asked the Minister for Education if he proposes to amend the school attendance hours in primary schools to permit children to return home not later than 2 p.m. daily between the months of November and February, inclusive.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Attendance Hours in Primary Schools.
62.
Under the Rules and Regulations for National Schools the local manager is charged with the direct government of each particular school. Certain minimum requirements in the matter of the duration of the school day are laid down by Departmental regulations. These regulations provide:—
(a) that the school shall be opened for the reception of pupils not later than 9.30 a.m.;
(b) that the school day may, comprise either one or two meetings with a minimum of four hours of secular instruction in either case (reduced to three hours in the case of certain infant standards), and
(c) that formal instruction shall commence not later than 9.50 a.m. in a school in which there is only one meeting daily and not later than 9.40 a.m. at the morning meeting and at 2 p.m. at the afternoon meeting in a school in which there are two meetings daily.
I do not propose to alter these regulations.
Would the Minister not consider amending legislation to obviate the necessity for children going home late in rural areas in mid-winter?
It is possible to do that without amending legislation by arrangements between the managers and the parents.
That is all I am asking.
The regulations are such that the school day may be made up of either one or two meetings.
Would the Minister not care to suggest that to the teachers? I think it would be a very good idea.