Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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157. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE and his Department have developed a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health policy for adolescents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52478/17]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, launched in October 2015, is the first nationally coordinated approach to address sexual health and well-being. It takes a life course approach, which is a key underpinning concept in the Healthy Ireland Framework under which the Strategy will be implemented. It acknowledges the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and well-being into adulthood and older age.

The publication of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 provided the opportunity to ensure that all efforts across the entire range of sexual health – from awareness, education, training, access, treatment and surveillance – are co-ordinated, evidence informed and based on best practice.

The National Sexual Health Strategy has been developed against a backdrop of a changing Ireland regarding sexual behaviour and sexuality in recent decades. This changing landscape is evident in legislation introduced in recent years, and more openness generally in attitudes and culture around sexuality and sexual health issues.

The strategy was developed based on three goals:

- Everyone in Ireland will receive comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual health education/information and will have access to appropriate prevention and promotion services;

- Equitable, accessible and high quality sexual health services, which are targeted and tailored to need, will be available to everyone; and

- Robust and high quality sexual health information will be generated to underpin policy, practice, service planning and strategic monitoring.

The strategy recognises the diversity of sexual identities. It supports all expressions of sexual identity through positive sexual health and well-being outcomes.

Governance structures for implementation of the National Sexual Health Strategy have been established. The HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme is the national programme charged with developing and implementing a national strategy to, among other things, improve the effectiveness and impact of sexual health services and preventative work. The programme is responsible for developing and implementing an action plan for each year of the Strategy. A Clinical Lead for Sexual Health has also been appointed in the HSE.

The HSE has worked with the Department of Education Skills (DES) for several years to support the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Programme. In partnership with the DES, the HSE has developed RSE lesson plans for teachers; the TRUST resource for senior cycle RSE and the B4uDecide Resource for Junior Cycle RSE. Over 60% of schools use these resources, according to the Lifeskills Survey. The HSE also developed B4uDecide.ie, a website for 14-16 years olds with trustworthy information on relationships and sexual health. It includes videos, quizzes and polls that teachers use as part of their RSE classes. There are 80,000 visits to the website every year. The Programme also supports RSE in youth clubs and funds the REAL U – a very popular RSE resource developed by Foroige. Funding is also provided to the National Parents Council to provide RSE seminars to parents.