Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 8

Written Answers. - School Chaplains.

Tomás MacGiolla

Question:

82 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education, in respect of the chaplains referred to in her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 30 January 1990, the number of such chaplain posts in (a) secondary schools (b) vocational/community colleges and (c) community/comprehensive schools; whether a school chaplain is required to be a qualified teacher or is expected to perform teaching duties; the functions of a chaplain who is in receipt of a salary from public funds, as specified by her Department; the basis on which a school's entitlement to public funding for a chaplain's post is determined; whether publicly funded chaplain posts are available to primary schools; and, if so, if she will outline such circumstances.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The breakdown of chaplain posts referred to in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 30 January 1990 is as follows:

(a) there are no chaplain posts in voluntary secondary schools paid by the Department;

(b) there are approximately 16 chaplain posts attached to community colleges in the vocational sector;

(c) there are 61 chaplain posts attached to comprehensive and community schools.

A chaplain is not required to be a qualified teacher and is in fact nominated for appointment by the competent religious authority. A Catholic chaplain attached to a community school is, however, required to give religious instruction in class for not more than four hours per week. The functions of a chaplain are a matter for the particular managerial authority in consultation with the competent religious authority.

The model lease for community schools provides that:

The Board of Management will appoint a chaplain nominated by the competent Religious Authority who shall be employed outside the normal quota of the school. He (she) shall be a full-time member of the staff and shall be paid a salary equivalent to that of a teacher in the school.

The model agreement for new community colleges under vocational education committees contain a similar provision.

Publicly funded chaplain posts are not available to primary schools.