Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to confirm that there are curriculum supports educating young people about road safety from a young age. The Garda schools programme, at both primary and post-primary level includes modules on road safety and on cycle safety. The aim of this programme is to engage with young people in order to enhance their appreciation of the need to be caring, law-abiding citizens and to increase awareness of their personal safety . The programme also seeks to improve awareness of road safety and to reduce injuries and fatalities. My Department has engaged with colleagues in An Garda Síochána to ensure that this programme contains strong links to the curriculum at primary and post primary level.

The Senator mentioned SPHE at primary level, which offers particular opportunities, in an age-appropriate manner, to foster the personal development, health and well-being of individual children. One of the three strands within SPHE is "Myself" which includes units on safety and protection. Through the SPHE curriculum children learn to identify situations and places that may threaten personal safety, identify people who are responsible for safety in the community and learn and practice safety strategies for crossing the road, using the bus or being a pedestrian, develop and practice strategies for keeping safe when travelling, such as being familiar with the rules for travelling in car or bus or on a bicycle.

The NCCA is in the process of reviewing and redeveloping the primary school curriculum, including SPHE and well-being. Phase 1 of consultation on the draft framework closed in December 2020, with phase 2, focusing on learners, teachers, school leaders and parents, due take place in September.

At junior cycle, SPHE has a specific personal safety strand which provides a mechanism through which road safety issues can be best dealt with in an age-appropriate way. At transition year, which is currently taken by 70% of students, there is an optional road safety programme which has been developed by the RSA in collaboration with the Department, the NCCA and the development service for teachers.

While there are no plans to introduce mandatory driver education classes at post-primary level, it is important to point out that basic tuition to lay a foundation in driver education features on many school curricula already. The optional RSA programme for transition year is available in 24-hour or 45-hour units and features inputs from various agencies, which the Senator mentioned, such as the ambulance service, the fire service and An Garda Síochána, as well as providing for visiting speakers, trips out of school, projects and case studies. It also introduction to road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists, and covers such issues as seat belts and airbags, driver fatigue, drink- and drug-driving, enforcement, basic first aid at road crashes, emergency services and rehabilitation. The programme is also supported by digital resources, which the Senator also mentioned, including DVD support and access to international websites that deal with road safety. Relevant driver theory test learning is included at the end of each module. The programme does not include driving lessons. The latter would probably not be appropriate for young people that age.