Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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160. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines that exist for teachers in secondary schools that are confronted with physical altercations between students in the classroom, from the point of view of the teacher employing reasonable force to stop an altercation and conversely any liability that might be incurred on their part for failing to intervene in such a situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38238/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act requires school management authorities in their role as employers to ensure the safety and health of their employees.

The body which has statutory responsibility for ensuring that health and safety requirements are met by all employers, including schools, is the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

Circular Letter M18/99 "Guidelines on Violence in Schools" issued by my Department draws the attention of school management authorities to compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act as regards identifying hazards, assessing risks and putting in place appropriate safeguards and preventative measures, the duty of school management authorities to provide a safe environment for employees and other persons present in the school, measures to be taken to prevent or minimise risks of violence, measures to be taken in support of staff who have been assaulted or threatened with assault and ensuring that appropriate action is taken to safeguard against a recurrence.

My Department, in conjunction with the HSA, the State Claims Agency and the School Development Planning Initiative has also published 'Guidelines on Managing Safety and Health in Post Primary Schools' which are available on the HSA website www.hsa.ie.