SCHOOL principals have claimed that social services are not following up on reports from schools of suspected child abuse and neglect.The Irish Primary Principals’ Network has called for mandatory reporting, but the organisation also wants assurances that any allegations are followed up by health authorities.
The organisation’s director Sean Cottrell said he took a call as recently as yesterday morning from a principal who had made a report of suspected abuse to his local Health Service Executive (HSE) office.
"He told me a note was taken of the telephone conversation, but there was absolutely no follow-through, even though he asked to be notified of any action being taken," he said.
"Principals don’t mind that parents are informed they have referred something, but if nothing is done the relationship between school and the home is gone," Mr Cottrell said.
The biggest cause of concern among teachers and principals is child neglect rather than physical or sexual abuse, with growing reports being made of children being poorly fed, poorly clothed or coming to school without proper sleep.
"It’s the experience of practically every principal that, because social services are under such pressure, they will typically be told that authorities will only intervene if the situation becomes a crisis," Mr Cottrell said.
"If a principal reports something and nothing happens, they are in limbo because they are then the person a parent thinks is ‘out to get them’," he said.
The issue was raised at the organisation’s conference in January, where a survey showed that 90% of principals want a system of mandatory reporting.
However, they also demanded that any cases reported to authorities must be acted on.
Research early last year by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation found that one-in-four primary schools has referred an allegation or reported suspected child abuse to health authorities.
The HSE said around 10% of the 25,000 reports it receives in relation to concerns about children each year are considered to be of a serious nature.
"The HSE prioritises these cases and deal with them accordingly. The HSE is committed to making appropriate responses to children in need," it said in a statement.
It said everyone in society has a role to play in child protection and that the role of teachers in the reporting of child care issues is critical.
"The HSE is piloting a response model at the moment, which includes regular group meetings with all stakeholders involved in child protection, including teachers," the statement added.
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