Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - RSE Programme.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

846 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if all national schools in Kerry are participating in the relationship and sexual education programme; if not, the schools which are not; the reason in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17416/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

There are 147 primary schools in Kerry. of these, 64 schools responded to a survey carried out in late 1998 to establish implementation rates of RSE in schools at national level. The following are the relevant data based on the responses received from Kerry:

43.5 per cent of schools have established an RSE policy committee.

24.2 per cent have drafted an RSE policy document

8.1 per cent have drawn up an RSE programme

46.8 per cent intended to implement an RSE programme in some or all classes in the 1998-99 school year.

As regards schools, which are not yet implementing an RSE programme, it must be remembered that there are a number of stages leading to the implementation of RSE.