Vol. 523 No. 5
112 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Education and Science to outline the drugs prevention programme that is being implemented in all schools; if his attention has been drawn to the huge increase in drug use in rural areas; the way in which his Department propose to have pupils made aware of the dangers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21426/00]
The programme of substance misuse prevention education for primary schools was developed by my Department in consultation with the partners in education and other relevant interests. This programme is called Walk Tall. The development took place in a small number of primary schools during the schools years 1996-97 and 1997-98. On the basis of a positive evaluation of the programme, the associated detailed educational resource materials were designed and printed before the end of 1998. It was decided to disseminate the programme to all primary schools over a two year period beginning in early 1999. The programme has now been introduced to approximately 2,400 primary schools, about 75% of all primary schools. This includes a significant proportion of rural schools.
There is a support team of six teacher trainers, including a national project officer involved in the dissemination process. The administration of the process is located in West Dublin Education Centre which works in co-operation with education centres throughout the country. Detailed educational resource materials are available for each class level in primary schools and are provided free of charge to schools when the programme is introduced in schools after participation by the teaching staffs of the schools in one-day training seminars. In addition to these training seminars, further longer training courses for teachers are also organised.
