Vol. 529 No. 3
12 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science his response to the urgent request from the local drugs task forces for a representative of his Department to join each task force, in view of the concern about the high level of educational disadvantage among the communities most affected by drug abuse; and if he will accede to this request. [2773/01]
My Department is fully committed to the overall aim of the Government's drugs policy which is to provide an effective, integrated response to the problems posed by drug misuse. As part of this process my Department is represented at senior level on the national drugs strategy team, and on the interdepartmental group which, in turn, reports to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, of which I, as Minister for Education and Science, am a member.
On the question of representation on the local drugs task forces, the areas covered by the local drugs task forces correspond, to a great extent, to areas covered by the area-based partnerships. The educational issues of concern to the drug task forces are also the concern of the education sub-committee of the partnerships. My Department is represented in each area partnership and provides the funding for full-time and part-time education co-ordinators to support the work of the partnerships. In the circumstances, given the need for co-operation and integration at local level, my Department proposed that it be represented on the local drugs task forces by the education co-ordinators of the partnerships. This was seen as a reasonable and workable arrangement.
My Department is most anxious to help the local drugs task forces. For that reason, my Department has indicated that named officials within the Department will be the contact persons, where necessary, for the task forces. It has also indicated a willingness to meet periodically with the task forces' representatives to discuss any issues arising.
My Department has also taken a number of initiatives in the fight against drugs. There are two drugs prevention programmes in place in schools. The programme in primary schools is called "Walk Tall". This programme, which commenced in 1999, was introduced into 2,787, or 87% of, primary schools by the end of 2000. It is expected that 3,000 schools will have accessed support by the end of June of this year. This represents 94% of all primary schools.
Additional Information.The second level substance misuse prevention programme, “On My Own Two Feet”, has been introduced in approximately 570 post-primary schools. This represents 75% of the total number of post-primary schools. This programme has now been subsumed into the social, personal and health education, SPHE, programme and by the end of 2003 every school is expected to have SPHE as an integral part of its programme at junior cycle level. It is proposed that the “Walk Tall” programme will also become part of SPHE.
The role of my Department in the fight against drugs is further strengthened by the young people's facilities and services fund. An Exchequer contribution of approximately £37.5 million over three years has been set aside for this fund which was established by the Government in 1998, to assist in the development of preventative strategies in a targeted manner through the provision of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop.
When I became Minister for Education and Science, I set the tackling of educational disadvantage as a priority. Poor educational achievement and early school leaving very often result in unemployment or under-employment later on. Education can play a key role in assisting economic, social and personal development in our most disadvantaged communities. Accordingly, I intend to provide additional resources at all levels of education to tackle educational disadvantage in all its manifestations.
Towards that end, I announced the new programme last month which will be run over a three-year period and will cost some £26 million. The programme involves the creation of 204 new primary teaching posts and the allocation of cash grants to primary schools in respect of disadvantaged pupils. A key condition of participation in the new programme is that the additional resources must be used for the provision of holistic supports for pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. More than 2,300 primary schools will receive additional supports under the programme.
Does the Minister accept that educational disadvantage is a major factor in the incidence of drug addiction? Would he agree that this point has been identified by all the local drugs task forces and that is why they have requested the Minister to provide a representative of his Department?
Does the Minister accept that the education co-ordinators of local area partnerships are not answerable for the actions of the Department? They are not employed directly by the Department. Would he accept that what local communities seek is a senior person, representing the Department, who is in the position to make decisions about education provision in disadvantaged areas?
It is that level of person that is required so that that person will be educated in relation to local area partnership working and there will be feedback directly to the Department on the issues of most concern in areas of disadvantage.
It is an issue at the moment, an issue that causes difficulties. There is a feedback to the social inclusion committee.
Where is the feedback from the local inspectors?
It is coming through the inspectors in particular, but it is an area that needs significant support.
I agree with the Deputy that educational disadvantage is part of the problem. I accept that educational disadvantage is a major problem that can lead to the frustration and alienation that leads to drugs abuse.
I am currently discussing with the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Ryan, how we can improve the working relationship there. People are being given direct contact. However, it is the individual schools—
I draw attention to the fact that there is a one minute limit on supplementary questions.
The number of schools is one of the big factors.
I suggest it is the absence of local structures that is at the heart of this problem.
I was going to come to the structures.
Does the Minister accept that all the other relevant agencies and Government Departments are involved in a partnership at community level in terms of tackling the drug problem and that the missing partner is the Department of Education and Science? This has been highlighted by all of the drugs task forces in their repeated calls for the Minister to provide a representative. Will the Minister give immediate consideration to assigning senior members of his staff to work directly with those local drugs task forces to enable them to respond to the areas of greatest need?
The basic problem is the relationship between my Department and the schools. Whether this is developed through the Department or through the schools and the organisation of the schools locally is another question.
The structure that the Department of Education and Science currently has involves the inspector for the area. The Department has appointed co-ordinators to work with the area partnerships. We are going through the process of trying to implement the changes in relation to localised structures for the Department.
The Deputy would say we are not going fast enough but there are major industrial relations issues which have been discussed and Mr. Cromien played a part in this initially. These issues fall to be discussed in practical terms and that is on-going and that would lead to a different kind of structure which would help the situation.
