Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
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17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the introduction of a national programme for post-primary schools aimed at educating students about domestic violence and gender-based violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52669/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Education about domestic and gender-based violence is addressed in the SPHE curriculum at both junior cycle and senior cycle. An updated junior cycle SPHE specification was rolled out in schools from September 2023, with all schools required to provide the subject for all junior cycle students. An updated senior cycle SPHE specification was published in 2024 and is being introduced on a phased basis, with all schools required to provide the subject at senior cycle by September 2027.

The introduction of these updated SPHE specifications is recognised as a key action within the prevention pillar of Zero Tolerance: The Third National Strategy for Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. It is one of a number of actions in the implementation of the strategy that are led by my Department, reflecting its commitment to the aims of zero tolerance.

Learning in SPHE is designed to be appropriate to the age and stage of development of students. At junior cycle, there are relevant learning outcomes across the various strands of SPHE, including in relation to respectful relationships, identifying the signs of healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships, the importance of consent and of boundaries within relationships, and being able to recognise different kinds of abusive behaviour. The updated senior cycle SPHE specification includes learning about the common signs of abusive relationships, including coercive control, understanding the root causes and consequences of gender-based violence and the supports available, and image-based abuse.

Recognising the sensitivity of these and other issues addressed within the SPHE programme, the introduction of these updated specifications continues to be supported by an extensive programme of teacher professional learning offered by Oide. There have been more than 10,000 teacher interactions at these sessions since 2023. In addition, 104 teachers so far have participated in the DCU graduate diploma in SPHE and RSE, which offers post-primary teachers the opportunity to upskill in this very important subject area.

Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for the updates. It is important to note that there is going to be more extensive engagement with students. I recently met a group of students from County Louth. We had a lively, truthful and open conversation, particularly with the boys who are attending all-boys schools. They were honest about the fact that they are very much in the dark about what consent means and how they are supposed to behave. Peer pressure also plays a large role in this. They need guidance, and they were very much calling out for guidance from a school perspective.

I would ask the Minister to consider bringing these updates into the junior cycle. As we know, children can live in family situations where there is domestic violence from a very early age. Crimes, including sexual crimes, are happening younger and younger. We see it from the double-digit growth that is happening year on year. I do not think we can get in early enough.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy raises a very important issue. We have seen reports on the news in recent weeks on the impact of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is important that we raise awareness, as a society. These are also conversations that need to happen at home, with parents.

It is important that we situate the area of learning within the SPHE programme, rather than in a separate programme. SPHE aims to equip young people and students with the knowledge and understanding of how to navigate the world around them, to make decisions, to understand how to forge healthy relationships, and where to seek help or information when it is needed. These are all crucial skills. Of course, teacher competence and confidence are very important in the SPHE classes. That is why Oide, which deals with professional learning for teachers across the country, has rolled out an extensive programme of teacher professional learning over the past three years to support the introduction of the new SPHE specifications. There have been more than 10,000 teacher interactions, as I said. Resources are also available online to support SPHE teachers in the classroom. They have been developed in close collaboration with the HSE, the NCCA and my Department. I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue.