Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 31 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 9

Written Answers. - School Attendance Hours.

Bernard Allen

Question:

179 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the recent report by the Confederation of Irish Industry (details supplied) that the amount of time children in Ireland spend in school both in first and second level is much too short in comparison with children in other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

The newspaper report to which the Deputy referred did not accurately reflect the CII statement on the issue. What the CII statement said was that the number of days per school year of student instruction, at first and second level, deserves fundamental reappraisal.

This matter will be addressed in the context of proposals in the Green Paper on Education which will be published shortly.