Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.

Jack Wall

Question:

369 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding available from his Department in grants for support groups or organisations which organise seminars, courses and lectures highlighting the illegal use of substances such as drugs and the problems in regard to alcohol abuse in primary schools, secondary schools or third level; if his attention has been drawn to the cost to the providers of such courses including booklets, flyers and videos; if he will initiate such a funding scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6750/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda community relations section provides assistance for external groups and organisations in delivering presentations on various topics governing substance abuse. An Garda Síochána is also actively involved in schools through the Garda schools programme for school children in primary schools. Drug awareness and education is one of the topics covered in this programme.

In relation to the age card scheme which I launched in September 2000, I have secured the sum of €150,000 in this year's budget to conduct an awareness raising campaign to further reduce the possibility of under age drinking. The campaign will focus on promoting awareness of the age card among young people and encouraging 18 year olds who wish to purchase alcohol to apply for it; and encouraging on – and off-licences to demand production of the age card and promoting awareness of the consequences of serving under age persons.

The Department of Education and Science, which has primary responsibility for the administration of public education, has a number of initiatives to combat drugs, all of which are closely linked with the package of measures it has to tackle educational disadvantage. That Department operates two initiatives in the context of preventive actions – the substance misuse prevention programme, Walk Tall, for primary schools and the substance abuse prevention programme, On My Own Two Feet, aimed at second level school pupils.

The report on the national drugs strategy 2001-08, entitled, Building on Experience, underlined that there was strong support throughout the consultation process for the need to implement school-based programmes as a "first line of defence." The strategy has emphasised it is essential that current programmes are supported fully and implemented effectively in all schools.

The Department of Education and Science is also co-operating with the Department of Health and Children in delivering health promotion programmes in primary and second level schools. It is intended that every primary school will incorporate substance misuse prevention programmes in the broad context of social, personal and health education, which is now part of the primary school curriculum, by September 2003.

The youth affairs section of the Department of Education and Science, in partnership with the Department of Health and Children and the National Youth Council of Ireland, funds the national youth health programme on an annual basis. The programme aims to provide a broad-based, flexible health promotion-education support and training service for youth organisations and for all those working with young people in the non-formal education sector. This is achieved through the development of interventions with youth organisations and through the training and support of workers and volunteers implementing these interventions, many of which relate to drug and alcohol education programmes. The youth affairs section also provides annual funding for the No Name Club, which is a national youth organisation formed specifically to enable young people to socialise in an alcohol free environment.