Vol. 488 No. 7
434 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the participation level and success of the new relationships and sexuality programme introduced into national schools; the plans, if any, he has to review any or all sections of the programme; if his Department are monitoring its success; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7351/98]
While schools are at different stages in the process of introducing the relationships and sexuality education programme, I would expect that all schools will be implementing a relationships and sexuality education programme by 1999.
While the RSE curriculum will be incorporated into a broad programme of social, personal and health education, currently being finalised for primary schools by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, I do not intend to undertake a major review of the content of the programme in that context.
The introduction and implementation of RSE is being monitored by the RSE implementation group, which is representative of my Department and the partners in education. In addition, the implementation of RSE in schools will, like any other area of the curriculum, be monitored through the inspectorate.
