Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the work of an interdepartmental health promotion committee between her Department and the Department of Health and Children; the details of its work on mental health; the membership of the committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18851/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The committee to which the Deputy refers is an Inter Departmental Group on SPHE (Social Personal & Health Education) which was set up between my Department and the Department of Health and Children. The Group informs and guides partnership working between the two Departments in relation to the promotion and protection of the health of children and young people in the school setting in the context of curriculum development of Junior Cycle SPHE, teacher education and related policy development.

The composition of the group is three officers from my Department, two officers from the Department of Health and Children, a representative from the HSE, two representatives of the Inspectorate of my Department and two representatives from the support services of teacher professional development.

A sub-committee of the Inter Departmental Group was established in March of this year to oversee the implementation of The National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention (2005-2014) pertaining to the school setting. The sub-committee will develop a framework that will support evidence-based practice for mental health promotion and suicide prevention in the post-primary school setting in Ireland.

The composition of the sub committee is four officers from the HSE, one representative of the Inspectorate of my Department, one officer from the Department of Health and Children and one representative from the National Educational Psychological Service.