asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that children are being sent home from a Cork school in the opening weeks of the new school year because they did not wear school uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am not aware of the case to which the Deputy refers.

Under the Rules for national schools, the wearing of a uniform cannot be made compulsory, nor may a pupil be discriminated against for not wearing one.

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 in the case of post-primary schools.