ISPCC criticises handling of abuse claims

THE Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has accused the Department of Education of "ambivalence and confusion" in dealing with allegations of abuse made against teachers.

The Department is using the "discredited solution" of relocating alleged offenders who have come to the attention of the authorities, the ISPCC claimed. Its chief executive, Mr Cian 0 Tighearnaigh, criticised the Department for "brokering complaints" itself rather than leaving the matter totally in the hands of the civil authorities, such as the health board and Garda.

His comments follow the reinstatement by the Minister for "Education of a teacher who was found to have harassed and assaulted pupils. Ms Breathnach has formally reprimanded the teacher, as well as imposing a financial penalty and directing the local VEC to put in place a monitoring programme. The teacher is due to return to a different school next month.

"Teachers all over the country must feel extremely exposed by the lack of any clear, agreed child centred system for reporting, investigating and managing allegations made against a tiny number of teachers," the ISPCC chief executive said.

He repeated a call for the introduction of mandatory reporting, combined with agreed procedures to manage such cases. There was little point in teaching the Stay Safe programme and educating children to tell about bad touches if the system seemed more "cowed" by potential legal action or organisational power than determined to respond to children and parents who were the consumers of the education system, he said.

The Fianna Fail spokesman on education, Mr Micheal Martin, called on the Department to introduce a "proper" complaints procedure. "A separate unit should be established, employing experts on a permanent basis."

Mr Martin said current arrangements were "very ad-hoc", with different procedures applying at different levels. "There doesn't seem to be any consistent system of punishment." He promised to raise the matter when the Dail reconvenes next month.

The Progressive Democrats spokeswoman, Ms Helen Keogh, called on Ms Breathnach to clarify the terms of reference and the powers of the monitoring programme to be put in place for the teacher.