Health and safety inspections at schools fall

THE number of health and safety inspections at schools and colleges fell by almost two-thirds in the past five years, despite a 1995 recommendation that they be significantly increased.

Only 62 educational institutions were visited by Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspectors last year, compared to 170 in 2001. A report by an advisory committee to the authority 12 years ago recommended that one-in-five, or more than 800, schools undergo planned inspections. But the HSA does not actively inspect schools, except in response to complaints or accident investigations.

The country’s schools have almost 800,000 young people in their care every day. While no statistical information is available about injuries to pupils there have been some cases of litigation, where the courts considered the teachers in loco parentis duty. However, there have been no prosecutions.