Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the annual cost of the active schools flag initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17782/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Active School Flag (ASF) is a Department initiative where schools are recognised for striving to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. 

My Department allocated €175,000 for the initiative in 2016.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of introducing a well-being programme in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17818/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Wellbeing is concerned with enhancing the physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing of students. Therefore, the area of learning includes Physical Education (PE), Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE). Schools can include other areas in their provision for wellbeing, such as guidance.

At primary level wellbeing includes PE and SPHE. There are many supports available to primary schools in the area of student wellbeing including the Wellbeing in Primary Schools Guidelines (2015). They provide a Framework for schools to present, in an integrated way, the existing elements of good practice to promote positive mental health and direct them to new practices as appropriate. Once students reach second level, then the new guidelines on Wellbeing in Junior Cycle, published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, will assist schools in supporting and developing their students wellbeing. 

My Department is strongly supportive of the promotion of positive mental health awareness in both primary and post-primary schools, and student wellbeing is a priority of mine as Minister.  The Department adopts an holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health, and to supporting those with a broad range of problems, behavioural, emotional and social.

The process spans the curriculum in schools, whole-school ethos, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care, and the provision of professional development for teachers. It also involves other supports such as educational psychological services, guidance and counselling services, and interface with other agencies, both nationally and locally.  It is not possible to put a specific cost on the operation of the wellbeing programme in schools.