469. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if drug addiction prevention is covered in the post-primary curriculum; and if so, to outline the main elements of the curriculum which cover such. [73675/25]

Minister for Education and Youth: My Department works together with the Department of Health and other agencies to support students in the area of health. The aim is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to enable them to make the right choices for healthy lifestyles throughout their lives. In that regard, a very significant reform of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum has been undertaken in recent years, following on from a review by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) across primary and post-primary.

An updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification was published by the NCCA in May 2023 and was rolled out in schools last September. The aim of the SPHE course is to build students’ self-awareness and positive self-worth; to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, dispositions and values that will support them to lead fulfilling and healthy lives; empower them to create, nurture and maintain respectful and loving relationships with self and others; and enhance their capacity to contribute positively to society.

Some of the learning outcomes of the Junior Cycle SPHE specification include that students should be able to investigate how unhealthy products such as nicotine, vapes, alcohol, and unhealthy food and drinks are marketed and advertised; to discuss societal, cultural and economic influences affecting young people when it comes to making healthy choices about smoking, alcohol and other addictive substances and behaviours, and how harmful influences can be overcome in real-life situations; to discuss the physical, social, emotional and legal consequences of using addictive substances – immediate and long-term; and to consider scenarios where, for example, alcohol, nicotine, drugs, food and electronic devices might be used to cope with unpleasant feelings or stress, and discuss possible healthy ways of coping.

An updated Senior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in September 2025 for those entering Leaving Certificate Applied, replacing older modules within LCA Social Education. Post-Primary schools have until September 2027 to introduce the specification for other students entering fifth year, to accommodate the necessary planning and preparatory work. Its learning outcomes includes that students should be able to examine social norms, attitudes and beliefs related to alcohol, tobacco/vaping and substance use; to explore the factors that influence mental health and wellbeing, including the influence of family, community, peers, school, social media, digital technology, alcohol and mood-altering drugs, and one’s self-image and identity; and to explain the pathways towards addiction, the signs and consequences of different kinds of addictions and where to go and how to access help, if needed.

Online toolkits are published on curriculumonline.ie where teachers can access SPHE/RSE teaching and learning resources for all levels in primary and post-primary. Teachers can choose from these resources to support them in preparing for and teaching SPHE. My Department has worked closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the development of these resources.