Mr. Stephen Keegan:

I represent Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg. We are here to discuss the issue of social, personal and health education in schools and, within that, relationships and sexuality education, as well as the important topic of mental health. We are also here to represent the work of comhairlí around the country and make recommendations to this committee on their behalf. Seventeen Comhairlí na nÓg are working on the issue of social, personal and health education and, within that, relationships and sexuality education, as well as mental health. Those working on relationships and sexuality education include Donegal, Kildare, Roscommon, Clare and Kerry while those working on mental health include Donegal, Monaghan, Louth, Mayo, Roscommon, Kildare, south Dublin, Laois, Kilkenny, south Tipperary and Kerry.

The national executive recently met with Frances Shearer, director of social, personal and health education support services, to discuss with her our experiences in schools with the course. We provided anecdotal evidence that the curriculum is positive and inclusive but young people feel the teaching of relationships and sexual education is inconsistent while the quality of teaching varies massively from school to school. We also found there is no concrete social, personal and health education course for the senior cycle. What topics are taught are at the discretion of the teacher or the school.

We also have evidence proving the inconsistent delivery of relationships and sexuality education. This evidence includes a study by the Dáil na nÓg council in 2009, which was published in a survey called Life Skills Matter, Not Just Points in 2010, as well as a Department of Education and Skills survey published in 2007.