Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

565. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, and defibrillator training module to the transition year module; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26293/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Social Personal and Health Education curriculum, which is currently mandatory for junior cycle students, is focused on promoting the health and well-being of our young people, helping them to create and maintain supportive relationships and to become active responsible citizens in society. The curriculum deals with issues such as making decisions, developing self confidence, growing and changing and personal safety. For those schools that provide the Transition Year programme, they continue and expand on their students education, including providing greater awareness of their wellbeing and of how to assist themselves and their peers. Schools are encouraged to engage actively with community groups and a wide range of stakeholders to provide for extra curricular learning opportunities. Many schools invite organisations such as the Red Cross or the Order of Malta to provide some first aid training, or to give talks to students.

Within Transition Year, which is taken by 50% of students, a flexible menu of learning modules can be provided by schools within the context of a framework for the programme set out by the Department of Education and Skills. As part of this, it is open to schools to provide first aid training if they wish to do so. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has also developed a template descriptor for Transition Units which can be used by organisations and agencies developing inputs for the programme.