Ms Kate O'Flaherty:

I do not have the details to hand but the interim reports on the consultation of the very comprehensive review being undertaken by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment, NCCA, which was alluded to in the original recommendation of the joint committee, recognise that various factors must be taken into account regarding the views of parents and in line with school ethos, etc. The NCCA looks at how those issues can be resolved. It is an issue, although anecdotally, it may be a decreasing issue. It does not relate to a single religious outlook, but there may be other considerations. It also goes back to the point of educating adults and giving parents the language. People may often have reservations, for want of a better word, as to what is age appropriate for their children. On the resources being developed by the HSE in consultation and collaboration with education, teachers and young people, the most important thing is that we have clear, factual, evidence-based information which is available at an age-appropriate level. A key part of that is being able to work with teachers in schools to train teachers who teach SPHE and sex education in the confidence and skills to be able to talk to teenagers in particular around those issues. That is something that often comes up around the comfort and confidence that adults have in having those discussions and supporting the young people in their skills and so on. The Department of Health's policy perspective is that all young people would have access to factual information and supports and resources to help them make those informed decisions. We also have a commitment to support their parents, teachers and youth workers in their work to help the young people to take that knowledge on board, answer their questions and ensure that they can make informed choices as adults. It is very important that we have a consistent evidence-based approach among ourselves and other partners working together.