Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
951. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the length of time that the preparation of a background paper for the senior cycle social, personal and health education/relationship sexuality education development is expected to take; the expected timeline for the senior cycle RSE/SPHE specification redevelopment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29190/22]
View answerAccess 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.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was requested to conduct a review of RSE provision in Irish schools, focusing on a range of topics including healthy positive, sexual expression and relationships and LGBTQ+ matters. The NCCA published “The Report on the Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education in primary and post-primary schools” in December, 2019.
This report resulted in the NCCA establishing two development groups, one for primary and one for post-primary, to oversee the work of developing an updated curriculum materials in this area and supporting the development of guidance material for schools.
Work in preparing a background paper that will inform the updating of senior cycle SPHE/RSE is underway. This paper will be finalised and presented to Council for approval for consultation in September 2022. The curriculum redevelopment work will commence Sept 2022 and a draft updated specification for senior cycle SPHE will be ready for public consultation by summer 2023 and finalised early 2024 for implementation in schools September 2024.
