Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there has been progress by the Road Safety Authority on an educational project at secondary school level for road safety; if the Road Safety Authority is aware of a project piloted by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the person is anxious to receive opportunity to speak to the Road Safety Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31553/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Social Personal and Health Education is mandatory in primary schools and at junior cycle level and provides a framework under which the generic values and skills which underpin responsible decision-making and respect for the rights and safety of others can be developed and promoted among students. SPHE has a specific personal safety strand within the programme, and this provides a vehicle through which road safety issues for all can be best dealt with in an age appropriate way.

Specific materials for teaching young people about road safety have also been given to schools. At the start of the 2001/02 school year the National Safety Council, with assistance from my Department, distributed copies of Staying Alive — a road safety resource for Transition Year and the Senior Cycle — to all second level schools. This pack contained a wide range of learning opportunities and activities on topics such as personal responsibility and decision-making, environmental issues and risks and rules for road users. A CD-ROM with additional material downloaded from the internet was included in the pack along with copies of the Rules of the Road. This is also supplemented by Garda visits to primary and second level schools during which the themes of crime, road safety, personal safety and substance abuse are explored as part of the SPHE programme. There were some 1900 school visits in 2005.

The Minister for Transport recently formally established the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The RSA has already commenced work on a number of key areas including the development of a Road Safety programme for use in Transition Year. This work is being undertaken in co-operation with my Department and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. I am aware of the DriveSafe programme and my Department will bring it to the attention of the Road Safety Authority in the context of this work. The programme in question includes provision for driving instruction, and I have no plans for including this aspect in schools.