Written Answers. - Smoking in Schools.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
157
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Health
the way she intends to address the high smoking prevalence among school children in Ireland compared to many other countries as outlined in the recent report Cancer Ireland and the EC, by the Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland 1991, and in particular the prevalence of smoking in primary and post primary schools in the Dublin area; if special allocation will be focused on the Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
While the percentage of the adult population which smokes has decreased from 43 per cent in the early seventies to 28 per cent in 1990-91 the number of young people taking up the smoking habit is a cause for concern.
The most recent sudy of smoking among young people in EC countries, (Eurobarometer Survey Oct. 1990) shows that 4 per cent of 11-15 year olds in Ireland were regular smokers (i.e. smoked at least once a week). In this study Ireland was among the four countries with the lowest percentage of young people smoking.
A more detailed study of Dublin schoolgirls published in 1990 shows that 2.5 per cent of girls in the senior classes in primary schools were regular smokers while 13 per cent of those in the junior classes in post-primary schools were regular smokers.
I am very concerned about these figures relating to the numbers of young people smoking and my Department are involved in a number of initiatives to combat this worrying trend.
The health promotion unit of my Department, the psychological service of the Department of Education and the Irish Cancer Society have come together to form a working party to develop a peer-led smoking cessation and reduction action programme for young people. The primary aim of this programme is to reduce the level of smoking among young Irish schoolchildren.
To begin this programme, suitable leaders from within the school-setting will be identified and trained in areas such as information dissemination, communication skills and leadership. As a result of his training, it is anticipated that the students will return to the school setting with the skills necessary to instruct their colleagues with regard to various aspects of their health related behaviour, most notably their smoking habits. It is also anticipated that those attending the training seminar will have acquired the ability to initiate projects on this subject on their return to school. On-going support is to be provided to participants when the programme is in place in the school setting.
To date, the working party have been working closely with a number of students as to how best this initiative should proceed. The first training seminar is to take place in the first term of the 1992 school year.
As part of the European Commission's Europe against cancer programme the health promotion unit of my Department and the psychological service of the Department of Education are hosting a national conference on health education and cancer prevention for three days at the end of this month. This conference will bring together individuals from the health and education fields in order to tackle the problems, at school level and of lifestyle related illnesses. Smoking features prominently in that regard.
For the past two years the health promotion unit have organised a nationwide school poster competition entitled, "Health is looking Good". School children were asked to create a poster on one of various health topics including smoking. This competition was highly succesful as it succeeded in the heightening of children's awareness of the main health themes, particularly smoking.
An information pack on various health issues was distributed to every school in the country for use by teachers. The winning entries — four of which were directly related to smoking — were reproduced and have been disseminated to schools throughout the country. The unit will continue this initiative in 1992.
A substance abuse prevention programme has been initiated in selected schools on a pilot basis by the health promotion unit and the psychological service of the Department of Education. The programme will run during the 1991-92 academic year.
It involves whole school staffs becoming more aware of ways in which they can help young people respond to threats to their health. This programme deals with ways that relate to a young person's ability to resist the offer of substances. Tobacco is one of the substances that is specifically dealt with.
During 1990 and 1991 the health promotion unit in conjunction with the Irish Cancer Society and the Department of Education held a number of highly successful teacher in-service training seminars on the subject of cancer education. These seminars focused specifically on smoking.
A range of school materials have been developed as a resource for these teachers. The HPU have been involved in the compilation of these materials — one for primary schools, one for junior second-level students and a third for senior second-level students. Video material is currently being prepared by the unit and the Irish Cancer Society for use on television specifically aimed at young people and smoking.
Some of the initiatives I have referred to above are taking place in the Dublin area, though not exclusively so. The unit is currently developing the 1992 national anti tobacco campaign. I propose that this will have a particular focus on the problem of young people smoking.
