Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the Senator's first query on the third national strategy for women and girls, my Department has had ongoing engagement with the Minister for Justice and her Department and I have met the Minister personally about the input from the Department of Education into that strategy. That is in recognition, as the Senator will appreciate, that there is a cross-departmental and cross-governmental approach to this and that it has to be so. It is a societal approach as well and there is an ownership and leadership responsibility on all of us across Departments and society, not just to put this strategy together but to make sure it can be implemented. My officials are with me and many of them are working specifically in that area. I am conscious, as I have said to the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, of the role that education can play in information and in highlighting domestic and gender-based violence, in educating our young people and in playing a role, as a partner, with all the other Departments and with the rest of society as well.

On the information that is available, there is recognition that there is need for an updated RSE and SPHE programme. I am unequivocal about that and I would know that from my experience. The Senator knows that as well and he has been clear in articulating that. There is a general acceptance across society that this body of work needs to be done and we are in the midst of doing that work. In the interim, as I have referenced previously, we have the toolkit that is made available to our staff and that includes toolkits on domestic and gender-based violence. For example, there is a significant programme beginning at primary level, the gender quality matters programme, and there is a second programme supporting children and young people living with domestic violence and abuse. At post-primary level we have the SPHE personal safety handbook and a personal safety resource pack. This is to bridge the gap of information that might not be there currently and that is not available to the schools currently. That does not take away from the fact that it is important that our staff have the appropriate training and confidence to deliver it. It is for that reason that we are rolling out and funding the postgraduate diploma.

I refer to the engagement the Senator has had with the ISSU. I cannot reiterate more clearly that the voice of the ISSU is hugely important and that its experience is important but I can specifically point as well, as I have done, to examples I have seen of excellent practice around the country. I want to be clear on the following point, which I have to make. I am pleased to say that we have talented, ambitious and caring staff that want the best for their students, and there will not be much disagreement about that. I have seen best practice in information being delivered in a variety of different types of schools. Are there opportunities to do more? There are. Am I intent on ensuring that will happen? I am. It is for that reason that we are committed to updating the specifications to ensure the information is available and to work with other agencies that can provide support. There is a role for health professionals in this as well, whether they are from the HSE or whatever, in feeding into the information that needs to come into our schools. The input of the ISSU and others has been important to us but it does not take away from the fact that there are also good examples of work going on across our schools.