Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this report. I also pay tribute to the Chair the committee, Deputy O'Loughlin. It is always difficult to chair any committee but particularly so for this topic with all the witnesses who came in and out. It is important to put that on the record. It is really good to be here for a debate that is positive and in which people are welcoming something. In general most people are of the same view. It is clear that the model we currently have is not working effectively. There are some schools and teachers that do an excellent job in this area but it is very ad hoc. I describe myself still as a young person, although I do not know how long I will get away with that, but my experience was very much "here is a video, watch this and do not ask any questions." I see with my own kids that there is a totally different approach and it is really good and really positive. It is not a taboo subject as we were all made to believe. Most here are of the view that the report is to be welcomed, particularly given the significant contributions by stakeholders from parents' organisations, teachers' unions, youth organisations and advocacy agencies. There were so many views and voices heard which is very good and positive.

I just want to highlight a few points raised in the report. Currently it is a requirement for post-primary schools to teach all aspects of the RSE programme including family planning, sexually transmitted infections and sexual orientation.

The committee acknowledged the need for all elements of this curriculum to be delivered, which is welcome. Recommendation 4 notes that the committee believes that RSE and SPHE should be taught at primary level in an age and developmentally appropriate manner, with due regard for the integrated nature of RSE in the methodologies chosen. Consideration must also be given at post-primary to the methodologies chosen that will be most supportive and inclusive for students. It is very important and relevant that this starts at primary school. There is the potential for some negativity around that point and some people might say they feel their children are too young. Given the world we live in and the current reality, children have a right to be educated and to know. While some parents might disagree with that, it is important that children are educated in a safe and proper manner and with the actual facts rather than some people's views on the subject.

The committee was advised that primary schools are also required to implement fully the Stay Safe programme as part of the SPHE curriculum, which addresses physical, emotional and sexual abuse. We support the committee's view that the Stay Safe programme is a useful tool to safeguard the well-being of children and we are also concerned that this is not taught in all primary schools and that only 30 minutes per week is allocated to the teaching of SPHE in primary schools. We agree that in order to improve the protection and safety of children, this needs to be addressed by the Department as it does not adequately equip students for the significant changes that have taken place in Ireland in recent times, as many have noted. If we had more consistency and a universal approach rather than what is currently there, which is more of an ad hocapproach, we would see an improvement. In fairness, teachers are overstretched and are trying to get a lot into the day. It is important that we ensure the space is given to this and that it is not seen as a nuisance and a subject that has to be done. It should be given the priority it deserves.

Children are now more susceptible to being exposed to pornography and sexual violence at an incredibly young age due to access to the Internet, either by themselves or through their peers. Unfortunately, this is a fact and we all know terrible incidents of sexual violence, intimidation, extortion and aggression are on the rise exponentially among younger people. We know this through evidence and research conducted by children's NGOs and various organisations and we obviously cannot ignore this. If the issue of consent is not tackled effectively in schools, we can only expect this to worsen. Therefore, we support the essence of this report, which proposes improving the curriculum to address the issues around consent and respect, as well as other behaviours. This point around consent is important, given we have heard so much about it in the news in the last few years. If children get that at a young age and get people thinking in a different way, that is half the battle.

The Education Act 1998 should not be used as a barrier to the effective teaching of the RSE and SPHE curriculum. We believe that, with appropriate input from parents, young people, students and teachers, common ground can be found in regard to amending the current curriculum so that it better reflects Irish society today.

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