asked the Minister for Education the regulations, if any, that are laid down by his Department to ensure that children attending national school may exercise their constitutional right not to attend denominational religious instruction.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Denominational Religious Instruction.
12.
The relevant provisions in the Rules for National Schools are as follows:
Rule 2
These Rules do not discriminate between schools under the management of different religious denominations nor may they be construed so as to affect prejudicially the right of any child to attend a national school without attending religious instruction at that school.
Rule 69
(1) The religious denomination of each pupil must be entered in the school register and roll-book. This information should be ascertained from the parent (the father, if possible) or the guardian of the pupil, where necessary.
(2) (a) No pupil shall receive, or be present at, any religious instruction of which his parents or guardian disapprove.
(b) The periods of formal religious instruction shall be fixed so as to facilitate the withdrawal of pupils to whom paragraph (a) of this section applies.
(3) 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.
(4) Visitors may not be present during formal religious instruction unless with the express approval of the manager.
(5) The periods of formal religious instruction shall be indicated on the timetable.
I presume that the words "management committee" should be substituted for the word "manager" at the end of subparagraph (4) of Rule 69 above.
Would the Minister agree that these regulations are not being complied with in the situation in which a child whose parents wish him not to take part in formal instruction is required to remain in the classroom while that religious instruction is taking place? What advice would the Minister give to the parent of a child in such a situation?
The board of management in the school has an obligation to see to it that the child is not required to stay there against the wishes of his parents or guardians.
If the board of management fail to make appropriate arrangements can the parent or parents in question communicate with the Minister in the matter and will the Minister do something about it?
They can and I will.