Written answers
Tuesday, 30 June 2020
Department of Education and Skills
Third Level Institutions
Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the results of a survey by a union (details supplied) regarding student experiences of sexual violence, sexual harassment and college-based education, prevention and support strategies; and the steps she is planning to take to address the matter. [13520/20]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In April 2019 a framework for consent in Higher Education Institutions "Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive - Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions" was launched by the Department. The framework aims to ensure the creation of an institutional campus culture which is safe, respectful and supportive.
Following the launch of the framework, the Department provided funding to support its implementation across the higher education sector. Funding was provided to the ESHTE project (Ending Sexual Harassment and Violence in Third-Level Education) led by the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the NUIG SMART Consent programme and the UCC Bystander Intervention project. Funding was also provided in December 2019 to higher education institutions to fund a broad range of activities and initiatives in this area.
The key recommendations of the SES survey cited are made with the intention of supporting the cultural change that has begun in institutions over recent years, and particularly through the implementation of the consent framework guidelines as they apply to all stakeholders.
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