All school boards of management must designate a senior member of staff to have specific responsibility for child protection, according to new guidelines on dealing with child abuse which are being prepared for primary schools by the Department of Education and Science. The guidelines set down a step-by-step approach for teachers who may suspect or have evidence of child abuse. It is the responsibility of the designated liaison person to deal with health boards, the Garda and other parties in connection with allegations of child abuse. According to the Department of Health and Children's guidelines, where a person has a reasonable suspicion or grounds for concern that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse, that person must contact the health board. These guidelines will be attached to the Department of Education guidelines and are to be read in conjunction with them.

If school staff receive an allegation or have a suspicion that a pupil is being abused, they should report it to the designated liaison person.

Indicators of possible abuse include specific information from a child that she of he was abused; an account by a witness who saw the abuse; evidence including injury or behaviour which is consistent with abuse, or an injury or behaviour which is consistent with both abuse and with an innocent explanation but where there are corroborative indicators supporting the concern of abuse. These could include a pattern of injuries, dysfunctional behaviour and consistent evidence that a child is suffering from emotional or physical neglect, for example. The guidelines stress that it is not the responsibility of school staff to make enquiries of parents or guardians concerning abuse. However, if the designated liaison person is submitting a report to the Garda or the health boards, the parent or guardian should be informed, unless to do so would place the child in greater danger. It is understood that the new guidelines will be circulated to schools in April.