Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the walk tall and personal health programmes; if there are cut backs proposed to the programmes due to the economic situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8949/09]

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 been also offered to DEIS schools. Along with all other areas of expenditure, provision will be subject to ongoing review in the context of expenditure management.

The Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) support service was introduced to schools, at Junior Cycle from September 2000 and has been part of the curriculum since 2003. The SPHE receives funding from my Department, as well as the HSE. There are no plans to reduce my Departments budget contribution up to September 2009. As the Deputy is aware I have had to reduce the number of personnel in this and other support services, nevertheless from September 2009 the SPHE will be amalgamated with the Second Level Support Service (SLSS) in order to leverage the capacity which currently exists within the sector, thus ensuring that a wide range of support for all teachers will remain in place.