James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the Department of Justice, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is leading the work on a new, whole-of-government approach to develop a strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. As the Deputy will be aware, that plan has set an overall goal of a zero-tolerance approach. The Minister is working to finalise the strategy for submission to the Government in light of the submissions received in this final consultative phase, which ended last month. She intends to bring both the finalised strategy and the accompanying action plan, which will set out her Department's perspective, to the Government in the coming weeks.

In respect of the Minister for Education, I will certainly relay the Deputy's concerns to her attention as soon as she returns. The work in redeveloping and updating the RSE and SPHE curriculums is being undertaken within the curriculum development structures of the NCCA, and there will be opportunities for public and stakeholder engagement in this process. As part of the review of RSE, an extensive consultation occurred, feedback was facilitated through an online survey, written submissions, round-table meetings and large events, and the adjustments that were made to the final report reflected a stronger focus on the issues stakeholders wished to see highlighted. These included gender discrimination, sexual violence and pornography. The report did not set out an exhaustive list of the topics that will be included in any future SPHE-RSE curriculum or details on how any specific topic might be taught or contextualised.

The Department of Education and the NCCA welcome further stakeholder engagement in that process, particularly when the updated curriculum becomes available for public consultation in September. The Department of Education continues to work closely with the NCCA to determine the approach that would best give effect to the commitment in the programme for Government on this important issue. Should this work identify legislative changes as being needed, the Government is committed to making these changes, as set out in the programme for Government.

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