Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 462 together.

It is not appropriate that resources or materials produced or funded by the drinks industry, for education and awareness on alcohol, are in use in our schools. This position is set out in Departmental Circular 13/2016, published in February 2016, which states that schools should avoid using resources developed by the alcohol industry. This message is also reiterated in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s SPHE Guidelines for Teachers. My Department is giving active consideration to how best to ensure that this position is reflected across our schools. In that regard, my Department will continue to liaise with the HSE, in the context of ongoing work with both the HSE and the Department of Health and HSE on the cross- Government Healthy Ireland programme, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Ireland.

The Deputy may wish to note that the issue of alcohol misuse is addressed in the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which has a specific module on the use and misuse of a range of substances. As students progress through the SPHE programme, they encounter a wide range of issues, including substance misuse. Schools have a role to play in supporting their students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with difficult issues, including drugs, alcohol and gambling. SPHE is currently mandatory in all primary schools and in Junior Cycle, where it forms part of the mandatory 'Wellbeing' area of learning. Schools are also encouraged to deliver the SPHE programme in senior cycle.

In addition to the above, the 'Know the Score' programme is a substance misuse programme published in 2019 for Transition Year or 5th year pupils. The content is based on research about effective approaches to the prevention of substance misuse. It was jointly developed by the HSE, my Department and the Drugs and Alcohol Task Forces. Students and teachers were involved in the design of the 14 lessons and supporting digital content, which aim to facilitate informed discussions about alcohol and drugs in the classroom.

As the deputy will be aware, the SPHE curriculum is in a process of redevelopment at all stages. Details on the process and consultations related to this curriculum redevelopment are available on NCCA.ie, and I would note that the draft specification for Junior Cycle, and the background paper for Senior Cycle, are currently open for consultation.