Inter-Departmental Group on Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE)
This group is made up of representatives of the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive.
The role of the group is to contribute to policy development and advise on initiatives aimed at promotion and protection of the health of children and young people in the school setting in the context of curriculum development, teacher education and related policy development. The Group oversees the implementation of SPHE as a partnership project. The Group meets 3/4 times per annum and aims to ensure that all relevant policy and implementation issues are addressed in a timely and coordinated manner. The National Coordinator for SPHE reports into the Group and raises all key issues that the Management Committee and local structures have highlighted. The forum also ensures that related areas of health and education sector concern can be addressed jointly. The role of Chair rests with the Principal Officer level or equivalent and alternates between the two Departments.
