The ethos of faith-based schools to determine what they consider appropriate sex education for their children will be protected, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said.
He was speaking after the publication of a major review of whether Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools is fit for purpose.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has not recommended making legal changes to force denominational schools to teach viewpoints contrary to their characteristic ethos and beliefs.
The review found there were conflicting views on whether school ethos really was affecting the teaching of RSE.
This recommendation contrasts with that of the Oireachtas education committee, which last year recommended that the Education Act be reviewed so that “ethos can no longer be used as a barrier to the effective teaching” of sex education.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr McHugh said the ethos of schools would be protected.
“We want to embed in this that it is not a directive, that every school has to follow a certain specific analysis of how we treat this subject,” he said.
