Enda Kenny
Question:42 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to ensure that term times and mid-term breaks are co-ordinated between schools. [5791/03]
Written Answers - School Holidays.
Enda Kenny
Question:83 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to carry out a review into the timetabling of the school year in order to achieve simultaneous term times and mid-term breaks. [5792/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 83 together.
The report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body, published in June 2002, recommended increases for teachers generally and promoted teachers, deputy principals and principals. The benchmarking body also recommended that payment of 75% of the awards set out in its report should be dependent on real and verifiable outputs from modernisation and flexibility agendas.
The modernisation and flexibility agenda for teachers includes proposals for the standardisation of the school year with particular emphasis on standardising the mid-term breaks and holiday periods at Christmas and Easter following discussions with all interested parties.
The terms of the benchmarking report and the new public sector pay agreement are currently under consideration by the teacher unions.