Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a code of practice in place in schools to reduce the weight of school books that children have to carry home; his plans to work towards resolving this issue or directing schools to provide facilities to allow storage of books overnight; if teachers will be asked to ensure that pupils have to carry home the minimum amount of books; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29593/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department issued Circular M35/05 in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem.

The circular referred to the recommendations of the previously published report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags. This report acknowledged that many of the solutions belong at local school level and made various recommendations in this regard, such as optimum use of storage facilities, developing pupil organisation skills and timetabling.

It is a matter for each individual school to determine which particular measures are most suited to its individual circumstances and to how the school concerned organises teaching and learning.

The circular and the report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.