Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the specific rules she was referring to in the public comments she made when committing to erasing Rule 68 regarding the place of religion in the primary school curriculum, where she stated that she was also going to eliminate any other rules that do not speak to the diverse and welcoming nature of our modern school system, or if she made these comments rhetorically; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45500/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector was published in April 2012. The Report recommended a review and updating of the Rules for National Schools and in particular, Rule 68.

As acknowledged in the Report, there is an overall context that many of the Rules are outdated and have been overtaken in whole or in part by legislation and directions in Department circulars.

At this point I have made no specific decision in relation to the Rules other than Rule 68. At the same time I have made it clear that the Rules generally must accord with the diverse and welcoming nature of our modern school system.