Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 February 2026
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]
View answerThe 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.
