Principals seek equal obligation over abuse reports

PRIMARY school principals have said the same obligations should be placed on those working within the social services to investigate suspected child abuse as has been placed on them to report cases of abuse in the first place.

Children’s Minister Barry Andrews announced on Tuesday – as part of the Government’s response to the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse – that child protection guidelines are to be put on a statutory footing.

This will mean that organisations such as schools could lose their public funding if they are found not to have reported suspicions that a child or children in their care were being abused.