Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the possible detrimental effects on the health of children who are burdened by heavy schools bags; if there are plans to reduce the number of books they are obliged to carry to and from school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5026/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The report of a working group to examine potential problems caused by the weight of school bags, which was presented in July 1998, acknowledged that many of the solutions belong at local school level. One of the main recommendations of the report related to the need to heighten awareness of the potential health hazards posed by excessively heavy school bags and, in this regard, my Department initiated an awareness-raising campaign by disseminating the report, with an accompanying circular, to all primary and post-primary schools.

A further circular was issued in 2005, again highlighting the potential health hazard of heavy school bags and outlining a range of measures that could be adopted at school level to alleviate the problem. Ultimately, it is a matter for each individual school to choose those measures that would be most suited to its needs and that fit with how it organises teaching and learning. The report of the working group makes various recommendations in this regard, such as optimum use of storage facilities, developing pupil organisation skills and timetabling.

My Department is aware that positive action has been taken by many schools on these issues. Actions taken consist of a range of measures, including the provision of lockers and, in the case of second level schools, the arrangement of the timetable into double class periods, active liaison with parents and the co-ordination of homework by subject teachers.

Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level, mainly in the case of language subjects, school textbooks are not approved or prescribed by my Department at first or second level. Decisions on which books to use in schools are taken at school level. However, the report of the working group was disseminated by my Department to the Irish Educational Publishers Association and it was asked to include consideration of the weight of school texts in its deliberations and liaise with teachers on finding solutions to the issue. The report highlighted that both teachers and pupils favoured the use of multi-level textbook production for convenience and ease of access and cited a high demand for them.

A copy of the report of the working group on the weight of school bags and all current circulars on this issue are available on my Department's website.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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There have been memos, reports, circulars and recommendations but the problem still persists. While coming to work this morning, I witnessed young children of no more than eight on their way to school with what can best be described as rucksacks. One would think they were going on safari rather than to a primary school. Is the Minister aware of the report by an American professor that states no child should be allowed to carry a school bag that weighs more than 10% of his or her own weight? The report also states it is harmful to the skeletal development of a child to be carrying such burdens.

The reports and circulars have not been effective. Ministers and Governments come and go, yet the problem arises every year. Will the Minister consider legislating to set out in black and white what is allowable?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is not feasible to legislate on the weight of school bags but I appreciate what the Deputy is saying. The problem is even greater for first year students because, at 13 years of age, they decide to carry to school all the books for all their new subjects.

Some of the problems that have arisen, which must be weighed against each other, concern the fact that certain junior certificate courses, such as history, are three-year courses. Some of the textbooks are composite books that cover the three years and parents therefore prefer to buy them rather than three separate books because doing so is cheaper. However, although they are cheaper, the child must carry more weight, bearing in mind that the problem can arise in respect of books for all subjects.

Another difficulty arises because teachers like books that encompass all levels. Where honours, ordinary and foundation level students are all in the one class, especially during first and second year, they must all work from the same textbook rather than three different ones. This is a practical problem that must be addressed at school level.

The provision of lockers is important and we provide funding for them as part of our furniture grant under the schools building programme. This is one way of ensuring that students do not have to carry heavy textbooks to and from school every day. Students will not pull a bag behind them because it does not look cool. If they did so, it would alleviate the problem, but if one is 13 one does not want to do so.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree that heavy school bags have a detrimental effect on the health of children and that long-term damage can be caused by carrying them on one shoulder using one strap? Will the Minister consider recommending that these multi-level textbooks, or large tomes as she described them, which include three years' work, be divided into at least year groups of work? Will she consider issuing a ministerial order or directive to this effect, if she agrees the weight of heavy schoolbags containing heavy school books poses a danger to the health of children's backs? Has she received any reports from physiotherapists, orthopaedic professionals, chiropractors or others regarding the danger imposed on children by having to carry heavy schoolbags to schools under the aegis of her Department?

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister aware that a number of countries such as Israel, Italy, Poland, Bolivia and New Zealand to name but a few have already legislated on this issue? The Minister mentioned the provision of lockers in schools, but there are difficulties in terms of cost and space. Will she initiate a system of grant assistance for schools that would like to avail of this solution? Will the Minister consult publishers about the possibility of the publication of smaller-sized books? Students do not need books the size of Encyclopaedia Britannica for every subject; why can smaller textbooks not be published? Furthermore, could more use be made of computers by students to view books electronically or could they not have two sets of books, one at school and one at home? These constructive suggestions should be considered in view of the potential danger to children's health posed by this problem.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It comes down to the balancing act I spoke about. It is an issue of cost versus weight.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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What about children's health?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am not a doctor. I cannot vouch for whatever damage might be done, but I appreciate that schoolbags are very heavy. Parents could not be reasonably expected to buy two sets of books for their children to have one set at school and one at home.

Deputy Stanton asked about requesting publishers to publish lighter-weight books. The demand for high quality books is such that all the textbooks are colourful and contain many maps, drawings, pictures and photographs, which make learning easier.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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They are very heavy.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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They are, but if a book is made attractive for the learner, it will include all these elements.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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What about the publishing of paperbacks rather than hardbacks?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Deputies will remember school books in which there were no pictures whereas now they are attractive, but they are heavier.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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They are very heavy.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is a balancing act. I hope that schools locally examine homework policy and provide storage facilities.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister do anything about it?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The furniture grant awarded to schools includes money allocated for lockers.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister do anything about this issue?

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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We will be here discussing it again next year.