asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports of increases in the trend of glue sniffing among teenagers, and in view of the health hazard if he will amend the law to deal with this and other related dangerous practices.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Glue Sniffing.
66.
I have seen press reports regarding the practice of glue sniffing. There is no firm information which would suggest that the incidence is growing in this country.
It is not clear that legislation would be effective in controlling such practices. The variety of substances which are capable of being sniffed is considerable and as most of them have quite legitimate normal uses the exercise of strict control over them would be unnecessarily restrictive.
I will keep the position under review and I am asking the Health Education Bureau to consider the desirability of undertaking appropriate publicity about the hazards involved.
Is the Minister aware that part of the new curriculum in educational circles is to teach children the different senses and part of that takes into account the sniffing of various substances? Does the Minister consider that this might lead to tendency towards this socially undesirable trend?
Is the Deputy suggesting that some of the educational processes at the moment may be leading in that direction? Very many common substances can be treated and sniffed in this way. I do not want to mention them because if I did that there would be publicity in the newspapers regarding the kind of substances used and this could contribute to an increase in their use. I can assure the Deputy that the commodities are common items and are readily available.
Will the Health Education Bureau take that into account?
Yes.
Is the Minister aware that when his predecessor in office was in Opposition he was in favour of amending the law in relation to the sniffing of one particular substance which is not allowed to be sold in this country at present? I should like to know if the Minister has an open mind on this subject?
That is a separate question and perhaps the Deputy might wish to put down a question. As I understand it, it refers to different kinds of substances.