Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 5

Written Answers - School Curriculum.

Jack Wall

Question:

265 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools which have sought and have been granted seminars by his Department in regard to drugs and alcohol misuse; the plans his Department has to extend such seminars; the plans his Department has to provide special projects fighting this serious problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6627/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Education concerning alcohol and drug misuse and abuse is addressed in both primary and post-primary schools in the context of the social, personal and health education (SPHE) curriculum.

Specific measures have been put in place to ensure that all schools within the local drugs task force areas, at both primary and post primary levels, implement substance misuse education and prevention. Support officers have been recruited to assist LDTF schools with this work.

At national level, it is intended that every primary school will implement the primary social, personal and health education (SPHE) curriculum by September 2003. "Walk Tall" contains detailed educational resource material which is provided to primary schools to support teachers in addressing substance misuse education and prevention. Some 3,048 schools at primary level – from a total of 3,300 – have received comprehensive in-career development in this area.

In post primary schools, the implementation of SPHE at junior cycle has been supported by the post primary SPHE support service since September 2000. It is expected that all post primary schools will have implemented SPHE as part of their junior cycle programme with effect from September 2003. "On My Own Two Feet" contains key educational resource material which supports post primary teachers in addressing substance misuse education and prevention in the context of SPHE.

Over 1,600 teachers from 522 post primary schools – from a total of 750 – received resource materials and have been trained to implement the programme, which is now subsumed into the SPHE programme.