To ask the Minister of Education what action his Department is taking to ensure that eleven to eighteen year olds are made aware of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

All grant-aided schools must have a drugs education policy in place.

Through the statutory curriculum, opportunities are provided for children and young people to develop the knowledge and skills to deal with issues such as drug and alcohol abuse. At primary school this is provided through the Personal Development and Mutual Understanding Area of Learning and, at post-primary school, through the Learning for Life and Work Area of Learning. As with all aspects of the curriculum the specifics of what is taught and how it is taught is a matter for each teacher/school.

While the decision on resources to be used for delivery of the curriculum is a matter for each teacher/school, the Education and Library Boards (ELBs) in partnership with the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) have made available curriculum resources for primary and post primary schools to support the delivery of the Personal Development Curriculum through a life skills based approach. The current resource for primary schools “Living Learning Together” and post primary schools “Insync” allow for the delivery of universal drug prevention education.

The Department also provides schools with guidance in relation to drugs. CCEA has been commissioned to review and update current guidance. It is intended that this work will be completed during 2014/15.

Funding which is allocated by my Department to the ELBs and the Youth Council for youth provision may be used, as part of an overall youth development programme, to support drugs and alcohol awareness sessions for young people where these are deemed appropriate.

In addition, the Independent Counselling Service for Schools (ICSS), which is directly funded by the Department, provides professional counselling to children and young people at vulnerable times in their lives, including those experiencing difficulties as the result of drug and alcohol abuse. It is available to all post-primary schools. In addition, information for pupils developed through the i-Matter programme is issued to all post primary schools and includes information on ‘drugs, alcohol and smoking’ and details or sources of further information and help.