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News
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New Research on the Implementation of RSE in Post-Primary Schools
Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in the context of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE): An Assessment of the Challenges to Full Implementation of the Programme in Post-primary Schools
This report - launched by the Minister for Education and Science on the 13th March 2007 - provides a comprehensive analysis of relationships and sexuality education in Irish second-level schools. The report was commissioned by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the Department of Education and Science. The research was conducted by researchers from the Children's Research Centre, TCD, and St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra.
The report describes how the post-primary Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme is being implemented in Irish schools - specifically, the level of implementation of the programme and the barriers to and facilitators of RSE delivery. The report presents the findings from a questionnaire completed by 187 post-primary schools, qualitative interviews conducted with government, national and regional respondents with roles in the support, implementation and delivery of RSE, and data from in-depth case studies of nine schools. The case studies captured the perspectives and experiences of school principals, SPHE co-ordinators, teachers, parents and students.
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Crisis Pregnancy Agency says Condoms Need to be Made More Affordable
22nd March 2006
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency has said that condoms need to be made more affordable, so that young people and people with low incomes can protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
The Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (2006) found that 20% of men and women say that the cost of condoms would discourage their use. Significantly, the proportion seeing cost as an issue was higher among younger people, people with lower levels of education and those who work in a manual occupation.
Condoms in Ireland are among the most expensive in Europe. A packet of three condoms in Ireland costs up to €7. A packet of twelve condoms is approximately €15.
Commenting on the issue, Katharine Bulbulia, Chair of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency said: "The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has said that this matter needs to be given further consideration, and I welcome her comments. We simply should not have a situation where the cost of condoms is deterring people from using them. With a packet of three condoms costing up to seven euros, it is easy to see why cost may be a disincentive to people on low incomes when deciding whether or not to buy protection".
One way of reducing the cost of condoms would be to reduce the VAT rate. Condoms are currently taxed at the higher rate of 21%. The Minister for Finance has the power to reduce this to 13.5%. However, there are no condom manufacturers in Ireland, so condoms must be imported. Between leaving the manufacturer and reaching the consumer, additional costs can be added to condoms by wholesalers, distributers and retailers, so it is difficult to gauge how much the current price of condoms would be reduced by, if the Minister for Finance reduced the VAT rate on condoms to 13.5%.
Pharmacy chains such as Unicare, Hickey's, McCabe's, Sam McCauley's, Bradley's and supermarket chains Tesco, Supervalu and Centra have said that they would pass on any reduction in VAT directly to their customers.
Click here for full press release
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New Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service for Kerry
A new Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service has opened in Kerry.
The Kerry Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service has been set-up by a partnership between the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Kerry.
Kerry Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service is run from:
Kerry Counselling Centre, Tralee
South West Counselling Centre, Killarney
Family Planning and Women's Health Clinic, Tralee
The service is free of charge, is provided by professional counsellors and is available to women regardless of age, income or where they live.
For more information, click here |
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New Call for Proposals for Funding
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency will issue a new call for proposals for funding in April. This limited funding call is for creative, innovative projects, which are aimed at achieving the Agency's objectives:
- A reduction in the number of crisis pregnancies by the provision of education, advice and contraceptive services
- A reduction in the number of women with crisis pregnancy who opt for abortion by offering services and supports which make other options more attractive
- Counselling and welfare services after crisis pregnancy.
More information will be available on www.crisispregnancy.ie in the coming weeks.
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