Sharp divisions over gender identity and the use of pronouns in schools are revealed in submissions to the State body updating how sex education is taught.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is finalising a new Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum for Junior Cycle, 12-15 year olds. This incorporates Relationships and Sexuality Education.

It attempts to address issues such as gender identity, pornography and sexual consent. Gender theory is extremely controversial and says your biological sex is irrelevant to whether you identify as male or female or gender non-binary.

Newly disclosed submissions show several parents groups have complained about the “promotion of transgender ideology” to young students, while a number of Catholic bodies have insisted that schools must be allowed to teach any updated syllabus only in accordance with their ethos.

By contrast, State-funded NGOs have welcomed the focus of the draft specification on gender identity, with one arguing that use of pronouns should be specifically included and the term “biological sex” removed, as it is used to “demonise the trans community”.

The Children’s Rights Alliance said explicit inclusion of the concepts of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation as being “core to our human identity” was “extremely positive and vitally important to ensuring an inclusive curriculum”.