Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Education and Science

School Curriculum

10:00 am

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 626: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will secure an amendment in the rules for national schools and the guidelines to ensure that any child withdrawing from a religious instruction class or religious practice is to be facilitated in another class in which secular subjects are being taught, to ensure that there is no adverse discrimination against such a child when compared to those receiving religious instruction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29282/10]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 627: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will secure an amendment of the guidelines for national school boards to include the constitutional entitlement of children to withdraw from religious instruction and the concomitant obligation on any national school in receipt of public money to make practical provision for same in a non-discriminatory way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29283/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 627 together.

Chapter 11(n) of the Primary Board of Management Information Manual, issued in 2007 to all members of Boards of Management of primary schools, refers to the rights of pupils and parents regarding religious instruction.

It states that the State shall not oblige parents in violation of their conscience and lawful preference to send their children to schools established by the State, or to any particular type of school designated by the State. It also states that under Section 30 of the Education Act (1998), no student can be required to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent of the student.

Provision is made for the inclusion of religious education on the curriculum for primary schools. Thirty minutes of the standard school day of five hours and forty minutes is allocated for this purpose.

However, parents also have the right, if so desired, to ensure that their children do not receive religious instruction.

The provisions regarding religious instruction in Primary Schools are also set out in rules 68 and 69 of the Rules for National schools. These rules state, inter alia, that: No pupil shall receive, or be present at, any religious instruction of which his parents or guardians disapprove. The periods of formal religious instruction shall be fixed so as to facilitate the withdrawal of pupils where above applies Where such religious instruction as their parents or guardians approve is not provided in the school for any section of the pupils, such pupils must, should their parents or guardians so desire, be allowed to absent themselves from school, at reasonable times, for the purpose of receiving that instruction elsewhere.

In the event that the religious education programme being followed in a school is contrary to the conscience of a parent, arrangements should be entered into at local school level to facilitate the required outcome.

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