Ms Emer Egan:

Our education system is a State aided system and a range of patron bodies run the schools. They are facilitated to run their schools in accordance with their ethos. That is enshrined in legislation. In implementing an RSE programme in schools we are very clear that the schools must implement the programme that is laid out. They must cover the themes outlined for primary and post-primary levels. We clearly state that ethos cannot be used as an argument for omitting elements of the programme.

We expect that a school will deliver a programme using a variety of materials and resources and possibly external agencies. However, we would not expect that an external agency would take over the delivery of the programme in a school. RSE is not taught only during a class in curriculum time. The values inherent in an RSE programme, which is about developing children's understanding of good and healthy relationships, are something the children would also experience through the way in which the school is organised. RSE takes place in curriculum time but the climate and culture of the school also support it. As the ethos of schools can differ the schools are enabled to take account of their ethos in how the RSE programme is delivered, but they must first ensure that they cover the content and do not leave out areas of knowledge. They may follow up with how that might be considered in the context of the particular ethos of the school but they must teach what is in the framework curriculum.