Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Fiona O'Malley for raising this matter on the Adjournment this evening. I welcome this report, the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships, which is the first national study of its kind in Ireland. The study is based on the responses of 7,441 people and provides a wide range of data which will be of benefit to policy-makers and service providers alike.

On foot of a recommendation of the national AIDS strategy committee, my Department and the crisis pregnancy agency commissioned the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships, ISSHR, in 2003. The results of that survey form the basis of this report. The survey was conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, and is in line with research in other European countries. Its purpose is to provide useful information on attitudes and behaviours and to provide a benchmark for evaluating the impact of our policies and practices regarding HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, STIs, and our overall sexual health.

The main report was launched this week. Three sub-reports focusing on "first sex and sex education", "sexual health challenges and related service provision" and "contemporary sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviour" will be published in the coming months.

The findings are significant and convincing and send a clear message to policy-makers, parents, teachers, health care providers and society in general. That message is simple — Ireland is changing and so too are sexual attitudes and behaviours. Our sexual health policies and services cannot be allowed to fall behind, but must keep pace with this change. For example, the findings show that since 1973, the proportion of the population who agree that sex before marriage is "always wrong" fell from 71% to 6%. The findings also show that over 50% of the population believe that "homosexual sex" is never wrong. This view is even more prominent among under 25-year-olds.

While the data gathered for this study was examined on the basis of the location of the respondents, there was little or no difference between the attitudes and behaviours of people across the country, regardless of whether they lived in urban or rural communities. The data shows a largely consistent pattern, however, in respect of socio-economic groups: the higher the standard of education of the respondent, the more likely it was that people had better knowledge, safer sex practices and better outcomes from their first and later sexual experiences.

This survey shows that Irish people want to maintain good sexual health and, importantly, they want their children to learn about this early in life. The findings show almost universal support for sex education for young people on sexual intercourse, sexual feelings, contraception, safe sex and homosexuality. There is wide scale support for sex education at home. The report also shows that while increasing numbers of young people are receiving sex education, just over half of respondents find the education received helpful. Poor levels of knowledge among some groups on sexual matters were reported.

On the issue of the age of first vaginal sex, the study shows that most respondents had a first sexual encounter at 17 and older. However, a growing minority are having first sexual intercourse before age 17. Sexual intercourse under the age of 17 is shown to be associated with lower education levels.

On the issue of contraceptives, over 90% of the group aged 18 to 34 report using a contraceptive at their last sexual encounter. Of those in the youngest age group who did not use contraception, the most common reasons include drinking alcohol, taking drugs, cost, no contraception available, unplanned, and not thinking of contraception.

This is a base line study and the findings will inform policy and service development in sexual health related areas into the future, building on current developments. There are several specific HIV and STI education and prevention programmes in place, such as a national public awareness advertising campaign to promote sexual health. The campaign is aimed at men and women in the 18 to 35 age group to increase awareness about safe sex and sexually transmitted infections. The overall goal is to increase safe sex practices, reducing the incidence of STI transmission and unwanted pregnancies among young people in Ireland.

Several areas within the HSE have significantly advanced strategies and programmes in the area of sexual health at regional level, with dedicated human and financial resources allocated. Partnerships between statutory and voluntary providers to improve sexual health and promote safe sexual practices are common at national and local level. Resources are available for population group specific work, for particular high risk groups such as young people, those working in prostitution, gay men, IV drug users and the homeless.

The development and promotion of sexual health and relationships within the framework of personal and social development is a cornerstone of sex education programmes as supported by my Department and the Department of Education and Science in the school and out of school settings. In response to the specific issues regarding unplanned pregnancy, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, CPA, was established by statutory instrument in 2001, funded in its entirety by the Department of Health and Children. The CPA is a planning and co-ordinating body established to formulate and implement a strategy to address the issue of crisis pregnancy in Ireland.

While the results of the survey strongly indicate that much good work is being done, we must do more. We can empower people of all ages, but especially our young, with relevant, suitable and meaningful sex education. Recognising the importance of sex education in the home, we can assist and provide resources for parents to fulfil their role. We can further reduce risky behaviours by improving access to affordable contraception and protection. We can improve access to STI services and encourage people to use them and improve outcomes from crisis pregnancy.

The report strongly suggests the need for a sexual health strategy to be prepared by my Department and the HSE with the involvement of other key stakeholders. A comprehensive strategy and action plan will be developed swiftly once the three further reports are issued within the next three months.

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