for child protection lies with the Child and Family Agency, TUSLA. The role of my Department is to provide guidance and support to schools in implementing child protection policy and to refer any allegations received to the appropriate authorities for investigation. My Department has issued Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-primary Schools to all schools. The procedures are based on Children First and they make very clear the reporting and investigation mechanisms to be followed in cases of suspected child abuse wherever they occur. The procedures set out the oversight arrangements required at Board of Management level; the designated liaison person is required to include a report to each meeting of the board on the number of cases which have arisen since its last meeting and the Board of Management must review the school's implementation of the procedures on an annual basis. The Department has also stated clearly to TUSLA that if the agency is of the view that a school is not cooperating fully with any TUSLA investigation, then TUSLA may contact the Department and assistance will be provided to resolve the issue. Compliance with the Child Protection Procedures is assessed during whole-school evaluations by the Department's Inspectorate. School management are required to complete a standardised child protection school self-report form and inspectors also make at least three confirmatory checks of the school's compliance with specific requirements of the Child Protection Procedures. Inspectors include a statement about the school's compliance with the requirement of the procedures in every whole-school evaluation report. (A copy of the standardised school self-report form is attached for the Deputy's information).

Inspectorate monitoring does not include cases of individual concerns re children; inspectors do not examine individual case files about pupils, mindful of the guidance in Children First regarding the confidential nature of individual records. It is not the role of the Inspectorate to make judgements regarding any individual case or concern or to enquire into the details of any case: that is the role of TUSLA and An Garda Síochána.

CHILD PROTECTION INFORMATION

School Self-Report FormThis form should be completed by the School Principal and signed by the Principal and the Chairperson of the Board of Management.

Name of School:

With regard to your school, please insert a tick (ü) in the appropriate box across from each of the following statements.