Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the phasing out of preparation for religious sacraments, that is, Holy Communion and Confirmation as referred to by the Association of School Principals; her further views on whether this preparation can be undertaken by parents; if she will make her views known; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13311/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Section 15 of the Education Act, 1998 requires boards of management of schools to uphold, and be accountable to the patron for upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, educational, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.

Provision is made for the inclusion of religious education on the curriculum for primary schools. My Department recognises the rights of the different church authorities to design these curricula and to supervise their teaching and implementation. To this end, 30 minutes of the school day is allocated to the teaching of religious education.

I understand that a number of pilot projects have been prepared by the Roman Catholic Church whereby preparation for the sacraments is shared between the home, the school and the parish.