Finian McGrath
Question:160 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to raise the school-going age to five and to abolish the transition year. [24538/11]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2011
160 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to raise the school-going age to five and to abolish the transition year. [24538/11]
View answer182 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding increasing the age at which children start national school and the abolition of the transition year. [24968/11]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 182 together.
The compulsory school starting age is 6 years of age and a child must be at least 4 years of age before she/he may be enrolled in a primary school.
A proposal to raise the school starting age to 5 years and the abolition of transition year were among a range of budgetary savings options that were put forward to the previous government as a means of reducing teacher payroll costs. These measures were not implemented.
The Deputy will be aware that within the context of the parameters of the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland, it is not possible to give commitments about any future measures that may be required.