Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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338. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being taken to reduce the weight of school bags for pupils which is having an adverse affect on posture and the ability of children to walk or cycle to school; if he will specifically outline the steps his Department is taking to address this problem and on foot of that to revise Department Circular M35/05; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37932/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware 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.