Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026
119. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of incidents reported arising from behaviours of concern for each of the past five years in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15282/26]
View answerOn December 12, 2024, the department published the "Understanding Behaviours of Concern and Responding to Crisis Situations in Schools" guidelines. These guidelines were developed in response to an identified need for clearer guidance for schools. They aim to enhance schools' understanding of behaviours of concern and support them in effectively managing crisis situations.
The guidelines place a strong focus on prevention and early intervention strategies for the management of crisis situations in which physical intervention may be employed only as the last part of a comprehensive, positive and planned behavioural approach by the school. They are underpinned by the principles that such intervention is never used for the purposes of discipline; that it should be applied proportionately and should last only as long as is necessary to de-escalate the situation. The guidelines underline the importance of continued supervision of children during a crisis period including matters related to behaviour and the need for such incidents to be recorded.
The publication of Circular 0081/2024 serves to inform schools about "Understanding Behaviours of Concern and Responding to Crisis Situations Guidelines for Schools," with a particular focus on the recording and reporting of physical restraint. The guidelines include templates and detailed guidance to support schools in this process.
The current oversight arrangements are outlined on page 51 of the Guidelines. When physical restraint is used in a school, the incident must be reported first to the school principal and subsequently to the Board of Management or relevant ETB. Templates to support the recording, reporting, and reflection on such incidents are available in the Resources section of the Guidelines.
From September 2025, schools were also required to report all instances of physical restraint to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). This reporting requirement is intended to:
• Facilitate the collation of data on the use of physical restraint in schools, including incidents involving students with special educational needs (SEN).
• Enable targeted engagement between the NCSE and individual schools where restraint has been used in relation to students with SEN.
The Department is monitoring incidents with physical restraint and is working with the NCSE to ensure there is engagement between the NCSE and individual schools in circumstances where a physical restraint has been used involving students with special educational needs. In addition, the Inspectorate now has a role in monitoring the use of physical restraint in schools and has provided data and information on the reported extent of restraint in schools which have been subject to a whole-school type inspection.
The availability of information relating to the use of restraint in school settings will also inform the NCSE’s overarching approach to its professional learning and training support programmes for schools. The NCSE and the Inspectorate has made information on the reported extent of restraint in schools to the Department. This information is currently being analysed and a summary report will be provided to the Minister for Education and Youth and the Minister for Special Education and Inclusion presently.
The guidelines do not replace any existing obligations or processes, statutory or otherwise, that already exist in this area. If a parent wishes to make a complaint, they should follow the complaints procedure as set out by the school. If there are child protection allegations, Tusla and An Garda Síochána continue to be the relevant authorities.
