Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing a one hour workshop in all primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18695/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Education in relation to areas such as awareness of LGBT issues is provided in an age-appropriate manner at both primary and post-primary level, through the subject Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE). 

At post primary level, all schools are required to provide a Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme as part of SPHE for all students from First Year to Sixth Year, and to teach all aspects of the RSE programme, including family planning, sexually transmitted infections and sexual orientation. Through RSE, formal opportunities are provided for students to acquire knowledge and understanding of human sexuality. 

While gender and orientation are not explicitly designated topics in the SPHE syllabuses, those syllabuses do provide opportunities for teachers to explore such issues at an age-appropriate level.  The topics included are intended to develop in students respect for one’s own sexuality and the sexuality of others.   

The SPHE Support Service has worked collaboratively with bodies including GLEN and BelongTo and the HSE to develop a resource, “Growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender” for use by RSE classes at both junior and senior cycle levels. It includes lesson plans which will support students to achieve a better understanding of the concepts of gender identity and transgender. The menu of in-service courses offered by the SPHE Support Service to schools also includes the topics of sexual orientation and homophobic bullying.

In relation to primary curriculum provision, the SPHE course is designed to foster in the child a sense of care and respect for himself/herself and others, an understanding of his/her sexuality, and an appreciation of the dignity of every human being.  As children progress through an SPHE programme, they encounter a wide range of issues.  These include substance misuse, relationships, sexuality, child abuse prevention, prejudice and discrimination.  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 these issues, with specific information provided where necessary.