MINISTER FOR EDUCATION Ruairí Quinn has spoken out about the amount of time that Irish primary schools spend on religious instruction.

Speaking at the AGM of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association yesterday, the Irish Times reports Quinn commented on a recent survey which said 70 per cent of schools were spending more than 2.5 hours a week on religious instruction.

Two and a half hours per week is the allocated time for religion classes in schools. The Minister questioned the amount of time being spent on the subject, and has also called for a public debate on the issue.

He suggested the transfer of more elements of sacramental preparation to the local parish from the schools, by Catholic authorities.

With PE, for example, allocated 60 minutes a week, some may think that in a changing Ireland, religious instruction should not be allocated more than twice as much time in the classroom. But others may see it as fundamental to their child’s education.

Should primary schools spend less time on religious instruction?