Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the costs involved in operating the SPHE programme per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47545/08]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the costs involved in operating the On My Own Two Feet programme per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47547/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 400 together.

SPHE was introduced into all schools, at Junior Cycle level, on a phased basis from September 2000 and has been a part of the Junior Cycle Curriculum since 2003. It builds on the various Life Skills, Health Education and Pastoral Care programmes already on offer in many Post Primary schools.

The aims of the SPHE are to enable the students to develop skills for self-fulfilment and living in communities, to promote self-esteem and self-confidence, to enable the students to develop a framework for responsible decision-making, to provide opportunities for reflection and discussion and to promote physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.

'On My Own Two Feet' is a class-room materials resource for substance-use education in the context of the SPHE programme. It is an integral part of the SPHE curriculum, drawing on three approaches: development of values and attitudes, decision-making and social competence. As such it is a comprehensive life-skills programme. The programme is being delivered in 750 secondary schools throughout the country with the aim of reaching all students in Junior Cycle. 'On My Own Two Feet' was subsumed into Social Personal and Health Education Programme (SPHE) September 2000.

The overall operational costs for SPHE which includes 'On My Own Two Feet' for 2006 was €446,000. For 2007 it was €461,000 and for 2008 it has been €400,000 to date. The SPHE receives funding from my Department, as well as the Department of Health and the HSE. The figures quoted do not include substitution or secondments costs for the teachers who organise and attend the in-service provided by SPHE.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the costs involved in operating the Walk Tall programme per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47546/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Substance Misuse Prevention Programme (Walk Tall) Support Service is available to all primary and special schools in all Local Drugs Task Force Areas and has also been offered to DEIS schools.

The role of this Support Service is to support teachers in these schools to implement the Walk Tall Programme in the context of the SPHE curriculum. Support is also offered to these schools to develop, implement and review their Substance Use Policies in line with Action 43 (NDS 2001-2008 (National Drugs Strategy). The cost involved in operating this programme in the current year is €416,616.