Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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391. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department supports the use of gender-neutral pronouns in the drafting of legislation or policies initiated by or originating in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11267/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The vision of my Department’s Strategy Statement is to ensure an education system where every student is welcome, valued and actively supported to reach their full potential. The curriculum at all levels is considered to be for all learners regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender or orientation.

The Programme for Government commits 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’.

Work to implement this commitment is ongoing, building on a major review of RSE in schools, completed in 2019 by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The revised Junior Cycle SPHE specification, which includes Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) has been approved by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), and is currently under consideration within my Department. The intention is that it will be introduced in schools in September with revised specifications to follow at Senior Cycle and Primary.

My Department participated in the development of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 which aims to promote inclusion, protect rights and improve the quality of life and wellbeing of LGBTI+ people. My Department will contribute to work on the next iteration of the strategy, which will commence later this year.

In respect of the drafting of legislation on behalf of Government, that is a matter for the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. My Department defers to that office on the appropriate syntax to use when drafting legislation.