Call For Consent Education To Begin At Pre-School Age

Tuesday, 11 August 2026 at 08:43

Rathdowney's Ellen O'Malley Dunlop is making the call for this.

There's a call for consent education to be taught to children as young as pre-school age.

Rathdowney's Ellen O'Malley Dunlop, the outgoing Irish representative on a Council of Europe group which tackles violence against women, believes the issue should be discussed from the start of the education system.

Consent is currently taught at primary school level.

However Ellen O'Malley Dunlop told the Irish Examiner young children should be taught boundaries from the start of their education, meaning children as young as 2 years and eight months would learn consent.

She told the paper a heavy curricula input wouldn't be necessary, instead simple actions like learning to say yes or no to a hug would be important.

Ms O Malley Dunlop is an outgoing member of GREVIO - a Council of Europe Group of Experts on Violence against women, and domestic violence.