Jim O'Keeffe
Question:14 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education if he will give details of the measures taken in our schools to counter drug abuse and to counsel and advise on the dangers of same.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Education on Drug Abuse.
My Department have participated with various agencies, both statutory and voluntary, in support of schools introducing educational programmes on substance abuse, including other drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco. The agencies concerned include the Department of Health, regional health boards, the National Youth council and the Mater Dei Adolescent Counselling Centre as well as parents' groups. My Department are represented on the Government's Co-ordinating Committee on Drug Misuse and contribute to the development of the national strategy to prevent such misuse.
Substance abuse education is incorporated in the general, social and personal education provision of many schools and my Department have organised in-service training programmes for teachers in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Mater Dei Adolescent Counselling Centre.
In order to develop further initiatives in this area the Departments of Education and Health began a major development project in eight post-primary schools last school year with a view to (a) developing educational resource materials for schools; (b) gaining information on how best to integrate the activity in the wider curriculum; and (c) examining the in-service support needed by teachers.
This project is supported by the EC. At the end of the first year of this project, which will be continued during next school year, the evaluative feedback is very positive. The materials are being modified now to take account of classroom experience. It is planned to begin the dissemination of the outcomes, including the materials, to other schools by the end of this year.
Will the Minister agree that there has been an alarming increase in substance abuse, considering the efforts made in this regard? Because of the increase I am sure the Minister will agree that the present measures are not effective. Will he agree that very little education is given regarding substance abuse, sex education, hygiene and other matters, principally because of the pressure of dealing with other subjects? Is he concerned about the apparent ineffectiveness of the programmes on health education?
It is difficult to get hard material in relation to the extent of the lack of education in the areas to which the Deputy referred. However, I know that it is not adequate and I am concerned about it. The Department have been active in this area by producing videos, teaching materials, supporting summer schools and Mater Dei, advising regional health boards and facilitating the distribution of materials by the National Parents' Council. As the Deputy knows, the development project includes eight schools in a pilot scheme which is now led by two psychologists; a teacher has been seconded and I am told that the reaction has been very positive. We hope to finalise the resource material after next week's seminar and we will then roll it out in phases, starting in late 1992. We have been extremely active in this area but it is a problem which must be continually monitored.
This question relates to drug abuse but, as alcohol is also a drug, is the Minister concerned regarding the amount of alcohol consumed by teenagers at school events, the end of term examinations, discos, etc? On the drug abuse programme run by the Department of Education, will the Minister give details of what is being done to educate young people in relation to alcohol and its effects and what a lethal drug it can be?
Most schools now have very strong programmes to bring to the attention of their pupils the dangers of the misuse of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. The Deputy is correct in saying that in regard to drugs we tend to think of hard drugs and forget that alcohol can do substantial damage, in particular to young people. The Department continually remind boards of managements and principals of the need to bring to the attention of pupils the dangers associated with alcohol. There are specific school programmes to deal with it.
Having regard to the fact that the present programme is being implemented only on a pilot basis in eight schools and that we have over 4,000 primary and post-primary schools, if our programmes are to be effective to counter this great threat to society the Minister should consider making health education, which would include a programme on substance abuse, a core subject on the curriculum in both primary and post-primary schools.
That is not the way to handle the issue. While this programme is being implemented on a pilot basis in eight schools for a particular purpose, it would be wrong of me to give the impression that only eight schools are addressing the question of drug abuse, because there are other schemes in operation. Most schools are actively counselling and tutoring their pupils on the question of drug abuse and I will continue to request boards of managements, principles and teachers to continue this work.
Deputies Higgins and O'Shea are offering and I will facilitate both Deputies with pleasure if they will be brief.
Is the Minister aware that the alcohol-drugs programme is not working and that the statistics speak for themselves? Alcohol is the greatest scourge nationally and it is affecting our national performance. There is a need therefore in aclohol programmes in schools to deglamourise drinking to show it for what it is and to relate it to crime. Recently I spoke to a county registrar who informed me that seven out of every ten cases that are heard in court are drink-related, be it vandalism, burglary or cases involving broken homes. We need to deglamourise drink for young people at the time they are most susceptible and receptive to such messages.
As the Deputy said, it seems that there has been an increase in the number of students who drink. I have no statistical evidence to show this — it is only an observation — but I am concerned about it. The most practical and easiest thing to do in the short term would be to ask the principals in all our schools, who are very experienced, to make the alcohol programme and counselling in the schools work. I am confident that if they focus on it they will be able to make it work. The Department will offer them every support. I share the Deputy's concern but not one step will resolve it; a number of steps are required. However I have great faith in the principals of our schools and I am confident that if the Department provide the necessary technical back-up they can be effective.
In relation to the educational programme, any progress made should be welcomed but this problem is reaching horrendous proportions in some areas. Would the Minister consider the possibility of setting up task forces, as an extension of the home-schools liaison programme, in those schools where the problem is particularly acute with regard to under-age drinking and the use of illegal drugs, and making provision for the involvement of the Garda and social agencies, both voluntary and statutory? We are not doing enough to resolve the problem and it appears to be getting worse. There is therefore a need for urgent action. I believe that we could achieve a lot by setting up task forces in those areas where the problem is particularly acute. Not alone must we deal with the problem in the home but we must also ensure that the law is enforced and provide an educational programme.
The purpose of the home-school liaison programme is to keep the problem to the forefront of people's minds. The extension of that scheme can play a leading role in tackling his difficulty. I will give some thought to the Deputy's suggestion that I set up a task force but I do not think that this would work well on a school by school or area by area basis as it might lead to a stigma being attached to a particular area. However perhaps a case can be made for bringing together a number of experts at national level to study the matter afresh. Given that the Deputy has expressed concern about this matter, I will consider this suggestion.