341. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the drinks industry-funded programmes should be delivered in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56485/22] 

Norma Foley, Minister for Education: 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 is reflected 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, and also 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 it is continuing to liaise with the HSE, in the context of ongoing work with both the HSE and the Department of Health on the cross-Government Healthy Ireland programme, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Ireland.

________________________________________

358. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of second level schools by county that have facilitated an education programme (details supplied) in the years 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [56746/22]

Minister for Education: 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 does not hold records of external resources engaged by schools. Clear guidance is provided to schools on the engagement of outside speakers and on the use of external resources to assist in delivering the curriculum. These guidelines are most recently outlined in updated circular 0042/2018 for primary schools and 0043/2018 for post primary schools. Where an external facilitator is engaged by a school, he or she should be engaged in the context of delivering a planned and comprehensive programme in the school. He or she should not be brought in to replace the school programme but to enhance it.

My Department continues 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.