Sexual relations should ideally take place in the context of marriage, teachers have been advised to tell primary pupils in new guidelines approved by the Department of Education.
In a section dealing with conception, teachers are advised to explain to children that sexual intercourse is a special experience which should happen during "a committed loving relationship as in marriage".
The guidelines form part of the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme for fifth and sixth classes. It was developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and has been issued to all schools in the RSE programme.
When talking to sixth-class pupils, teachers are given two options to explain how new life begins.
First, sex is explained as part of the process of becoming a parent. However, it says "children who have come through puberty must be taught that while they may be physically able to have a baby, they are not ready emotionally or socially to take on this task".
Second, the teacher can opt to tell pupils a story of a young boy whose mother is having a baby. After telling the story teachers are advised to show a video when children ask: "How did the baby begin?"
The fifth-class pupils are taught through a story concerning a baby called Michael talking about his birth and his time in his mother's womb.
"During my first six weeks, my Mam and Dad were not aware that I was there. It wasn't until Mam missed her first period and had a pregnancy test that she realised she was carrying me," says the story.
The sixth-class notes include a section on AIDS which says it can be spread by the passing of body fluids from one person to another during sexual activity or blood-to-blood transfer; by sharing syringes with an infected person; from an infected pregnant mother to her baby; or by the injection of blood or blood products taken from an infected person.
"One of the ways that children might be vulnerable to contracting hepatitis or becoming HIV-positive is through blood contact. Germs can enter the body through cuts and scratches. Keep them covered. Coughs and sneezes spread disease. Cover your mouth when you cough and use a handkerchief when you sneeze," says the material.