The publication of a new curriculum that proposes to teach Junior Cert students about the influence of pornography has led one opposition TD to ask why the Government is teaching children about internet porn rather than stopping it.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and Minister for Education Norma Foley yesterday launched a public consultation on the draft Social, Personal and Health Education curriculum which is due to be implemented in schools from 2023.

The proposed revamp of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) for the Junior Cycle includes topics like healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships, human sexuality and gender identity, consent, the importance of safer sexual activity and the influence of digital media including pornography and the sharing of digital images online.

In response, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD, said the links between hardcore pornography being consumed by children as young as 10 years old and sexual violence and abuse is well known.

However, he said, “Instead of tackling the consumption by children of hardcore pornography at source the government are going to allow it to continue and try to teach young children to navigate their way through it. While there does not seem to be much detail provided as to how this will be delivered, no doubt many parents will be extremely concerned at this plan”.