Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming before us. They have given very informative presentations. My questions are along the lines of Deputy Martin's regarding the consistency across the country in our education system in respect of sex and relationship education and how best to do that. Ms Byrnes referred to outside facilitators, as did Ms Anna Keogh. Do they have any evidence as to how best to do this between primary and secondary school? For example, in primary school, the teacher is there teaching all subjects all day long. How would they interact with the teacher training colleges? There is one school of thought that an outside facilitator would come in and perhaps assist the teacher in class. Perhaps the outside facilitator would come in and do the RSE lesson, or SPHE in the case of primary schools. Has the best approach been thought out between primary, secondary and third level? What would the qualification of these outside facilitators be, and how would that best work with teachers?

Coming from that background, I know that certain teachers and people are just not comfortable giving those lessons. They would rather not do it. It would not work and they know they would not be comfortable doing it. There may be teachers who would be very willing, perhaps in second level schools, and this may be their subject. This might work out more effectively. Consistency is needed right across the board.

With regard to the LGBTQ+ community, will the witnesses give the committee a brief outline, without an in-depth explanation, on what is being taught at the moment, where it is done well and what is being done?