Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given a report (details supplied) which outlined that over 37% of 15-to-24-year-olds have an alcohol use disorder, the timeline for the updated Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23540/23]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given a report (details supplied) which outlined that over 37% of 15-to-24-year-olds have an alcohol use disorder, the programme currently in place for Junior Cycle students to raise awareness of harm. [23544/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.

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.

Relevant topics in SPHE include student decision-making skills and safety and protection. Students learn how to exercise judgement, weigh up different possibilities, examine the steps and choices that guide them towards considered decision-making, begin to understand their own rights and the rights of others, and explore decision-making. In respect of safety, students’ ability to assess the consequences of risky behaviour is also developed.

In addition to this, the 'Know the Score' programme is a substance misuse programme published in 2019 for Transition Year or 5th year pupils. Know the Score can be found on HSE.ie, and training is available for teachers.

In 2020, the NCCA established two development groups, one for primary and one for post-primary, to oversee work in the area of SPHE/RSE curricular redevelopment for Primary, Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle.

Following an extensive period of consultation, the NCCA has finalised an updated specification for Junior Cycle to be introduced in schools this coming September.

This provides clear direction on the knowledge and skills that all students should gain during the three years of Junior Cycle SPHE. It places a strong focus on the development of important life skills that young people need growing up in a fast changing and complex world. As shown in the draft specification published for consultation last year, issues of alcohol and addiction in Strand 2: Making healthy choices. The learning outcomes of this strand includes investigating how unhealthy products are markets and advertised to appeal to young people; analysing the supports and challenges for young people when it comes to healthy choices about addictive substances and overcoming them; and discussing the physical, social, and legal consequences of their own or others’ use of addictive substances. The topic is also touched in Strand 4 - Emotional wellbeing, where students explore the potential impact of substance use on mental health.

Work on Senior Cycle specifications has begun and it is expected to be available for public consultation in Q3 2023. A background paper was already published for consultation in October last year. Development of a draft Primary specification is expected to be completed in early 2025, with public consultation on this specification planned for 2024.