Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Health if school medical examinations continue to identify children with issues requiring urgent attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44415/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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School Health services remain an important component of child health services. All children, for example, have their vision and hearing checked as part of the service with referrals onwards to specialist services occurring as required. Like any service, there is a continual need to examine the evidence for effectiveness of what we do. There are variations across the country in how services are currently configured, variations which have often not arisen not out a consideration of the evidence of effectiveness.

With that in mind, the HSE is currently involved in reviewing the evidence for improving outcomes in child health, and will be making recommendations about the best way to deliver services when the review is completed next year. Parents and teachers continue to engage with child health services including those delivered in schools.