Teachers, it seems, are not suspicious when Fine Gael TDs and senators come a-calling. According to Elaine Grennan, the party's newly appointed schools liaison officer, FG politicians have visited up to 200 schools since last September to talk about politics and field questions from students.

The party's "Democracy in @ction" programme, which includes a resource handbook, is "apolitical", says Grennan.

"You will get the odd laugh or joke about `peddling your wares', but they are interested. Teachers in general are quite political and interested and they are happy to give their students an insight into politics."

Students' questions, Grennan says, often centre on corruption and pay. "We welcome that - we want a more open and honest approach." "Democracy in @ction", available to all second-level schools, is intended to support subjects connected with politics, e.g. the CSPE programme, Leaving Cert Applied classes, Leaving Cert Vocational Preparation subjects and Transition Year modules. It includes informative sections on the Constitution, State and local government, the EU and voting.

To support the programme, the party's TDs and senators are available for school visits.

The aim of the programme, Grennan explains, is to increase young people's awareness, encourage them to vote - and even to attract them into politics.