Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

It is important to stress that the Department of Education and Science inspectors are obviously not there to inspect the HSE professionals. Rather they will consider the overall context of how the programme is delivered. The positive side of the report is that 90% of schools are teaching the subject at junior cycle. We will see 100% compliance when the SPHE curriculum arrives for senior level, since that gives schools something with which to work. I know that the NCCA is due to provide that soon. When it does, it will be of great assistance to schools. Once they have more up-to-date information, that will encourage them. We will actively encourage schools to view this as a very important part of wider education and not something that should be dropped when one approaches an examination, as currently happens.

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