Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there is road safety education for the junior cycle and within the third level sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5475/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, whose role is to advise the Minister for Education and Science on curriculum and assessment issues, recommended that road safety be addressed within the context of social, personal and health education.

Social, personal and health education is part of the core curriculum for all pupils in the junior cycle of second level schools. It provides students with a unique opportunity to develop the skills and competence to learn about themselves and to care for themselves and others and to make informed decisions about their health, personal lives, and social development. I am not aware that road safety education is a feature of courses within the third level sector.

A new high level Government road safety group, of which I am a member, has met and the role of education in addressing road safety will be discussed in this forum.