The Minister for Education has launched the long awaited parents information booklet on the Relationships and Sexuality Education programme, which will become a part of the school curriculum throughout the State in September.
National parent bodies broadly welcomed the booklet, and the equal role the RSE programme gives to parents, teachers and school managers in drafting a "policy statement" for each school on which its local implementation will be baked.
However, the National Parents Council Post Primary also reflected the opposition of more conservative parents to the programme when its spokesman expressed the hope that those opposed to it would use the consultative process at school level to voice their views.
Ms Breathnach said more than 500,000 copies of the booklet would be distributed. It outlines the RSE programme as it will be taken by four age groups, from infants to senior cycle in second level schools.
The Minister said parents, as the primary educators of their children under the Constitution would have the right to withdraw them from the programme and teach them about sexuality and relationships at home.
The information booklet explains that as part of a broad course covering feelings, safety, friendship and family life, RSE starts by teaching small children about their body parts, and helps them to recognise feelings such as happiness and sadness.
Among many other things, 10 to 12 year olds will learn about sexual intercourse, conception and birth. Junior cycle students will go on to learn about the changes brought about by puberty sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, and the "consequences and implications of sexual activity".
Senior cycle students will learn about family planning, treating women and men equally, rape and sexual abuse, and what constitutes a loving relationship and the long term commitment of marriage.
The co ordinator of the National Parents Council Primary, Ms Fionnuala Kilfeather, said the RSE programme was unique in that both the programme and the curriculum had been planned in consultation with national parent bodies and at local level parents would be involved in developing an RSE policy for their school.