Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of time allocated to physical education for each child at primary level per day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10776/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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At primary level, Physical Education is one of the seven curriculum areas and is an intrinsic element of the Primary School Curriculum which was revised in 1999. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way she will ensure that all secondary level schools teach the relationships and sexuality education programme. [10805/07]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will assist schools to bring in outside expertise in order to provide effective sex education for their students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10704/07]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action she will take to ensure that sex education is available to all school children; her response to a recent survey which indicated that boys who attend all boys schools are unlikely to have adequate sex education provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10711/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 79 and 94 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, many positive developments in relation to the teaching of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) have taken place in recent years, and these have been further strengthened through making Social Personal and Health Education a mandatory programme for junior cycle since September 2003. In addition, all schools are required to have an RSE programme at senior cycle.

Schools are currently supported in the implementation of RSE by the SPHE and RSE Support Services which are provided in collaboration with the health sector. The supports available to schools include guidelines on policy development, curricula and teacher guidelines, information for parents, teaching resource materials and teacher training. Schools are also encouraged to utilise the resources produced by the Health Promotion Unit.

Earlier this month I launched the report "RSE in the context of SPHE: An assessment of the Challenges to the Full Implementation of the Programme in Post-primary Schools" published jointly by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and my Department. The report highlighted widespread support for both the broad principles and the content of the SPHE and RSE programme from teachers, parents and health professionals and strong levels of interest and support from parents and students as to the importance of RSE in schools.

The report also demonstrated increasing levels of implementation compared with earlier studies, with 76% of schools showing high or moderate levels of implementation, and with 90% of schools teaching RSE at some level. However, a clear need is highlighted to strengthen both implementation levels and consistency in regard to the content of RSE, and the report also shows the implementation is weakest in single sex boys' schools. In that context, my Department is taking a number of important steps which will

remind all post-primary schools of their obligations in this area

Update and re-issue the RSE policy guidelines and finalise a template on RSE policy in order to facilitate schools in developing and implementing RSE programmes.

review and update RSE materials

develop lesson plans linked to a DVD resource on contraception, sexually transmitted infections and sexual orientation, in collaboration with the Health Services Executive and the Crisis Pregnancy Agency.

increase the level of information & training available to parents, building on a successful primary model

introduce a programme of subject inspections in this area with effect from 2007/8.

The availability of a national curriculum in Social Personal and Health Education at junior cycle has played a vital role in supporting increased implementation of RSE. I am aware of the development work undertaken to date by the NCCA in relation to a Social Personal and Health Education programme at senior cycle. This is now at an advanced stage, and I look forward to receiving the NCCA's recommendations in this regard at an early date.

I am confident that these initiatives will help to ensure full implementation of this vital aspect of social education in our schools. The report noted that some 40% of schools used outside facilitators to deliver part of the programme, but did not evaluate the effectiveness of such provision. My Department will examine the partnership with the health sector to see how best the delivery of the programme can be optimised.