Madam, – Fr Patrick McCafferty (December 19th) is spot-on in challenging the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) in respect of its statements concerning child protection in Catholic national schools.
As a guardian of two children at Kilgobnet NS, I was so alarmed when IPPN’s broadcast its concerns that first thing on Friday morning I went into the children’s school and asked to see the relevant school policies. The policies immediately put my mind at rest in that it is the school principal, as designated liaison person, who plays the key part in alerting HSE and Garda of any child protection concerns.
When recently I volunteered to do some very minimal voluntary work with Kerry Diocesan Youth Service, I was vigorously vetted by the Garda and underwent a full one-day course in child protection procedures. This, although I am qualified and registered as a teacher.
I trust that the 80 per cent of primary school principals with deep-rooted concerns, themselves mostly appointed by representatives of diocesan trustees, would have a little more confidence in themselves and those who appointed them. – Yours, etc,