Page 3098 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 16 September 2015
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MADAM SPEAKER: I am sorry, Mr Smyth; I think you are suffering from the same problem that I am. I did not hear most of what you had to say.
MR SMYTH: I am terribly sorry, Madam Speaker. My question to the minister is: what directorate staff, including NSET staff, made visits to the primary school at which a cage was constructed between 20 February and 27 March this year?
MS BURCH: As I would expect, there would have been staff visiting the school. It is a regular routine process that staff across the NSET visit our schools. But to this point, as I have said and as the director-general has said, any actions that need to come about as a consequence of staff that have possibly been aware of this inappropriate structure and did not respond as we would have expected or may have not acted as we would have expected—the director-general is taking action, again, under the same arrangements as the original investigation, relevant to the EBA.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, how are NSET staff deployed to schools?
MS BURCH: There is a mix of responding to requests and referrals from schools and they also have an education and mentoring role as well. So they routinely visit schools and provide the support schools need in managing difficult behaviours.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, have you sought records of those who visited the school during the period in question, 20 February and 27 March?
MS BURCH: Any records that need to be sought need to be sought through a process of an independent review, I would say, Madam Speaker. I do not think it is right and proper for a minister to be absolutely involved in any investigation of staff involved in this matter. The director-general is very clear of the responsibility that she has to make sure that any staff in the school or out of the school that may not have responded as they ought will be dealt with.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, how can you be certain that no-one in the directorate knew about the cage?
MS BURCH: Again, what is on public record and what I have said and what the director-general says is that there appears there were some officers that may have been aware of this, but they will be dealt with through the director-general. She has made it very clear that that will happen.
Mr Barr: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
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