asked the Minister for Education if he will allow school managers to reduce the number of hours for secular instruction to two and a half hours during the months of November, December and January.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secular Instruction in Schools.
96.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to him on 20th November in relation to the hours of school opening. I feel that the position during the months in question is already adequately catered for and that no further reduction in the number of hours for secular instruction should be contemplated.
Would the Minister consider reducing the number of hours for children in infants and first class so that they could go to school later in the morning?
I have explained in my previous reply that the time required for attendance may be reduced by one hour.
There is the half hour for instruction and the half hour for assembly, which make a minimum of four hours, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., for infant children. Would the Minister consider reducing the period by even half an hour in the case of other children?
I could not agree to that.