I understand that the organisation in question has distributed its booklet to school principals. I am aware of the concerns expressed by the Irish National Alliance for Action on Alcohol regarding the booklet. My Department has not approved the contents of the booklet. However, organisations and private individuals are entitled to write to schools without the approval of my Department.
Education concerning alcohol is addressed in both-primary and post primary schools in the context of the social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum. Every primary school is implementing the primary social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum which includes substance misuse education and prevention, from the start of this school year. Detailed educational resource material – Walk Tall programme – is provided for schools to support teachers in addressing substance misuse education and prevention.
In post primary schools, the implementation of SPHE, which incorporates alcohol misuse education and prevention, at junior cycle has been supported by the post-primary SPHE support service since September 2000. This service works in partnership with health promotion personnel in regional health boards.
All post-primary schools will have implemented SPHE as part of their junior cycle programmes with effect from September 2003. On My Own Two Feet is the specific educational resource material which supports teachers in addressing substance misuse education and prevention in the context of SPHE.
