Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

The proposal does not involve blood and urine testing. Two Irish companies produce the tests that we propose to use in schools; they are swab tests that do not involve blood or urine. There are five or six different tests and it is for each school to decide which to use. We propose that each school should be assigned a drugs adviser who is also a community worker. He or she will liaise with boards of management, parents and teachers to implement any initiatives considered worthwhile to alleviate the problem of alcohol and drug abuse in schools. This person will work with teachers to implement those initiatives.

Fine Gael in government will implement this scheme. In the meantime, we ask the Government to consider supporting schools in this way. I agree with the Taoiseach's comment that anything that might help is worth trying. To question how it might be done and who will perform the testing is an irresponsible attitude.

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