Ms Saoirse Exton:

It is difficult to know unless you are in those shoes, if the Deputy knows what I mean. However, I know that it can be very difficult for non-binary students, specifically in mixed schools, but in single-sex schools as well, because there is such a gender divide. We have things such as uniforms, bathrooms and changing facilities are that are cut along the gender divide. Even newer buildings often do not have gender-neutral facilities. This can be very undermining for non-binary young people because they are forced to choose. It is the sort of, “Which bathroom do I go to?” debate. That is an integral part of people’s identities. It sounds small but it is vitally important. Although I can only speak from the experiences of my colleagues and friends, I think it is very difficult to be someone who does not fit a gender binary in every Irish school because of the lack of education and lack of representation of genderqueer people and queer people in general, but also because the school building itself seems to fight against the existence of gender nonconforming people. That is incredibly unfair.

On additional subjects, I am in fifth year and I do an extra subject outside of school. I am in a mixed school, so it is not due to gender.