Vol. 462 No. 2
135 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Education when he intends in co-operation with the Minister for Education to strengthen existing school based substances misuse prevention programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4497/96]
A major programme on substance abuse prevention education for second level schools has been developed by the Departments of Education and Health in conjunction with the Mater Dei Counselling Centre. This programme was launched in October 1994. Since then it is being disseminated to second level schools generally. At present it is in approximately 600 second level schools. There is associated in-service training for teachers using the programme funded by the in-career development unit of my Department. Each training course lasts for 50 hours and, since the launch, 46 such courses have been held, including two running at present. The process of dissemination will continue so that all of the approximately 800 second level schools have an opportunity to participate.
At primary level a programme of substance abuse education has been planned and will commence during this year. This programme will be implemented in consultation with the partners in education, and in consultation and co-operation with the Departments of Health and Justice. It will consist of awareness raising seminars for teachers, parents and managements, the development of educational resources materials and the provision of in-service training for teachers.
A pilot project called the Health Promoting School is already under way as a co-operative project between the Departments of Health and Education. This has an emphasis on substance abuse prevention as part of a wider initiative on health promotion generally. Major features are; an active involvement of parents and the wider community, the development of a supportive school climate as well as the promotion of healthy alternatives such as physical activities. There are plans to begin the extension of this project to schools, other than the ten schools participating in the pilot project later this year. My Department co-operates with regional health boards and voluntary groups on initiatives relating to substance abuse prevention.
The White Paper on Education, "Charting Our Education Future" outlines policy relating to the promotion of the health and welfare of students in Chapter 13. This includes the statement that programmes will be developed relating to tobacco, alcohol and substance misuse in general. The initiatives I have mentioned above represent the steps being taken already to begin to implement this policy.
