Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to the circulation of books, dealing with drug-related issues, to primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13465/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Private individuals or organisations frequently distribute materials to schools without approaching my Department in the first instance. It is a matter for individual school management authorities to determine if the material should be used in a classroom setting. Usually, decisions on these matters are taken by schools in the context of the appropriateness or otherwise of the material to the curriculum. Under action 43 of the national drugs strategy, guidelines for developing a substance abuse policy were drawn up by my Department in consultation with the Department of Health and Children and the former health boards. These guidelines issued to all schools in October 2002 to assist them in the development of appropriate substance abuse policies. My Department has a national curriculum for social, personal and health education supported by teacher guidelines and a full-time support service providing teacher training. Within this, the Walk Tall programme has been developed as the substance abuse prevention programme at primary level, in co-operation with the health sector. The programme was developed carefully to ensure it is sensitive and age appropriate.