Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

My young son is going into sixth year and went to Oxygen a couple of weeks ago. My 13 year old daughter told him not to be silly and to wrap his sandwiches, although she did not use that word. I was very impressed by that. The programme in primary school and for junior cycle in secondary school in relationship and sexuality education is quite good, and I speak as a primary school principal.

Some years ago I became involved in a project with the former North Eastern Health Board to pilot what was called "sex education" in the primary school of which I was principal. I called a meeting of parents to introduce the project, with staff from the health board in attendance. Midway through the presentation, I got a dig in the back from one of the parents who said she was very unhappy. She asked me if I knew with whom she was unhappy. She said she was unhappy with me and that ended the project at that time.

Thankfully, things have moved on since then and relationship and sexuality education is now an integral part of the curriculum in primary school and at junior certificate level in secondary school. I am disappointed after all these years that not all schools have signed up and are teaching the stay safe programme. There is much pressure on schools from the Department of Education and Skills to take part in that programme, and rightly so. I hope that continues until every school in the country is takes part in the programme.

However, the programme for the senior cycle is, to say the least, patchy. If implemented, it occurs in transition year. Senator Mac Conghail spoke about his daughter. I have a daughter who has just finished her leaving certificate and who had a good relationships and sexuality education, RSE, programme in Mrs. Moran's school. I beg your pardon, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, I mean Senator Moran's school. I am making all sorts of mistakes today. Whatever about the relationships and sexuality education young girls receive in the senior cycle, I think the 71% of teachers who are uncomfortable teaching relationships and sexuality programmes are concentrated in all-boys schools. Even in the junior cycle, in all-boys schools there is little concentration on relationships and sexuality programmes. We are lucky in Dundalk that we have organisations like the Apple Tree Foundation which deals with young adults outside school.

I support the motion 100% and I commend the Independent Senators on bringing it to the House. This is an important time in young people's lives. I ask the Minister, not only to take the motion on board but also to ensure that the Stay Safe and the relationships and sexuality programmes in the schools are implemented and that a policy is in place and the programmes taught in all schools. I do not think the Department inspectorate deals with this subject in whole-school inspections. It might be an idea to put it on the list of things inspectors survey when they do whole-school inspections.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House.