Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their time and expertise. It is fantastic to have them here. I have a question for Dr. Sullivan. There is an acknowledgement that supporting gender equality in schools requires a systemic response. Curriculum and assessment provision is just one aspect of this. With regard to delivering this, what interaction does the NCCA have with other aspects of the education system? This is a shared objective and we all want to get there. We all have a role to play in this. What mechanisms are in place for the NCCA to link formally with the Department, or informally with other relevant agencies and representative bodies, to ensure the collaborative nature required to deliver the shared objective is there? This is also important in order to address gender inequality comprehensively in our schools. It does not do anybody any favours. It does not only fail our girls, it fails our boys. This is something we have heard very strongly from other stakeholders who have come before the committee.

The third strategy on domestic and gender-based violence implementation plan commits the NCCA to submitting a primary curriculum framework to the Minister by the fourth quarter of this year. The NCCA also committed to the finalisation of draft senior cycle SPHE and RSE curricula specifications for public consultation. It also committed to finalisation of the draft primary framework in the first quarter of 2024 to be completed by the third quarter of next year. There are a number of specific timelines in place in the implementation plan. How do these tally with what the NCCA is doing? Do the witnesses see their organisation as being in a position to be able to meet the deadlines? Do they see any barrier to meeting the deadlines? Are the resources there? It would be wonderful if the witnesses could speak a little about this.