asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a girl (details supplied) in Blanchardstown, County Dublin was incorrectly registered as a male by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and that the parents of the girl have been trying to have the birth certificate corrected for over the past year since they discovered the error; if he will now make arrangements to have the error corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Birth Registration.
892.
I am aware that the girl's birth was incorrectly registered as being that of a male. The entry in the register of births was corrected on 13 June 1980 on production of a statutory declaration by the parents of the child. If there is any further problem in the matter the parents should contact the General Register Office, Custom House, Dublin, for any advice or assistance required.
893.
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the ever-increasing incidence of drug abuse in the Dún Laoghaire area of County Dublin, he will indicate and outline his specific proposals to combat this problem.
I am very conscious of the increasing incidence of drug abuse among young people and I have taken steps to alert and educate parents, teachers, youth leaders and young people themselves to the dangers inherent for them in the whole area of substance abuse. I recently allocated an additional £¼ million to the Health Education Bureau to undertake an urgent national programme on substance abuse. In addition, the Eastern Health Board have established a special task force to co-ordinate the provision of drug treatment facilities in their area.
The additional funding allows the bureau to expand its programme of training for teachers, doctors, pharmacists, career guidance counsellors, health board personnel, gardaí and clergy to enable them to act as drug educators. These people are available to act extensively throughout the community and particularly in schools. This aspect of the programme is aimed primarily at parents to inform them as to the nature and extent of the problem, equip them to guide their children away from becoming involved with drugs and train them to react appropriately, organising treatment and support if their child has a drug problem.
The Health Education Bureau, with the full support and co-operation of the Department of Education, is arranging for the preparation of educational materials on all forms of substance abuse for second level school children. This is being piloted in selected schools at present and will be extended to all schools from September 1982.
In the Dún Laoghaire area, seminars and courses are organised regularly for parents of adolescents by the Eastern Health Board's health education coordinator for the area. The overall theme is the management of the adolescent and aspects of the programmes include education in relation to drug abuse, alcohol, sexuality and use of leisure. The lecturers are experts in their own fields who cooperate with the health board and the Health Education Bureau in providing these educational programmes.
In the last six months, four of these programmes have been held. Each one was attended by over 150 parents and other concerned adults.