817. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to issue a circular to schools outlining her position with regard to plans by the Drink Aware organisation, which is funded by the alcohol industry, to offer programmes on alcohol education in schools; her views that this is an issue on which her Department should be the sole provider of curricular material and programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12007/15] 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan): Schools are currently providing their students with age appropriate information on the issue of alcohol abuse through aspects of the curriculum such as the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme. The latest data, taken from the Lifeskills survey (2012), indicate that 90% of primary and 100% of post primary schools provide their students with information on alcohol abuse. These results were almost identical to the position reported by schools through the 2009 Lifeskills survey. The 2015 Lifeskills survey will issue to schools shortly.

It is a matter for schools and teachers in the first instance to determine what resources and supports they will use to support their implementation of the curriculum. Teachers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to identify the most suitable resources to assist them in delivering the curriculum in their classroom.