The Irish Department of Education published it’s updated guidance to schools in May 2025 in relation to child protection. This blog will explore key updates to the "Child Protection Procedures for Schools", originally published in 2017, particularly the introduction of guidance to schools on how they should deal with adult former pupils presenting with disclosures of historic child abuse. Although targeted at schools in Ireland the principles apply outside of that jursidiction and that sector.
The recently published Child Protection Procedures for Schools 2025 represents a significant and welcome update to Ireland’s school safeguarding framework. Section 3, titled ‘Retrospective Abuse Allegations’ is especially significant in light of disclosures across the Republic of Ireland of child sexual and physical abuse in sports, religious, and educational contexts, with many allegations dating back decades. New allegations of abuse are tragically continuing to emerge, prompting public demands for consistent and transparent procedures when adults disclose historical abuse they suffered as children. Section 3 underscores the importance of ensuring that no disclosure – no matter how old – is ignored or mishandled and that schools must be equipped, both legally and professionally, to respond with empathy and purpose to these allegations.
The guidance clarifies that even where the abuse disclosed occurred many years ago, schools and staff still have a legal obligation to consider whether there may be an ongoing risk to children. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the alleged perpetrator may still pose a danger – particularly if they continue to work with or have access to children – a mandated person must make a professional judgement as to whether the matter must be reported to The Child and Family Agency – Tusla – and possibly to An Garda Síochána. Mandated persons are not required to report to Tusla the childhood abuse of a person who is now an adult, in circumstances where no harm or risk of harm to a child has been identified or suspected.
Section 3 also provides a comprehensive list of resources and contact numbers which can be provided to the individual making the disclosure, including counselling services, Samaritans and One in Four, who can provide advice and support in relation to making a statement to the Gardaí.
The updated procedures are informed in part by the Report on Effective Leadership in Child Protection and feedback from the Ombudsman for Children, which had previously raised concerns over inconsistencies in how schools responded to abuse disclosures. RTÉ recently reported that Chief Executive of One in Four, Deirdre Kenny, described the new guidance as a positive step forward, although gaps still remain in terms of the reason that individuals might come forward to the school about their abuse, whether that be for closure, support, or to protect current students. Kenny believes that further information on the reason and context for disclosures will assist understanding and sensitivity.
The new Child Protection Procedures for Schools 2025 guidance emphasises that where disclosures of historic abuse are made to the school, the school may wish to obtain legal advice.
