asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of an incident at a secondary school in Dublin (details supplied) in which a 15-year-old girl was sent home from school because she was not wearing a particular item of school uniform; if secondary schools in the free education scheme have such power; if he approves of the practice; and if he will take steps to ensure that children are not denied education for such reasons.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - School Uniforms
23.
: The question of school uniforms in post-primary schools is primarily a matter for the authorities of the schools concerned. My Department have not made any formal provision concerning this matter.
: Could I ask the Minister to reply to the first part of the question? Is he aware of the incident of which I gave details?
: I read the submission from the Deputy.
: Could the Minister reply to one of the other parts of the question? He managed to give an answer which did not reply to any part of the question. Does he approve of what happened?
: As the reply indicates, this is primarily a matter for the authorities of the school concerned. I do not think it is a matter for my approval or disapproval because it does not come within the school rules at all.
: Will the Minister not agree that this Pontius Pilate attitude of his is of no satisfaction to the people concerned or the children?
: The Deputy should not use the words "Pontius Pilate attitude".
: It is a political charge.
: In the eastern church Pontius Pilate is a saint.
: The Minister's transfer of religious allegiance is noted on this side of the House. The Minister has told us that the matter concerned forms no part of the rules of his Department. Is he now prepared to make it part of the rules of his Department that a child cannot be sent home for this reason from a free school?
: The Deputy knows quite well what the position of the Department is Vis-à-vis the school. He is also aware that parents are very much in favour of a school uniform because it saves them expense, it saves vying between pupils to don the most expensive garb and it saves rivalry between pupils in the same class. This has to be taken into consideration by everyone running the schools.
: A final question, Deputy Horgan.
: Am I right in reading the Minister's reply as saying he is not going to do a damn thing about it?
: The Deputy is right.