Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the changes made to relationships and sexuality education in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4689/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Access to Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an important right for students. This is reflected in the Programme for Government, which 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, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships and making appropriate legislative changes, if necessary.

SPHE is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. RSE is required at all levels, from primary through to Senior Cycle.

All schools are required to have an RSE policy that is developed in consultation with the school community, including school management, parents, teachers and students as appropriate. The school’s programme for Relationship and Sexuality Education is developed and taught in the context of the school’s RSE policy. Schools are required to teach all aspects of the RSE programme, including family planning, sexually transmitted infections and sexual orientation. It is important to note that the ethos of the school should never preclude learners from acquiring the knowledge about these issues.

As the Deputy will be aware, following a review of RSE in schools across all stages of education the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) established two development groups, one for primary and one for post-primary, to oversee development work in this area.

The immediate focus of the NCCA work has been on creating support materials for teachers for publication online as part of an Interim Guidance Toolkit. The toolkit's purpose is to support effective teaching and learning of SPHE/RSE linked to the current curriculum and to provide guidance on how SPE/RSE may be approached in a comprehensive way that meets the needs of young people today. The toolkits are available online and are being used by schools.

These toolkits will be expanded during 2022 to include further age and stage appropriate guidance for teachers on how to address the important and sensitive topics within the SPHE classroom.

In tandem with this work, preparation for the broader redeveloping and updating of the SPHE curriculum has begun. Updated curricula will be developed for Primary, Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle. It is expected that a revised Junior Cycle specification will be completed by the end of 2022, following a period of public consultation. Updated specifications for primary and senior cycle will follow immediately afterwards.