Ivor Callely
Ceist:99 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education if he will outline (a) the measures, (b) the costs and (c) the type of awareness programmes that have been implemented on HIV/AIDS; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - HIV-AIDS Programmes.
My Department in collaboration with the Health Promotion Unit in the Department of Health, have developed a package of resource materials on AIDS education to assist schools in their development of educational programmes in this area. The resource materials package was developed and sent to the usual consultative bodies, Teacher Unions, Management Bodies, National Parents Council by the Department of Education, and to the health boards by the Department of Health for information and comment.
The materials were piloted in 20 schools and, following modifications in the light of this process and comment received, the final version was printed and disseminated to all second-level schools at the end of September 1990. Copies were also sent to FÁS youth training schemes, teachers in the prison service, teachers' centres, various bodies and libraries including the Dáil Library.
Subsequently, a series of one-day seminars on the use of the materials were organised, on a regional basis. Over the course of the school years 1990-91 and 1991-92 a total of 27 seminars was organised and every school was offered an opportunity to send two teachers to a seminar. Approximately 75-80 per cent took up this offer. In general the response to both the seminars and the materials was highly positive.
Costs incurred by the Department of Education were in relation to travel and substitution incurred by teachers attending seminars and mailing costs in relation to the dissemination of materials and notification of seminars. The Department of Health paid for printing costs, venues, speakers and subsistence. Precise details of the costs involved are not readily available.