Primary teachers have raised concerns about a book distributed to five- to 12-year-olds which gives detailed information on heroin, cocaine and ecstasy.
Issues 1, A Child Protection Handbook also provides details of amphetamines or speed, magic mushrooms and solvents. It explains how solvents are "things like nail varnish, paint stripper, hair lacquer and lighter fuel."
Over 35,000 copies of the book have already been distributed and a further 9,000 will be printed this week.
The company involved, Carroll-Dillon Publishing Ltd, invites local business to sponsor the distribution of the book in local schools, in return for an acknowledgment on the cover. It claims local branches of Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB and several other clients have paid €250 plus VAT to sponsor the distribution of the book.
Last night, John Carr, general secretary of the INTO, said he had received several complaints from teachers concerned about the distribution of what he called "totally unsuitable" material to young children.
Barry O'Sullivan of Carroll-Dillon said that people "working in education" had edited the book for the company on a part-time basis.
He agreed that some of the material was not appropriate for young children. The company had specifically invited a response from school principals and these comments would be taken into account if and when the handbook is revamped later this year.
He stressed, however, that he had also received correspondence from teachers and principals offering praise and commendation.
However, Mr Carr last night warned that local business could be "wasting their money", as this kind of material was not part of the school curriculum and ran counter to school policy.
The new primary school curriculum provides general information about the dangers of addiction, focusing largely on cigarettes and alcohol. Fifth and sixth classes (at ages 11 and 12) can be briefed about cannabis but there is no reference to hard drugs in the guidelines for teachers.
The handbook also covers bullying, alcohol and internet safety. The introduction for parents and children recommends that "you read through this publication in order to make a decision about what age the children in your care must be in order to be made aware of its contents."
It also warns about the dangers of drugs detailed in the handbook.
Based in Herbert Street, Dublin, Carroll-Dillon also publishes a range of material for the GAA, including a London GAA yearbook and a guide to Gaelic games in Britain.
The handbook explains how LSD is taken "by eating a small piece of paper with the drug soaked into the paper".
Cocaine, it explains, is usually snorted or "with crack cocaine which looks like white rocks it is smoked from a pipe". The handbook also gives details of the prison terms received by those who are caught in possession or trafficking drugs.
