477. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans she has to revise the Walk Tall Programme to include modern materials on drug prevention suitable for primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7540/26]

479. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the resources allocated to primary schools in County Offaly for implementing drug prevention programmes, given staffing shortages in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7542/26]

483. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to ensure a compassionate, evidence-based approach to drug education in rural schools like those in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7548/26]

Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 477, 479 and 483 together.

Social, Personal and Health Education, or SPHE, addresses drug use at age and stage appropriate intervals throughout the cycle of learning of students in our schools. The SPHE curricula have been significantly reformed in recent years across primary and post-primary education.

The revised Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum specification is in place since September 2023 and is mandatory for schools to provide. The redeveloped Primary Curriculum, including a Wellbeing specification, was launched in September of last year. The Wellbeing specification will be enacted by schools over the coming years with the existing SPHE specification being taught until then. 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 all other students entering fifth year, to accommodate the necessary planning and preparatory work.

These updated curriculum specifications aim to ensure children and young people have the skills and knowledge to lead active, healthy and fulfilling lives include age and stage appropriate learning outcomes that address substance misuse. 

The review and development of curricular specifications is managed through a comprehensive process in which the NCCA advises the Minister for Education on curriculum and assessment for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools. This advice is developed through research, deliberation, extensive consultation and networks and in line with prevailing government policy on curriculum

Online toolkits are published on curriculumonline.ie where teachers can access SPHE teaching and learning resources for all levels in primary and post-primary. Teachers can choose from a significant suite of resources to support them in preparing for and teaching SPHE. These resources include those in relation to substance misuse.

At Junior Cycle, for example, the NCCA’s toolkit includes a range of up-to-date materials created by the HSE in conjunction with the Department of Education and Youth. Making Healthy Choices 1, for example, addresses issues such as the role of alcohol in our society, exploring drugs and the pressure to conform. These are in addition to resources such as Walk Tall, and the Know the Score programme, aimed at Transition Year or 5th year pupils. All resources will be subject to review as appropriate, as curriculum specifications are rolled out.

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 478 – Education policy [7541/26]

478. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to provide sustained professional development training for teachers on delivering drug education without adding to existing initiative overload in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7541/26]

Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth: The Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum addresses drug use at age and stage appropriate intervals throughout the cycle of learning of students in our schools. The SPHE curriculum has been dramatically reformed in recent years. A revised up-to-date and comprehensive curriculum for SPHE is now in place, spanning primary and post-primary education.

The revised Junior cycle curriculum has been in place since September 2024 and the revised Primary Curriculum, including a dedicated pillar on wellbeing, was launched in September 2025.

Additionally, 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.

These changes are designed to give students an age and stage appropriate reference to issues related to drug use.

Online SPHE/RSE (Relationships and Sexual Education) toolkits are published on curriculumonline.ie where teachers can access teaching and learning resources for all levels in primary and post-primary. The Department has developed these resources in collaboration with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Under the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025, the Department, in conjunction with the national network of drug and alcohol task forces, developed and circulated an information resource for schools, providing information on the supports taskforces can provide to schools, students and parents to prevent and respond to drug and alcohol use.

The information was provided to assist schools in tackling and responding to drug and alcohol related issues.

Working with the task forces, the department reviewed and updated the leaflet which was reissued to all schools in May 2025. The leaflet includes information on a number of programmes and online resources relating to drug and alcohol use that may be helpful for schools and parents as well as the range of supports task forces can provide to schools. It also includes the contact details for task forces throughout the country. Schools were encouraged to share the resource widely with teachers, particularly SPHE teachers and co-ordinators, parents and the wider school community.

Oide the department-funded professional learning service for teachers provides professional learning experiences (PLE) for teachers and school leaders in SPHE and related wellbeing areas, including supports for the Junior and Senior Cycle SPHE Specifications, in-school SPHE and wellbeing supports and Wellbeing in education seminars.

At primary, the Walk Tall programme is designed to prevent substance misuse from Junior Infants onwards by emphasising personal and social development. Additionally, the online platform – Scoilnet has a number of curriculum linked resources shared by teachers that cover the topic of drugs and drug use.

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 480 – Education policy [7544/26]

480. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to address overcrowded classrooms impacting the effective delivery of SPHE drug education modules in secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7544/26]

Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth: The Department of Education and Youth 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.

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 a range of difficult issues. This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme.

The Department has undertaken a very significant reform of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, 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 rolled out in schools from September 2023. The Junior Cycle SPHE specification includes five learning outcomes in relation to substance abuse.

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. It includes three learning outcomes on the issue of substance abuse.

The Wellbeing specification of the new Primary curriculum, including SPHE, was published in September 2025. This specification also includes learning outcomes for older Primary children in relation to substance misuse prevention.

The changes to the curriculum are designed to give students an age and stage appropriate reference to consider and reflect upon issues related to drug use, amongst many other topics.

Online toolkits are published on curriculumonline.ie where teachers can access SPHE teaching and learning resources for all levels in primary and post-primary. Teachers can choose from a significant suite of resources to support them in preparing for and teaching SPHE. These resources include those in relation to substance misuse, all of which are subject to update and review as the curriculum is rolled-out.

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

Currently the staffing schedule for post-primary mainstream pupil teacher ratio is set at 19:1 for free education schools. This allows schools to determine the best possible configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers to meet the local school level requirements, which can be impacted by a number of factors, including subject demand and size of local community.