De La Salle GAA Club
Child Protection Policy

De La Salle GAA club is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all young people who participate in the activities of the club. We will do this by taking all practical steps to protect young club members from discernable forms of abuse, from harm, from discrimination or degrading treatment and by respecting their rights, wishes and feelings.

To ensure that best practice is followed by this club we shall work closely with the Waterford GAA County Board and implement the guidelines detailed in the GAA's Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport titled Our Games Our Code, specifically

• Recognise that all children have the right to be protected from harm

• Respect the rights, wishes and feelings of all children in our club

• Ensure that all our coaches and volunteers are carefully recruited and are made aware as to their responsibility for the wellbeing of children in their care

• Ensure that all our coaches are Garda vetted and complete a Child Protection Course

• Respond swiftly and appropriately to safeguard the welfare of children who participate in our games and related activities by having clear reporting procedures

• Provide parents/guardians and children with the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have through a complaints procedure

• Appoint a Children's Officer in the Club – the current Children’s Officer is Brendan Lawton (087-6181197)

• Appoint a Designated Person in the Club who will liaise with the statutory authorities and with the GAA County Designated Person as required – the current Designated Person is Brendan Lawton (087-6181197)

• Ensure that allegations of abuse of young people are confidentially dealt with in accordance with the GAA’s Guidelines and relevant legislation

• Review this Policy on an on-going basis in conjunction with the Club’s Executive Committee