Monica Barnes
Ceist:27 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to assist with the sexual health of young people. [28768/00]
Written Answers. - Relationships and Sexuality Education.
Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:52 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the main features of the Think Twice Every Time campaign regarding relationships and sexuality; the resources being allocated to the campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28926/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 52 together.
The health promotion unit of my Department has maintained a sexual health and safe sex awareness programme for a number of years. This programme involves the display of "safe sex" messages in the toilet areas of places of entertainment such as pubs, youth clubs, etc. The Think Twice Every Time campaign which I launched recently is targeted at men and women in the 28 to 35 year old age group. The aim of the Think Twice Every Time campaign is to help to educate, inform and empower people about their relationships and their sexuality. The principal message of the campaign is that both partners are responsible for their own and each other's sexual health. In particular, both partners must take responsibility for preventing unwanted pregnancy and avoiding sexually-transmitted infection. The campaign will seek to raise awareness about a range of issues including the fertility of the body, how pregnancy occurs, the safe and correct use of contraception, the prevention of sexually trans mitted infection and the effect alcohol can have in relation to decision making and risk taking.
The campaign will involve a number of focused initiatives, including regional workshops, a poster campaign and a public information booklet. It is envisaged that the campaign, which has an annual budget of £400,000, will run for an initial period of twelve months. The campaign will be implemented in partnership with the health boards, other statutory and non-statutory bodies and a variety of interest groups.
This campaign complements the national relationships and sexuality education programme and the social, personal and health education programme within schools which provide opportunities for pupils to learn basic personal and social skills which foster integrity and self-esteem while nurturing self-confidence and sensitivity to the rights of others. My Department is committed to working in partnership with the Department of Education and Science over the coming years to support the implementation of SPHE, of which RSE is an integral part. In addition, the national youth health programme, also funded through my Department and the Department of Education and Science, offers training for the youth sector in the area of sexual health promotion.