Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to implement the recommendations of the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution in respect of sex education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43649/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Access to relationships and sexuality education (RSE) is an important right for students. Schools have a responsibility to provide for this, importantly, in consultation with parents and having regard to the ethos of the school. Curricular provision for Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and RSE across primary and post-primary level is aimed at ensuring that topics are covered in an age appropriate manner. The teaching of RSE is mandatory up to and including Senior Cycle (Leaving Cert).

Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) supports the personal development, health and well-being of young people and helps them create and maintain supportive relationships. RSE forms a key part of this. RSE has been a compulsory part of the primary and post-primary curriculum since the late 1990s.

The Programme for Government states that this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) across primary and post-primary schools.

In April 2018, then Minister for Education and Skills Mr. Richard Bruton asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to undertake a major review of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools across all stages of education to ensure that it is fit for purpose and meets the needs of young people today in modern Ireland.

The review originated from the June 2017 report of the Citizens’ Assembly on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the 8th Amendment’s report of December 2017.

The NCCA is the body which has statutory responsibility to advise the Minister on the contents of curriculum. It conducted a thorough and transparent review, including consideration of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the 8th Amendment’s report and published its report, “Report on the Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in primary and post-primary Schools” in December 2019. This report was developed on foot of extensive consultation which was conducted between June 2018 and March 2019.

The NCCA were asked to look at a number of specific issues in respect of RSE and the curriculum, in particular the importance of consent and what it means. Other areas looked at included, but were not limited to: developments in relation to contraception; healthy, positive, sexual expression and relationships; safe use of the Internet; the role of school ethos: and, LGBTQ+ matters.

The NCCA report makes a number of recommendations. These include primarily the development of a single integrated curriculum for RSE and SPHE in schools. Work on updating or developing new specifications for SPHE/RSE will commence in the NCCA in 2021, beginning with a focus on Junior Cycle. This work will include engagement with all the key education stakeholders as well as a further process of public consultation before any new curriculum specifications are finalised.

The NCCA has established two development groups, one for primary and one for post-primary, to oversee the work in this area and support the development of guidance material for schools. These groups were unable to commence their work until recent months due to the COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings. Both the primary and post primary development groups have met, first on the 20th of October and a further two times since. Further meetings are scheduled for 2021 at a similar pace.

The NCCA has worked collaboratively with the teacher professional development support services and other relevant groups in completing an audit of current teaching and learning resources relevant to SPHE/RSE and compiled a comprehensive resource list which will be published as part of an online toolkit for SPHE/RSE. This will provide a single, online access point for up-to-date resources.

Further recommendations in the report in relation to Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) regarding SPHE and RSE are being considered by my Department with a view to putting enhanced supports in place.