Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has had any dealings with school patrons regarding the content of the relationships and sex education curriculum; her views on objective sex education that deals with consent, intimate partner violence, contraception, LGBTQI issues, gender identity and other issues across all schools regardless of ethos; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34944/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Access to Relationships and Sexuality Education, or 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 RSE and Social, Personal and Health Education across primary and post-primary schools.

Social, Personal and Health Education, or SPHE for short, is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. RSE is required at all levels in schools, 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.  In addition, 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 the issues.

In April 2018, a review of Relationships and Sexual Education (RSE) in schools was announced. This review the NCCA and covered both the content of RSE curriculum and support materials, as well as the delivery of the curriculum to students.

Included in the areas for particular consideration during the review are:

- Consent, what it means and its importance

- Developments in contraception

- Healthy, positive sexual expression and relationships

- Safe use of the internet

- Social media and its effects on relationships and self-esteem

- LGBTQ+ matters.

Given the scope of the request, the review was comprised of three inter-related dimensions:

1. Desk-top review of recently published research/studies in this area.

2. Consultations with key individuals and organisations who have responsibility for or who are working in this area.

3. Working directly with schools to examine the experience of RSE in schools and in classrooms.

A review of research was commissioned in June 2018 and a report on this was published in November 2018.  

A consultative event was held on 27 November 2018 at Collins Barracks, Dublin and involved approximately 60 groups and organisations who have expressed an interest in or who are known to have an interest in contributing to the review.  A second was held in Dublin Castle and this provided an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with the findings.

More than 20 primary and post primary schools, representing a range of school types and experiences were directly involved in the review.  The outcome from this strand of the review informed recommendations in relation to curriculum gaps, implementation barriers and enablers, and support needs. Furthermore, thousands of students parents and teachers contributed their views via online surveys.

The NCCA published a draft report on the Review of RSE, which was subject to further consultation from stakeholders. The final report was published in December 2019 and available online here: ncca.ie/en/junior-cycle/curriculum-developments/social-personal-and-health-education-relationships-and-sexuality-education/ Further information on the review process is outlined in the first section of this report.

My Department continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to best give effect to the commitment in the Programme for Government to develop inclusive and age-appropriate RSE and SPHE curricula across primary and post-primary levels, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships.  As the Deputy is aware, work is ongoing to update curricular specifications in line with this review and the Programme for Government commitment. Further engagement and consultation with all stakeholders, including students, parents and staff is and will continue to be integral to this process.