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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 3

Written Answers. - Educational Projects.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

163 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the programmes his Department is putting in place on television, radio and in the media to help reduce the use of illegal substances and drugs in the approach to the festive season of Christmas and to highlight the dangers of such misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26996/03]

Under the National Drugs Strategy 2001 to 2008: Building on Experience, action 38 requires the Department of Health and Children to develop and launch an on-going national awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of drugs. My colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, has established a committee to oversee the development and implementation of the national awareness campaign on which my Department is represented. Throughout the development of the campaign, the committee has been in consultation with the Garda Síochána, Departments, the voluntary sector and the health boards.

The task in developing the campaign was to inform and, in some cases, re-inform the general public as to the facts about drugs and the drugs question. In May of this year, the first stage of the campaign was launched with the publication of a general information brochure on drugs. The aim of the first stage was to create discussion not just in the public arena but in homes, schools and workplaces across Ireland. The brochure was distributed to general practitioners, libraries, youth information centres and health boards. Copies are also distributed through the operation of a national information telephone number. An advertising campaign accompanied the launch which included items on television and national and local radio. This phase also introduced a website which contains the same information as in the brochure.

The second phase of the campaign was recently launched with the release of a leaflet which is a parent's guide to drugs and gives answers to many questions raised by parents concerning their children and drugs. This phase is in line with action 35 of the national drugs strategy which requires my Department to ensure that parents have access to factual preventative materials which encourage them to discuss the issues of coping with drugs and drugs misuse with their children. The leaflet is designed to be used in conjunction with the initial campaign brochure and has been distributed to health boards, the national information telephone line, community groups working with parents and various support programmes under the aegis of my Department. A three week radio advertising campaign accompanied the second phase.

My Department has also ensured that the social, personal and health education programmes are being delivered in all primary and post-primary schools in the country since September 2003. The aim of these programmes is to ensure that every child has the necessary knowledge and life-skills to resist drugs or make informed choices about their health, personal lives and social development.

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