Protocol on the way to deal with major emergencies in schools

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the commitment of the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruarí Quinn TD to work with schools to establish proper protocols in the event of severe weather conditions. Speaking in the Dáil Deputy O’Donovan highlighted how during Storm Darwin last February, principals and teachers were left totally on their own to decide whether to close the school and call parents. He called for action from the Minister on this issue.

“I am very pleased that following questioning, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD has committed to working with the patrons of schools, who have responsibility for dealing with emergencies. The Minister will work to come up with protocols for major emergencies like Storm Darwin which devastated many communities in February.

“The reality is that the current Department of Education circular to school principals which outlines contingency planning is inadequate and it leaves schools completely on their own. Now is the time to address this, not in another few months when we are looking into another long, cold and possibly stormy winter.

“In the twenty four hours running up to Storm Darwin, there was a major lack of information available to parents and teachers. Children and other vulnerable groups were put at unnecessary risk because key decisions had not been taken on a national basis, to properly communicate in advance, and to close schools.

“People in my constituency of Limerick have approached me on several occasions in the aftermath of the storm, and they have asked why there wasn’t a national protocol in place to deal with this. The lack of a joined up approach to planning for emergencies is very obvious and must be addressed.

“It is a miracle that many people did not lose their lives in the storm and we must pay tribute to the West Cork worker who died in the clean-up. During the height of the storm parents took their lives in their hands as they arrived at schools all over the country to collect their children.

“There is no doubt that the emergency services, the local authority and utility workers did an exceptional job. These people put their own safety second to the welfare of others in our community, but we need to work to ensure that these workers, as well as parents and children are not put at unnecessary risk in the event of another storm of this kind.

“It is positive that the Minister acknowledges that communication in relation to the type of storm which hit the country was not good enough, and that these issues will be investigated by Government. It is essential that we take the time to review the procedures currently in place and urgently make the necessary changes to improve these procedures.”