Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will implement the recommendations of the United Nations committee on the elimination of discrimination against women (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17873/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland recently appeared before the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and my Department was represented on the Irish delegation at official level. In its concluding observations the Committee welcomed measures taken to improve women’s and girls’ access to quality education in Ireland and particularly welcomed the new short course in Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE). In relation to the recommendation on education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, referred to by the Deputy, Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is included as part of SPHE, which is a mandatory programme at primary level. At primary level, SPHE provides particular opportunities to foster the personal development, health and well-being of the individual child, to help him/her to create and maintain supportive relationships and become an active and responsible citizen in society. Through an SPHE programme that is planned and consistent throughout the school, children can develop a framework of values, attitudes, understanding and skills that will inform their decisions and actions both now and in the future. As children progress through an SPHE programme, they will encounter a wide range of issues, including relationships, sexuality and child abuse prevention. The SPHE curriculum is structured in such a way that these issues are not explored in isolation; rather the emphasis is on building a foundation of skills, values, attitudes and understanding relevant to all issues, with specific information provided where necessary.

SPHE is also a mandatory programme at post-primary junior cycle level. Post primary schools must timetable one period per week for SPHE and five to six timetabled periods for SPHE in the year should be assigned to RSE. RSE is also mandatory at Senior Cycle.