The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland provide a school screening programme and a school immunisation programme for children attending public primary schools. Private primary schools may request the service and the Health Service Executive (HSE) has the discretion to extend the service to these schools.
School health screenings are conducted by public health nurses and area medical officers who are employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). These screenings are carried out on the school premises and the school principal is told of the date of the screenings in advance so parents can be notified and are entitled to be present if they wish. Children's hearing and vision are examined and where requested by the parent or deemed necessary, a physical examination may be carried out.
Problems that are identified at these screenings are treated free of charge if the child attends as a public patient at an out-patient hospital departments. Any subsequent treatment (whether out-patient or in-patient) arising from this initial referral is free of charge as a public patient.
School screening is arranged by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in conjunction with the school principal who provides the Local Health Office with class lists.