asked the Minister for Education (a) if representations have been made to his Department for the granting of two months' summer holidays, on a permanent basis, to all primary schools and if a decision is likely to be taken on the matter in the immediate future, and (b) in the event of such a request not being granted this year if he will sanction two weeks' extra holidays to enable children to assist at the saving of turf and at harvest operations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Holidays.
Representations on the lines indicated in the first part of the Deputy's question have been made to my Department. The whole matter is being examined, but I am not in a position to indicate when a decision is likely to be taken.
As regards the question of the closing of schools for extra holidays to enable children to assist at the saving of turf and at harvesting operations, I should like to say that the general closing of schools for a fortnight in September and October, following closely after a period of six weeks of summer holidays, cannot be regarded as desirable, particularly as the number of boys over 12 years of age in these schools represents only a very small proportion—about one-ninth—of the total enrolments.
Should the weather during the coming harvest be so unfavourable as to endanger the saving of the crops, consideration will be given to the question of permitting the senior pupils to absent themselves from school for a specified period to assist in the work on their parents' land.