Sex education:The Department of Education has confirmed that approximately one in five primary schools in the Republic is not teaching the "Stay Safe" programme which aims to reduce the vulnerability of children to abuse.
Introduced in 1992, the programme helps children to identify when they should raise the alarm about any situation which they may find unsafe, upsetting, threatening or abusive. It is accompanied by in-service training for teachers, as well as parent education.
A spokeswoman for the department said she believed that the "vast majority" of teachers had taken up training in the programme.
"While it is the case that some 80 per cent of schools nationally are running the "Stay Safe" programme, it is the intention of the department that all schools would receive in-service training in this area,"she said.
"In addition, a "pre-service" teacher training module consisting of a series of lectures and workshops has been developed by the Child Abuse Protection Programme in consultation with some colleges of education."
But the news that one in five schools is not running the programme was last night labelled as "very disappointing and downright careless" by the National Parents' Council (primary).
Chief executive Fionnuala Kilfeather said it had repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the programme was not being fully implemented in schools.
While some schools may be using other programmes, for example those produced for the UK, she pointed out that the "Stay Safe" programme had been specifically tailored to the Irish market.
"It is not rocket science to say it really is essential for schools to get down to implementing this," she said.
"I think all of what has emerged in the Ferns report should concentrate the minds of boards of management, teachers and parents."
John Carr, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, said from what he understood the 80 per cent figure may in fact be higher.
This is because it is based on a department survey of returns made to it by schools.
"Not every school makes these returns. But that does not mean they are not doing the programme," he said.
Mr Carr also called for all teachers to be trained in reporting procedures for schools.