Written answers

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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396. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her Department’s total capital and current expenditure budget for 2021 and 2022 for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence with a breakdown for each related allocation for both years in tabular form. [3496/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware access to sexual and health education is extremely important for students. Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in the post-primary junior cycle. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at all levels, from primary through to senior cycle. The current SPHE/RSE curriculum at both primary and post primary facilitates teaching and learning about consent.

At primary level, the Stay Safe Programme has been introduced and is a mandatory part of the SPHE programme. The primary SPHE programme as a whole is also due to be updated by the NCCA as part of the work resulting from the NCCA’s review of RSE provision in schools.

At post primary level, two programmes are in place which come under the heading of Personal Safety. One of these programmes is for junior cycle which addresses personal safety in relationships and explores topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent and domestic gender-based and sexual violence. The other programme, which is for senior cycle, addresses topics such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, dating violence and rape. Both of these programmes were designed by the Professional Development Support Service and are intended to be taught as part of the wider SPHE/RSE curriculum. Professional development support is available to teachers, directly linked to these resources.

Preparation for redeveloping and updating the SPHE/RSE curriculum has begun. Updated curricula will be developed for Primary, Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle. It is expected that an updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification will be completed in 2022, following a period of public consultation. Revised specifications at Senior Cycle and Primary will follow immediately.

In redeveloping the SPHE/RSE curriculum, the NCCA will be making explicit the importance of consent education and naming consent within the learning outcomes for RSE, across all levels, based on the principle that consent is a core dimension of all healthy interpersonal relationships.

Also in the context of the development and implementation of the Third National Strategy on Domestic and Gender Based Violence, my Department will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to assist those affected by Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence to achieve their potential.

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