Survey should have been approved by Dáil

When I’m obliged to have an NCT on the family car I would never expect to be forced to fill in a form showing my nationality, my maiden name my PPSN, my religion and my ethnic background.

Even if, by a long stretch of the imagination, I were so obliged, say to satisfy the CIA, I would expect the Dáil to scrutinise and approve the regulations in an act or in a statutory instrument.

Why then are these intrusive questions proposed by the Minister for Education in a “circular” for gathering in our publicly funded schools?