asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that a half hour is not sufficient for national school children in rural areas to secure a decent lunch, and if he will consider granting during winter period an extension of a further quarter hour, so that such children may be able to secure a hot meal in comfort in their homes or in their schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lunch Period in Rural Schools.
Managers of national schools which have one meeting daily, as is generally the case in rural schools, may arrange, under Rule 54 (8) (a) of the Rules and Regulations, to extend the mid-day interval in excess of half an hour, but not, as a rule, beyond one hour, subject to my approval. In schools with two meetings daily, the mid-day interval is of more than one hour's duration.