Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004
150 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science if an investigation will be carried out into the reason a school (details supplied) was forced to close during the last week of September 2004; the steps which will be taken to ensure that such a closure does not happen again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23862/04]
View answerMy Department has received no correspondence on the circumstances behind this school closure from the school's board of management. However, there is no requirement on schools to notify the Department of specific closures once the overall number of 183 teaching days is delivered and providing the closure does not extend or modify the standardised school year.
Primary schools are required to complete 183 full school days per year which is the prescribed minimum number of teaching days. My Department does not centrally determine whether a school can close once the overall number of teaching days is delivered by the school over the course of the year. This approach aims to strike a balance between allowing schools some local discretion while ensuring that pupils get their full entitlement to education. It is essential that there be the greatest possible consultation with parents and that sufficient notice is given for any school closure. It is the responsibility of the board of management of the school to ensure that the it is open for the minimum prescribed period.
Queries relating to reasons for specific closures should be directed to the board in the first instance. My Department has issued boards of management with departmental circulars 11/95, Time in School, and M21/04, Standardisation of the School Year, to ensure that they are fully au fait with requirements on time in school and school closures.
