Kenny calls for school drug tests

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said the introduction of random drug and alcohol testing in schools could help tackle misuse among young people.

Speaking at the Young Fine Gael's pre-election conference Mr Kenny said voluntary systems in other countries had resulted students performing better in their exams and "the testing strategy has acted as a strong deterrent to drug taking".

"Because of peer pressure, when young people are offered drugs or alcohol they may feel that they can't say no, even if they want to," Mr Kenny told the conference.

The existence of voluntary random drug and alcohol testing schemes in other countries has counteracted this peer pressure, Mr Kenny added. "For the first time, young people have been able to refuse to experiment on the basis that there is a very real chance that they might be caught."

"I believe that where the management of a school, in consultation with parents, decides to introduce random drug and alcohol testing, then the Department of Education and Science should provide the resources to allow this testing to happen. Instead of continually applying the same rigid and inflexible policies to all schools, I want to empower them to deal with this issue in their own way", he said.

Mr Kenny also said a zero alcohol rate should be introduced for holders of provisional driving licences and for the first two years of holding a full licence.

He said he was concerned by number of media reports of young people who are injured or die in road traffic accidents and how many road traffic accidents involve alcohol

"I believe that we should immediately introduce a new 0.2mg level, essentially a zero-alcohol policy, for every provisional licence holder and for those on a full licence for less than two years, regardless of their age," Mr Kenny said.

"I believe that most young people are responsible and I know that many have been touched by the tragedy of deaths on our roads and I believe that their support for such a measure will be forthcoming."