Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Drugs in Schools.

Richard Bruton

Question:

268 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the problem of children dealing in drugs within schools; if he has satisfied himself that the school authorities have all the necessary powers to deal with this problem; if school authorities have the right to search for drugs, confiscate drugs or take other such actions to contain the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7633/03]

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

My Department is not aware that children are dealing in drugs within schools.

Under the national drugs strategy 2001 to 2008, my Department and the Department of Health and Children were required to develop guidelines, in co-operation with the health boards, to assist schools in the formation of a drugs policy and to ensure that all schools had drugs policies in place by September 2002. In May 2002 my Department completed work on the guidelines and circularised all schools with them.

The problem of substance abuse among young people is a matter of the most pressing concern and education is a central plank of the Government approach as set out in the national strategy. In October 2002 my Department re-issued the guidelines in booklet form to schools with a reminder that substance use policies are essential to ensuring that they have a coherent framework in place for providing appropriate education on this matter and for dealing with relevant issues in a planned and considered way. The Department's guidelines are regarded as complementary to any guidelines already issued by the regional health boards.

The central objective of a school's substance use policy is the welfare, care and protection of every young person in line with the Education Act 1998 and the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. The policy is intended to address both education concerning alcohol, tobacco and drugs and the procedures for managing incidents relating to these substances. My Department will be monitoring schools on a regular basis to ensure that substance use policies are introduced in accordance with the national strategy.