IPPN

Last Updated: Monday, 16 March 2009 16:18

A survey of primary principals taken in the week prior to the revelations from the Roscommon trial shows that 85% of primary school principals want mandatory reporting legislation to be brought in to protect children at risk. At their annual conference in Killarney, over 900 Primary Principals, members of the Irish Primary Principals' Network will hear a strong call for more effective child protection measures.

In this survey, 45% of principals identify Child Neglect as the single most important factor impacting on child welfare in our schools. Commenting on the survey, Larry Fleming, President of IPPN stated, "Principals and teachers see neglect as a growing issue. Lack of proper parenting, poor personal hygiene, inadequate school lunches, no home supervision or assistance for homework, anti-social behaviour and children who are obviously starved of love and attention at home. The vast majority of children are thriving but when we see these signs we know action is needed."

Principals and teachers are invariably the first professionals to sense that something is wrong in a child's life. There should be no ambiguity around the responsibility to report these concerns. "Mandatory reporting is one issue but so also is mandatory action." said Fleming. "Often, principals are very frustrated because they report their concerns about a child or a family, and then no effective action appears to be taken. This is not acceptable." Despite the complexities surrounding Mandatory Reporting, Principals are demanding that the necessary legislation be introduced immediately.

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