asked the Minister for Education if he is satisfied that Rule 9 laid down by his Department on page 10 of the Rules for National Schools excludes the use of a school for any political business such as a political clinic by Deputies seeking to carry out their duties to their constituents.
Written Answers. - National School Rule.
55.
I do not consider that I should do more than quote the terms of this rule which has been included in the code of Rules for National Schools for many years. They are as follows:—
9 (3) No political meeting may be held nor may any political business be transacted in schools, whether vested or non-vested, except as provided in sections (1) and (2) of this rule, and no meeting in connection with a local election may be held therein.
Sections (1) and (2) read as follows:—
(1) At a contested Dáil Election or Presidential Election or Local Election or at a Referendum, any room in a school may be requisitioned by the appropriate Returning Officer for such election, free of charge, for the purpose of taking the poll.
(2) A school-room may also be used for public meetings at reasonable times outside school hours by candidates at an election of member of Dáil Éireann between the issue of the writ and the day of the poll under the provisions of Section 30 of the Electoral Act 1923 (see Schedule III).