158. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the recent disclosure about the usage by youths of synthetic drugs deriving from online delivery services; his plans to revise the outdated drugs awareness programmes in schools to reflect changing attitudes and culture. [22403/11]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): There is a commitment in the Programme for a National Government, 2011-2016, to “update the out-dated drugs awareness programmes in schools to reflect current attitudes and reality of recreational drug use amongst teens”. 

To meet this commitment, I have established a Working Group to examine the resource materials being used in the SPHE curriculum, especially those materials that are most relevant to substance use education. The Group has representatives from both the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs as well as from my own Department. 

I am expecting the Group to complete a report for me by the end of 2011. 

Written Answers - School Curriculum

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 737 No. 12