Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the revamped relationships and sexuality education junior cycle curriculum, which is due to be introduced in the coming months. [5058/23]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the progress in delivering objective sex education in schools. [5209/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 165 together.

As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to developing inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools.

In giving effect to this commitment, my Department continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). A draft revised Junior Cycle specification was published for consultation by the NCCA in July 2022, with the consultation process running to October 2022. The consultation took feedback from teachers and students as well as other interested groups and individuals. The NCCA is finalising the Junior Cycle specification for presentation to the NCCA Council for approval early in the year. The aim is that it will be implemented in schools in September.

In relation to Senior Cycle, preparation to update the SPHE/RSE specification has commenced. In October, a background paper was published for consultation on the NCCA website. The NCCA intends that the Senior Cycle draft specification itself will be available for public consultation in quarter 3 this year, with a view to being ready for implementation in schools in September 2024.

Following publication of the new Primary Curriculum Framework, expected early in the year, NCCA will establish a development group for the curricular area of Wellbeing in primary schools.

In tandem with this work, the NCCA has created support materials for teachers published online as part of an Interim Guidance Toolkit, to support effective teaching and learning of SPHE/RSE linked to the current curriculum and to provide guidance on how SPHE/RSE may be approached in a more holistic way.