asked the Minister for Education if he has given further consideration to the possibility of introducing first-aid instruction in primary schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - First-Aid Instruction in Primary Schools.
7.
As indicated in the reply to a question asked by the Deputy regarding this matter in July, 1959, it is not the intention to introduce first aid as a subject in national schools. The affording of adequate time and attention to the basic subjects of the curriculum must of necessity limit the number of other subjects which can be provided for.
Junior Red Cross activities are, however, included in the list of extracurricular subjects which may be engaged in during the half-day of "free" instruction permitted weekly in national schools since 1954.
The Minister will appreciate that it is rather hard to expect children to devote their half day to an extra subject. In view of that, would he not think it possible to devote half an hour a week to the subject matter of the Question, to instruction in first-aid?
As I said, the difficulty is to fit in the basic subjects in the curriculum and a free half day is for free instruction—not a free half day.
The only comment I have on that is that the Minister was once a boy himself and he will appreciate the mentality of children in relation to that.
I do.