Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Education and Skills

Education Policy

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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514. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will develop child-safe guidelines for oversea trips, including guidance to not visit or volunteer in orphanages. [46517/24]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 the principal is responsible for the day-to-day management of a school. The Board has overall responsibility for school policies including the school’s policy in relation to school trips or outings.

The objective of an educational tour should be that it should provide a significant benefit in the educational, intellectual, cultural and social development of the maximum number of pupils in the particular grade(s) taking part in the tour and which benefit cannot be provided by in-school activities alone. Where a board of management is satisfied that a school tour meets the criteria, such a tour may be undertaken without seeking prior approval from the Department.

Under the Children First Act 2015, all schools in Ireland must have a Child Safeguarding Statement. This document outlines the school's commitment to safeguarding children from harm and details the procedures in place to protect them. As part of the Child Safeguarding Statement, schools must carry out a risk assessment to identify potential risks of harm to children. This assessment focuses on identifying areas where children might be vulnerable to abuse or neglect within the school setting, including outdoor and off-site activities such as school trips.

It is the responsibility of each school authority to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place while children are participating in school trips or outings.

Léargas manages international and national exchange programmes in education, youth and community work, and vocational education and training, including the Erasmus+ programme for schools.

Léargas has produced a guidance resource, European Mobility Projects Safeguarding Guidance - (European Mobility Projects Safeguarding Guidance - Léargas). This provides guidance for risk management and safeguarding in European Mobility Projects under Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). It is intended for anyone who coordinates European mobility projects in the Schools, Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Youth fields, and those working in the ESC, to ensure that safeguarding considerations are at the centre of the project management process. This resource supplements the internal policies and practices of participating organisations. It is not intended to serve as definitive practice but rather to aid organisational thinking on safeguarding.

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