Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 225: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the measures being taken to combat the drink and drugs culture from a health promotion perspective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24252/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is concerned about alcohol related harm and about the increase in consumption in the total population as well as the increased prevalence of high risk drinking. This problem calls for a concerted cross-departmental approach involving a range of key Departments and stakeholders. The two reports of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol, STFA, provide a blueprint for tackling alcohol related harm. The reports have been approved by the Government and the Department of Health and Children and other relevant Departments have been authorised to implement the recommendations coming within their remit.

Significant progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the first report of the STFA in areas such as advertising, responsible serving, education, research, etc. Further to the Government decision supporting the second report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol, a working group to achieve targeted and measurable reductions in alcohol related harm has been established. The working group comprises the social partners and other key stakeholders. Issues such as underage drink, harmful drinking and drink driving are currently being considered.

It is recognised that drug misuse, whether of legal or illegal substances, has the capacity to cause harm, at a physical and psychological level, not just for the individual but also for their family and broader community. The health promotion unit is committed to the implementation of the education and prevention recommendations of the national drugs strategy 2001-2008. To that end the unit has developed strong links with the Department of Education and Science in the roll out of the social personal and health education programme — primary and post-primary — and in providing support and guidelines for the development of schools substance use policies.

The unit also has responsibility for the development and implementation of the national drugs awareness campaign. The campaign's aim is to raise awareness of current problem drug use and its consequences across society. The campaign, consisting of both advertising and public relations, consists of different phases with each phase dealing with different population groups and topics. In addition to the advertising and public relations elements, a range of information materials, a website and a national helpline have also been developed. Recent phases deliver targeted messages on cocaine and cannabis use.

Action 43 of the national drugs strategy called for all schools to develop, through a process of consultation and partnership, a school substance use policy. To facilitate this process the Departments of Education and Science, Health and Children and the Health Services Executive have produced guidelines for schools to assist in developing substance use policies. These have been circulated to all schools nationwide. These guidelines highlight the importance of SPHE as the core preventative strategy for schools. Further support has been made available to schools through the HSE health areas, the primary curriculum support programme, the SPHE post primary support service and local drugs task forces.