Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is in favour of primary school children being taught about transgender issues.
His comments come as catholic primary schools have told the Government that their pupils should not be taught about transgender issues.
Speaking in Waterford, Mr Varadkar said it makes sense to teach children about the world around them. He said transgender people exist and have always existed.
The Fine Gael leader said he would defer to Minister for Education Norma Foley and her officials on the question of whether parental consent should be sought in advance.
In a letter to Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman, the Catholic Primary School Managers Association (CPSMA) said that the science on transgender issues is "far from settled" and that there is "mounting evidence of psychological contagion".
It states that it believes that a policy to teach children about transgender issues "would be counterproductive, generating unnecessary divisions in school communities where none now exists".
"More seriously" the letter goes on to say it "might add to a growing psychological contagion amongst young and vulnerable children".
The CPSMA was responding to comments made by the minister in an Irish Independent article in early January.
In the article, Mr O'Gorman is quoted as saying that primary school children should be educated about what it means to be transgender.
The Green Party minister is quoted as saying that primary school children should have an understanding about diversity and agreeing that they should "absolutely" be taught more about what it means to be transgender.
The CPSMA represents more than 90% of primary schools in Ireland that are run by the Catholic church.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin described CPSMA's decision to write the letter as being "not the way to deal with these issues."
Speaking during a visit to Haulbowline Naval Base in Co Cork, Mr Martin said that he disagreed with the approach taken by the CPSMA in writing to Mr O'Gorman and Ms Foley about the subject.
He said: "I think letters of that kind are not the way to deal with these issues. I think that there has to be a sensitivity around this and the broader context is the Relationships and Sexuality programme which is in our primary schools.
"That will be modernised to deal with issues in the age appropriate way. The curriculum experts are best deployed to create the right curriculum programme and to facilitate that."
Mr Martin said that the Relationships and Sexuality programme has been in operation in Irish schools for quite some time.
The Tánaiste said: "But that curriculum has been upgraded and changed and the Junior cycle programme for example will be ready this September at post-primary.
"The Senior Cycle will be ready I understand in the following academic year. A lot of resources will have to go into teachers (at primary school level) in terms of the relationship to sexuality programme."
An organisation that supports LGBTQ+ young people has said it is deeply disappointed by the CPSMA comments.
BeLonG To said trans young people are in primary schools in Ireland and ignoring their existence and silencing conversations around identity will have detrimental effects on the lives of these pupils.
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It said studies showed that LGBTQ+ youth face higher levels of suicide ideation and mental health risk than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
A 2022 Survey it commissioned showed that when young people are given access to supportive spaces where it is safe to question their sexual orientation and gender identity or to identify as LGBTQ+, "they are more likely to feel accepted by their peers, have an increased sense of belonging, and less likely to miss school to avoid victimisation".
It said: "Rather than brushing this topic under the rug, we need to ensure that schools have the capacity and confidence to support all pupils in an age-appropriate manner, including those who are questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. All pupils deserve to feel safe and supported at school."
BeLonG To urged the CPSMA "to consider the impact of their decision to strip educators of their ability to support these pupils who already face disproportionate rates of discrimination and bullying".
Belong To also expressed concern around the language used in the CPSMA letter. CEO Moninne Griffith said the use of words like "contagion" was "problematic".
"It is children we are talking about," she said.
'Intense international debate'
Strongly rejecting Minister O'Gorman's stance, the CPMSA said in the letter that it has worked for many years with a significant number of schools to ensure that children who are gender questioning are treated with respect.
Referencing current "intense international debate on the appropriate treatment of children with gender dysphoria" its letter to the minister states that "for example the affirmative care model has recently been rejected in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK".
Questioning the cause of rising numbers of very young girls expressing gender dysphoria the CPSMA states that "while increased social acceptance of a previously stigmatised condition may play a role" the evidence "strongly" suggests "that psychological contagion is a contributing factor".
The letter is signed by Seamus Mulconry who is General Secretary of the organisation.
"CPSMA believes that it is neither prudent, nor age appropriate, to attempt to teach primary school children about 'what it means to be transgender’," he writes.
"We believe a more prudent and sensible policy is to teach children to respect every human being and to allow children to be children.
"We should not prematurely introduce children to complex and sensitive topics around where there is no scientific or medical consensus."
The letter, sent in late January, is copied to Minister for Education Norma Foley.
The Relationships and Sexuality Education programme in both primary and secondary schools is currently being revised.
Current guidelines governing RSE in schools are now more than 25 years old and are widely acknowledged as inadequate in terms of meeting the needs of today’s students.
The guidelines do not address a number of topics. They also allow the religious ethos of the school to influence how the programme is delivered.
A paper published last year by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment quotes from a review published three years ago which found "clear evidence of the need for an up-to-date, inclusive and comprehensive curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate across all levels of education".
In 2017 the Citizens' Assembly recommended reform of RSE in schools. But reforms have yet to be introduced.
The NCCA is in the process of developing a new programme for junior cycle level which is due to be in place by September of next year.
Moves are also under way towards developing new programmes at senior cycle and at primary level.
INTO
Asked by RTÉ News to comment on the CPMSA letter, primary teachers union the INTO said: "Teachers play a key role in educating about diversity and supporting those who may feel vulnerable within our school communities. However, it's essential that teachers are appropriately supported in this role by their boards of management and by the Department of Education".
It said it strived to ensure that priorities on equality, diversity and inclusion were reflected in the union’s negotiations and representations with the Department of Education and other bodies.
"As a union, we encourage our members to seek advice from expert groups with expertise and knowledge in dealing with all manner of sensitive issues in classrooms," it said.
Minister for Education Norma Foley is due to launch the framework for a redeveloped primary curriculum later this week.
The INTO said that "the roll-out of whole staff training, funding for resources and the provision of planning time for teachers will be vital to ensure the successful implementation of the redeveloped curriculum in the coming years."
With additional reporting by Paschal Sheehy
