Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the success of a programme (details supplied) if he will consider introducing same on a national basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30011/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As part of their role, Education Centres develop and provide a range of programmes for teachers, school management, and parents. These programmes are designed in part to respond to locally identified needs while also providing the opportunity to test new approaches. The Parental Guidance Programme for Primary Schools was run through Tralee Education Centre in 2006. Its aim was to build and enhance the capacity of parents to guide and support their children in Primary School so as to enrich their learning experiences at school. It contained modules around Bullying, Positive Discipline and Behaviour Management.

At a national level, my Department provides funds a range of programmes dealing with these matters. My Department also provides significant funding to the National Parents Council (Primary) for the provision of training to parents. The National Parents Council (Primary) has also been advised that as part of the Action Plan on Bullying, we are seeking to agree a coordinated training plan for boards of management and parents and have asked them to submit proposals for anti-bullying training for consideration.

I should emphasise that, in the current financial climate, our ability to allocate funding for any programmes or initiatives in the area of training, additional to current activities being already undertaken by my Department is limited.

SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR PARENTS

This Programme aims to build and enhance the capacity of Parents to guide and support their children during their time in Primary school and thereby to maximise their potential for positive participation within school, home and the wider community contexts.

This course is aimed at Parents, Teachers, Home school liaison Officers and members of school parent Boards of Management.

Each session will focus on a different topic -

-Enhancing self-esteem for 5-12 year olds

-Positive discipline and behaviour management for 5-12 year olds

-Forming identity for 5-12 year olds

-Educating your child in relationship and sexuality for 5-12 year olds

Why such a Programme?

-Changing structure of Irish society

-Parents need support to define or redefine our value system

-Early intervention and prevention particularly for students at risk, can make a difference to overall personal development and academic performance

-Empowering the primary care givers with confidence and self-esteem is part of the process of re-educating Parents

-Keeping up to date on issues such as child protection, Internet usage, health and safety and understanding boundaries

Course details are as follows:

04^th October - Building self esteem and forming identity

11^th October - Positive Discipline and Behaviour Management for 5-12 year olds

18^th October - Educating your child in relationships and sexuality for 5-12 year olds

Venue - The Education Centre, Dromtacker, Tralee

Phone - 066 7195000

Time - 10.00am - 12.30pm or 7.00 -9.30pm