Alan Hynes of the Catholic Education Partnership (CEP) said schools under its purview will engage positively with the new curriculum, “recognising that SPHE is an important part of a holistic education, contributing to the wellbeing of our young people”.

“Catholic schools will seek to propose the Catholic perspective on the full range of the curriculum, in dialogue and encounter with other points of view.

“CEP will shortly be publishing a draft relationship and sexuality education resource for use in Junior Cycle.  This resource complements and is in line with the NCCA’s specification and will assist Catholic schools in proposing the Catholic view on RSE in a confident and positive manner, while inviting students to engage critically with Catholic teaching and other world-views”, Mr Hynes said.