Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2017
78. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of religious instruction in schools in which he is the patron or in which a public body is the patron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45231/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Education and Skills, in accordance with the Education Act 1998, I am currently the Patron of the nine model schools. The nine model schools operate as denominational Catholic or Protestant schools in accordance with the historic traditions that go back to their foundation and the community to be served at the time they were established.
Religious education is one of the seven curricular areas of the Primary Curriculum (1999). Denominational schools are currently required to allocate thirty minutes per day for religious instruction. However, unlike other subject areas, the content of the religious curriculum provided by schools is not set by my Department. The Education Act recognises the rights of the different church authorities to design curricula in religious education and to supervise their teaching and implementation. This means that the content of the religious education programme in a particular primary school is determined by the patron of the school.
Community National Schools (CNS) are multi-denominational schools under the patronage of Education and Training Boards (ETBs). ‘Goodness Me, Goodness You’ (GMGY) is the patron’s programme that underpins the characteristic spirit of CNS schools. GMGY is a common programme suitable for pupils of all faiths and beliefs and none. GMGY is taught in all of the Community National Schools.
Post Primary ETB and Community 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. 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. I expect the circular to issue later this year and that it will also apply to Post Primary Community Schools in all of which ETBs are co-patrons.
