Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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392. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the rules of governance set out by his Department that boards of management, teachers and parents associations must adhere to as the minimum guidelines to protect the safety of children attending both national and post-primary schools in circumstances in which an offender is known to a school or reported to a school and confirmed by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20665/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and has responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of its staff and pupils.

My Department has issued "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools" based on the "Children First – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011" (Children First) and which apply to all primary and post-primary schools. The purpose of the procedures is to give direction and guidance to school authorities in the implementation of Children First when dealing with allegations/suspicions of child abuse and neglect.

The procedures make very clear the reporting and investigation mechanisms to be followed where there are reasonable grounds for concern that children may have been abused or neglected, are being abused or neglected, or are at risk of abuse or neglect and the lead role of Tusla (the Child and Family Agency).

Where there is a concern that a person poses a potential threat to public safety (including to the safety of a school’s staff or pupils) the responsibility for dealing with such a situation rests primarily with An Garda Síochána in accordance with its duty to protect the community, to undertake criminal investigations and to bring offenders to justice. In any case where a school is concerned about a threat to the safety of pupils or staff, it should ensure that it liaises closely with and follows the advice of An Garda Síochána in relation to the safety and protection of its pupils and staff. A school should also contact and seek the advice of Tusla in relation to any child protection issues arising and should ensure that any health and safety measures necessary in relation to protecting both staff and pupils are put in place.

My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has also provided all schools with guidelines and resource materials in relation to dealing with traumatic or critical incidents. In addition, NEPS psychologists are available, upon request from school authorities, to attend at a school to provide direct assistance and advice to the school community where necessary.