Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has questioned the amount of time dedicated to the Irish language and religion in primary schools.

Speaking to the Irish Times, he claimed in some schools 30 per cent of weekly teaching time is spent on these two subjects.

It was suggested this emphasis could be detracting from other education such as maths and English.

"If we are worried about literacy and numeracy and this figure is close to being correct ... then we have to ask ourselves questions," Mr Quinn remarked.

The minister added: "I think religion is absolutely essential if you want to understand modern civilisation. But there is a difference between teaching religion and faith formation in schools."

New community national schools established by the Vocational Education Committee were highlighted by Mr Quinn as establishments where this is particularly commonplace.

The first Community National Schools were opened in 2008 in Phibblestown and Porterstown in County Dublin and are multi-belief, state-supported establishments.

Written by Donal Walsh

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