Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to publish guidelines for ETB, comprehensive and community school students that wish to opt out of religious studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45622/17]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the situation whereby the Catholic church is assisting in the development of opt-out guidelines for ETB students that wish to opt out of religious studies in County Tipperary; his views on whether this collaboration is appropriate for an ETB in view of recent media reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45623/17]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the rejection of the claim that State-run second level schools in County Tipperary have a Catholic ethos is in conflict with the assertion by the CEO of the Tipperary ETB that the schools that the ETB administers on behalf of the State have a Catholic ethos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45624/17]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to examine the practices of ETB schools nationally in order to ensure they do not have a de facto singular religious ethos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45625/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 112, inclusive, together.

My Department is preparing a circular that will provide guidance to ETB Post Primary schools on the arrangements that should apply in future for students that wish to opt out of religious instruction or worship.

ETB schools are multi-denominational schools and as such are required to provide for religious instruction according to the profile of the students who attend the school.

It may have been reasonable when the schools were established for a school to assume that its pupil population was predominately catholic and to make arrangements for religious instruction and worship exclusively on that basis. Historically some ETB schools also made provision for religious instruction required for pupils from local Protestant communities. Depending on their future pupil composition as multi-denominational schools, ETB second level schools may have to make provision for religious instruction for those from other minority religions should it be required.

It is important that schools consult with parents and in the case of pupils who have reached the age of 18, the pupil, to find out what their wishes are in respect of participating in religious instruction and worship. This practice should also apply to the parents of pupils already enrolled in the school and not just those seeking admission for the first time.

Schools engaging with parents, or pupils where appropriate, should at the outset of the school year clearly indicate what arrangements are in place for those who chose not to participate in religious instruction. The outcome of this engagement should be integrated with the school’s processes for establishing subject choices generally. Instead of waiting for a parent to request a withdrawal and then having to make alternative arrangements for the pupil for the class periods concerned, pupils who do not chose religious instruction should be timetabled by the school for alternative subjects.

Societal change with a decrease in religious belief and practice requires change in school practice and the circular will address how those who wish to withdraw must be catered for in future.

It is my intention to issue the circular later this year and that it will also apply to Community Schools in all of which ETBs are co-patrons.