Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will add a few points. I am a fan of the home-school liaison system. It is a good one. The link between parents and teachers in school is important in the provision of RSE. Do the delegates believe home-school liaison officers could be an appropriate link? They would, however, need extra support through training, etc. That question is particularly for Mr. Curtis.

Dr. Gormley talked about the characteristic spirit of ETB schools. The ETB's post-primary section is carrying out work to establish what are the schools' core values and characteristic spirit, another word for "ethos" to a certain extent. When do the delegates expect this body of work to be completed? Is it something that could inform the process? "Ethos" can sometimes be a loose term. Is it the delegates' opinion that it can sometimes be used as an excuse to avoid implementation of an effective RSE programme in schools? Something that has come up in our stakeholder meetings is that the delivery of RSE in schools has not been monitored through whole-school evaluations and inspections. There is a sense that what is measured is monitored. Therefore, if RSE became part of whole-school evaluations, we might have better implementation.

On the guidelines issued by the Department for developing, monitoring and implementing an RSE policy in schools, there is a list of protocols. A public meeting has to be held to be attended by parents and representatives are nominated to participate in an RSE and a social, personal and health education, SPHE, committee, with the principal and other staff members, etc. They will have the opportunity to develop a set of guidelines, but that process does not seem to be happening or adhered to. Do the delegates have views on why that is the case?

What is the delegates' opinion on what should happen at departmental level to ensure effective implementation of the RSE policy that will I hope be developed both from the recommendations of this committee and the review the Minister is undertaking? We will start with Mr. Curtis.