Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 85: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the efforts made to combat drug use and highlight the dangers of drug addiction in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14269/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Drug use and the dangers of drug addiction are addressed in the substance use module of the junior cycle social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum which was introduced in September 2000. One of aims of the SPHE curriculum is to enable students to develop an informed and sensible attitude to substances, including drugs, so that they can make responsible and healthy decisions in relation to their personal lives and social development. The educational resource material, On My Own Two Feet, has been recommended as core resource material for the SPHE curriculum and many aspects of substance-drug use, including the consequences of drug taking, are addressed by this resource.

Since September 2000, the implementation of SPHE in post-primary schools has been supported by the post-primary SPHE support service, in partnership with the Department of Health and Children and the health boards. Support has been offered to all schools and training in the delivery of SPHE at junior cycle has been provided to more than 4,300 teachers to date. All post-primary schools are required to have SPHE timetabled as part of their school curriculum, as set out in my Department's circular M11/03, with effect from September 2003.

Under action 43 of the national drugs strategy, guidelines for developing a school substance use policy were developed by the Department of Education and Science in partnership with the Department of Health and Children and the health boards. These guidelines were issued to all schools in May 2002 to assist them in the development of substance use policies. The individual school's substance use policy is an essential prerequisite for ensuring that schools have a coherent framework for providing appropriate education and dealing with relevant issues in a planned and considered way.