Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has urged teachers to scrutinise all publications sent to them to ensure that they are suitable and contain age-appropriate material.
This follows a report in yesterday's Irish Times that a privately-sponsored book distributed among children aged between five and 12 gives detailed information on drugs such as cocaine, heroin, LSD and ecstasy.
Barry O'Sullivan, a spokesman for the publisher of the book, Carroll-Dillon, yesterday defended its content.
"There is material in there which requires a certain discretion," he said. However, Mr O'Sullivan acknowledged that it could be difficult to stop primary children of any age reading all the material in the book before bringing it home to their parents.
"In the overall scheme of things we do stand over what is in it, but that is not to say it's infallible. We will be listening to teachers and principals," he said.
Any suggestions on how to improve the book would be taken account of when it was republished, possibly in the summer, he added.
Some 35,000 copies of the book, including a similar publication for second-level students, have been distributed to schools. Sponsors pay €250 to have their names printed on the front page of 30 copies of the handbook, which is then given free to schools. Carroll-Dillon had "absolutely no plans" to halt the printing of 9,000 further copies this week, Mr O'Sullivan added.
Ms Hanafin stressed that the "Walk Tall" programme had been developed within the national social, personal and health education curriculum as the substance abuse prevention programme at primary level. It had been developed carefully to ensure that it was sensitive and age-appropriate, she said.
"Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level," she said. "It is vital that teachers scrutinise carefully all publications sent to them to ensure that they are suitable and age-appropriate."
John Carr, of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, criticised Mr O'Sullivan's defence of the book. "We don't see how he could stand over the content," Mr Carr said.
"We maintain our stance that it was totally inappropriate for children. There is an excellent programme already in place in primary schools . . . so there is no need for a privately-sponsored book of this nature."
Anita McCann, of the National Parents' Council, said that while she had not read the book, she felt that its material would be more suitable for parents than for students.