Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that the social personal health education programme is effectively delivering to students in the area of raising drugs awareness; if the programme is delivering value for money; when the most recent evaluation of the programme was carried out; if he intends to carry out an evaluation of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14465/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A composite report on post-primary Social Personal and Health Education is currently being drafted. This report is based on an analysis of the findings of sixty-three subject inspections on the quality of teaching and learning of Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) in post-primary schools. The subject inspections were conducted between September 2010 and May 2011. Inspectors evaluated 301 SPHE lessons taught by 264 teachers.

It is expected that the composite report will be published by the end of this year.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered any alternative education programmes at post primary level in the area of drugs awareness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14466/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Substance use education is a specific module in the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum in junior cycle, post-primary level. The implementation of the curriculum is supported by a dedicated Post-Primary SPHE Support Service which is operated jointly with the Health Sector.

There is a commitment in the Programme for a National Government, 2011-2016, to "update the out-dated drugs awareness programmes in schools to reflect current attitudes and reality of recreational drug use amongst teens". To meet this commitment, I have established a Working Group to examine the resource materials being used in the SPHE curriculum, especially those materials that are most relevant to substance use education. The Group has representatives from the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs as well as from my own Department. In drafting its report, the Group will have regard to current international experience of substance use prevention programmes in schools.

I am expecting the Group to complete a report for me in the next few months.