Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 February 2008
145 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for Education and Science when guidelines for the preparation of a road safety plan outside schools will be available to enable schools to prepare their own plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8532/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI believe that schools have a role to play both in teaching students about road safety issues and in helping them to develop the attitudes necessary to promote safe behaviour on the roads.
The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which is mandatory in primary schools and at junior cycle level, provides a framework under which the generic values and skills which underpin responsible decision-making, and respect for the rights and safety of others, can be developed and promoted among students. SPHE has a specific personal safety strand within the programme, and this provides a mechanism through which road safety issues for all can be best dealt with in an age appropriate way.
In February of 2007, the Road Safety Authority launched the RSA MACE "Safe to School" campaign at primary level. Due for its second phase in February of this year, the programme is aimed at helping primary school children learn effective road safety lessons. The 2007 campaign covered walking to school safely, in 2008 the campaign is focused around the topic of Cycling to School Safely. A dedicated website, www.safetoschool.ie, has also been launched as part of the campaign.
The Streetwise programme for junior cycle pupils was launched in UN Road Safety Week on 24 April 2007. It covers road safety across 9 topics — walking, cycling, seatbelts, airbags, speed, driver fatigue, motor cycle safety, hazard recognition and the engineering aspects of road safety, to be delivered over nine class periods.
In addition, a Road Safety programme for Transition Year, developed by the Road Safety Authority in collaboration with my Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the Second level Support Service is being piloted in schools in the current school year for rollout in the 2008/09 school year.
My Department will continue to work with the Road Safety Authority to strengthen the role of schools in promoting road safety even further.
In line with the Road Safety Strategy, my Department is preparing a template on a road safety protocol for inclusion in school plans. The target is to have this ready by the end of September 2008.
