Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has called for the introduction of random drug tests in schools as a way to ease the peer pressure that children may feel on the issue of drugs experimentation.
Commenting on today's publication of State of the Nation's Children Report, which shows 40 per cent of 15-year-olds reported having used an illicit drug in their lifetime, Mr Kenny said: "This puts Ireland third in the world for under 15-year-olds use of drugs, but number 1 when girls alone are considered."
Speaking in the Dáil this morning, Mr Kenny offered to "support any measures that would tackle this problem head on".
In particular he raised the idea of "supporting schools that want to introduce random, voluntary drug tests in their schools". He said that this would be one way of easing the peer pressure that many young children may feel on the issue of drugs experimentation.
"What we need now is a recognition of the seriousness of the issue facing our communities in relation to the drugs threat and then concerted action by government, community leaders and parents to tackle the problem," he added.