asked the Minister for Education if she will give full details of the proposed development between the Department of Education and the Health Education Bureau for the purpose of health-sex education courses; and if she will elaborate further on the proposal concerning this aspect of education as outlined in paragraph 2.14 of the action plan in education.

Arrangements are in train for the secondment of a serving teacher to the Health Education Bureau on a full-time basis for the purpose of drawing up a programme of sex education suitable for our schools.

The interim Curriculum and Examinations Board have been asked in their terms of reference to have particular regard to the need to ensure that school curricula make adequate provision for the personal development of the individual student. In pursuance of that aim the board will be asked to encourage the development of health education in the school curriculum in conjunction with the Health Education Bureau.

As referred to in paragraph 2.14 of the Programme for Action in Education 1984-1987, there is an amount of work under way in the schools in the general area of health-sex education. The purpose of the developments proposed will be to build on the experience gained and to make a co-ordinated and comprehensive programme available for all schools.

Would the Minister clarify if it is one person being seconded to initiate or to compile? Is it one serving teacher?

That particular programme is just one of very many programmes.

When is it expected the compilation of this particular facet of the report will be ready? What does the Minister expect the course to contain? Will the course be relevant and applicable to schools throughout the country? What about the finance for the implementation of this course, because within an allocation of teachers, space and time and finance will have to be provided for the employment of one such person? Could I have further elaboration on that?

I can assure the Deputy the request for the secondment of the person in question has already been made and the authority in question will be applying to my Department and my Department will deal with the matter very expeditiously. That will be in the very short term. I do not know how long the course will take to design. I think that is a matter for the person doing the work. I cannot answer that question but all the facilities and all the finance available to implement the course will be made available. As the Deputy knows, there are a great many other very good developments and, as the Deputy also knows, in convent schools in particular a great deal of good work is being done so, with all these advances going on, we would hope to achieve a situation where every school will have a first class programme.

Does the Minister's budget for 1984 allow for an expansion of these courses, the provision of trained personnel and visiting lecturers? Will schools be allowed to employ these people from September next?

I can assure the Deputy my budget for 1984 covers all needs in this area.