Weight of Schoolbags

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 May 2014

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Questions (191)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

191. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 22 January 2014, if he will implement the recommendations of the working group's report on the weight of schoolbags as opposed to his Department's policy of highlighting the potential health hazard of overweight bags and leaving it to each individual school to determine which measures, if any, it should implement in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20265/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The report of the working group recognised that many of the solutions belong at local school level and made various recommendations in this regard, such as optimum use of storage facilities, developing pupil organisation skills and timetabling. It is therefore best dealt with locally at school level rather than centrally in my Department.

My Department issued circulars to all primary and post-primary schools in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem. The circulars referred to the recommendations of the previously published report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags. It is a matter for each individual school to determine which particular measures are most suited to its individual circumstances and to how the school concerned organises teaching and learning. The circulars (PC 13/05 and M35/05) and the report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.