Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if evidence or information is available to her regarding damage to children's health from carrying excessively heavy schoolbags; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38518/05]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 555 of 22 November 2005, her proposals to send a list of the actions taken by various schools to all schools with a view to having the suitability of the various actions discussed by school management and parents to help alleviate the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38515/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 218 together.

The working group on the weight of schoolbags, in its report presented in 1998, indicated that little is known about the short or long-term consequences of load-carrying by children. The report referred to a number of studies which had been carried out on the matter of the weight of schoolbags. However, the report stated that the association between lifting and carrying and back pain in children has not been established.

As I informed the Deputy in my answer to Question No. 555 of 22 November 2005, my Department initiated an awareness-raising campaign by disseminating the report of the working group with an accompanying circular to all primary and post-primary schools in 1998. A further circular was issued this year, again highlighting the potential health hazard of heavy schoolbags. The most recent circular also outlined a range of local measures that could be adopted by schools in order to alleviate the problem. In addition, page two of the report of the working group outlined positive actions which had been taken by some schools.

I consider that the range of actions as already notified to schools is adequate to enable them to select those measures that would be most suited to each school's individual needs.