Dr. Emer Smyth:

I am glad the Senator raised the issue of stress. The levels of stress associated with the leaving certificate assessment and preparation are concerning. It drives activities such as sports outside school, which are a protective factor. We have seen positive developments related to well-being in the junior cycle, with time and space devoted to it. We need to see that carried forward into the senior cycle. We need to not see well-being as an add-on that should be pushed aside in preparation for the examination. We need to embed some of the life skills that we have been talking about in that way. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, is currently reviewing relationships and sexuality education. Data from Growing Up in Ireland have shown that there are still gaps for young people. We assume that young people are talking to their parents about sex and relationships, when they are not necessarily, and young men in particular may be missing out on those conversations. It is important that we have a nuanced view of sex education in our schools in the context of broader well-being.