Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 May 2025
87. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the issue surrounding the use of nicotine pouches during school hours by school students on school property; if she has had any discussions with the Minister for Health in relation to this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24622/25]
View answer88. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she supports the call by an organisation (details supplied) for health advisory guidelines to be issued to schools related to nicotine pouches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24623/25]
View answer89. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has considered sending out guidelines from her Department to provide advisory support to schools related to nicotine pouches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24624/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 88 and 89 together.
My Department works together with the Department of Health and other agencies to support students in the area of health. The aim is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to enable them to make the right choices for healthy lifestyles throughout their lives. Schools have a role to play in supporting their students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues. This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme.
The Junior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced for first years in all schools from September 2023. The Learning Outcomes include that students should be able to investigate how unhealthy products are marketed and advertised, the consequences of using addictive substances whether now or in the long-term, and indeed skills and strategies to help them make informed choices to support their health and wellbeing. The learning outcomes of the Making Healthy Choices strand in the JC SPHE specification include that students should be able to discuss societal, cultural and economic influences affecting young people when it comes to making healthy choices about smoking, alcohol and other addictive substances and behaviours (including gaming, gambling and social media addictions) and how harmful influences can be overcome in real-life situations
An updated Senior Cycle specification was approved and published in September 2024. Schools have until September 2027 to introduce the specification for students entering fifth year of the Leaving Certificate Established programme. The specification includes a strand called ‘Health and Wellbeing’. The learning outcomes of this strand include that students should be able to examine social norms, attitudes and beliefs related to alcohol, tobacco/vaping and substance use, and explain the pathways towards addiction, the signs and consequences of different kinds of addictions and where to go and how to access help, if needed.
My Department will continue to engage with the Department of Health and the HSE in relation to health matters.
