Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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446. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the names of all agencies contracted by his Department to provide relationship and sexuality education and social, personal and health education over the course of the past four years; the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1750/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department has not contracted any agencies to provide relationship and sexuality education and social personal and health education over the course of the past four years. National and international research has consistently shown that the qualified classroom teacher is the best placed professional to work sensitively and consistently with students and that s/he can have a powerful impact on influencing students’ attitudes, values and behaviour in all aspects of health education.

 Circular 23 of 2010 which issued to all Post-Primary Schools advised that the SPHE/RSE programme should have a substantial skills development element and should not merely be information based. Such skills are developed over time and founded on an on-going relationship based on trust, understanding and mutual respect.  

Circular 22 of 2010 which issued to all Primary Schools advised that a whole-school approach to the consistent implementation of SPHE is essential and that the classroom teacher is responsible for the implementation of the SPHE curriculum.

Young people flourish in an environment where there is a whole-school approach to the holistic growth of students and where there is a shared belief in their potential for development, learning and wellbeing.

 At primary level, every teacher is fully trained to deliver the SPHE programme, as part of their Initial Teacher Education programme. The Health and Wellbeing Team in the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) provides an extensive programme of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities to support teachers and schools in the implementation of RSE and SPHE programmes in primary and post-primary schools.