Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 584: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm that there have been approaches made to her and her Department regarding marking the Irish Famine or Great Hunger in schools here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20920/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to confirm that a letter requesting that my Department would arrange that all schools observe a one minute vigil to commemorate Irish famine victims and emigrants was received. It would not be appropriate for my Department to issue schools with an instruction to observe a commemorative vigil. Since the board of management of each school has responsibility for determining such matters in accordance with the policies of the school, any decision in relation to the vigil is a matter for each individual school. The Deputy may be aware that while a minute's silence was observed in our schools in the aftermath of 11 September 2001, the decision to do so was taken by school management and was not a response to an instruction from my Department.