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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 5

Written Answers. - Weight of School Bags.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

158 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science the consideration, if any, he has given to the increasing weight of children's school bags; if books will be provided in two parts in order to solve this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12306/99]

The report of the working group on the potential problems caused by the weight of heavy school bags outlines a number of recommendations which have implications, not only for my Department, but also for schools, parents and publishers. One of the main recommendations relates to the need to heighten the awareness of the potential health hazards posed by excessively heavy school bags

In this regard my Department, at primary and post-primary level, has initiated an awareness raising campaign by disseminating the report, with an accompanying circular, to all primary and post-primary schools. Furthermore, information leaflets and posters have also been distributed to all schools which highlight the potential health hazard of heavy school bags and outline a range of local measures that can be adopted in order to alleviate the problem. It is a matter for each individual school to choose those measures which would be most suitable to its individual needs.

The question of books being provided in two or more parts is essentially a matter for publishers, who would be influenced in such matters by customer demand. The report of the working group which considered this matter stated that there is currently a demand for multi-level or omnibus textbooks and that such textbooks also tend to be more cost effective. It also stated that the provision of smaller, lighter textbooks, particularly at second level, requires the communication of this demand by parents and teachers to publishers.

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