Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level teachers who have taken part in teacher training programmes funded and delivered by organisations (details supplied) in the years 2021 and to date in 2022. [56747/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The quality of our teaching profession is a critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes. The Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development and supports for teachers and principals. The Department ensures that a range of high-quality models of CPD is provided to teachers and school leaders through its support services, the national network of Education Centres and appropriate groups, bodies and institutions who are empowered to design, develop and deliver CPD programmes, and also to ensure that valuable teacher student contact time is protected.

Provision for teachers is supported through the Departments teacher support services like the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT), Centre for School Leadership (CSL) and the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT).

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. As the Deputy may be aware, this position is set out in Departmental Circular 13/2016, Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Schools, 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 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.

Along with other government departments and agencies my Department is working to support the full implementation of the national drug and alcohol strategy Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025 which aims to promote healthier lifestyles within society and encourage all to make healthier choices around drug and alcohol use.

In 2019, my Department, along with the HSE and the National Drugs and Alcohol Task Force launched ‘Know the Score’, a new national resource for teachers of senior cycle students aimed at guiding and supporting them to improve their knowledge and strengthen their skills in dealing with the risks associated with alcohol and drugs.

‘Know the Score’ is the first national evidence-based resource on alcohol and drugs for senior cycle students and was developed in partnership between public health and education professionals, with input from teachers and young people.