asked the Minister for Health the programme, if any, that exists for the effective presentation to primary and secondary school pupils of the evils of smoking.
Written Answers. - Education on Smoking Prevention.
193.
Education on smoking prevention and the health consequences of smoking is an integral part of school health education programmes. However the implementation of a specific health education programme is a matter for the individual school authorities.
Education on the dangers of smoking is included in the content areas dealt with in programmes in some schools in the North Western Health Board, Mid-Western Health Board, Southern Health Board and the Western Health Board.
The Health Education Bureau in association with the area medical officers in the South Eastern Health Board have carried out an anti-smoking programme in primary and post-primary schools. The anti-smoking campaign carried out this year in conjunction with the Radio Telefís Éireann programme "Youngline" was aimed primarily at pupils and involved 30,000 entries in the anti-smoking poster competition associated with the programme.
The Minister for Education in the Programme for Action in Education 1984-87 recommended that the Curriculum and Examinations Board in conjunction with the Health Education Bureau encourage the development of health education in a central position in the school curriculum at both primary and post-primary levels and to build on work already underway in this respect.