Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to formalise the SPHE curriculum to ensure it is being taught in an inclusive and diverse manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40129/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) curriculum is mandatory at primary level and up to junior cycle at post-primary level. Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is embedded within SPHE at Junior Cycle level. A framework for Senior Cycle SPHE is available to schools and while its implementation is not mandatory, schools are required to provide an Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme in Senior Cycle.

The SPHE curriculum aims to provide a range of diverse and inclusive skills such as communicating, making decisions, knowing where to find reliable data, belonging and integrating, handling conflict constructively, dealing with bullying, expressing feelings and emotions, substance abuse, resisting peer pressure, personal safety, values and mutual respect.

The Wellbeing area of learning has been introduced into the Junior Cycle programme from the start of the 2017/2018 school year. Up to 400 hours will be available for learning in the area of wellbeing in junior cycle. This began with a minimum of 300 hours of timetabled engagement from this year, 2017 and will move to the full complement of time as the new junior cycle is fully implemented in schools.