Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Education.

Ivor Callely

Question:

78 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the drug/substance abuse programmes aimed at pupils in the age range 14 to 18 years in schools under the aegis of her Department; the success or otherwise of such programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5087/95]

Pat Upton

Question:

79 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to introduce a special drug and alcohol abuse programme into primary and post-primary curricula in schools located in areas where substance abuse is a serious problem.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.

The provision of health education, including substance abuse education, at primary school level is being reviewed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, taking into account the experience of programmes developed in conjunction with a number of the regional health boards.

A major programme of substance abuse education for post-primary schools, entitled "On My Own Two Feet" has been developed jointly by the Departments of Education and Health in conjunction with the Mater Dei Counselling Centre, Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3, with support from the Commission of the EU. This programme was launched on 18 October 1994 and is being disseminated, as a resource, to post-primary schools generally.

In order to support the dissemination process, training courses for teachers have been organised at 15 centres throughout the country in the school-year 1993-94 and at 11 centres throughout the country during the current school-year 1994-95. In arranging the in-service courses, priority has been given to areas where substance abuse is regarded as a serious problem. The programme has been evaluated independently with a positive outcome and it is highly regarded at EU level. Additionally, the programme has been well received in the schools.