David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied that the guidelines her Department have issued on the weight of schoolbags are being adhered to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27686/05]

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 schoolbags, 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 the awareness of the potential health hazards posed by excessively heavy schoolbags.

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 this year, again highlighting the potential health hazard of heavy schoolbags and outlining a range of local measures that could be adopted in order to alleviate the problem. It is a matter for each individual school to choose those measures that would be most suited to its individual needs.

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

Where complaints are received by my Department in relation to this problem in particular schools, parents are asked to bring the matter to the attention of the school in question and direct the attention of the school authority to the need to address the problem by implementing those recommendations contained in the report best suited to the particular school's individual needs.

It is considered that the issue of the most recent circular on the weight of schoolbags will serve to once again raise awareness of the problem and lead to local solutions being implemented where necessary.