asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that day pupils attending primary and secondary schools in rural Ireland must leave their homes before daylight, he will make an order that all such schools open and close one hour later than at present and thus avoid hardship on such pupils.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - School Hours.
42.
I have already advised primary school managers that they are free to postpone school opening for an hour in order to obviate possible hardship caused by the introduction of standard time.
Post-primary school authorities are free to do likewise. The arrangement of school time-tables is a matter for each individual manager.
Would the Minister not agree that it would be a better system if he had made an order that school time-tables should be put back by one hour and thus have them all on the one basis?
It may vary. We have issued a circular to every school manager in the country informing him of his right to do this or not as he sees fit. A number are doing it and some are not. The situation varies.
Deputy O'Donnell, who is unable to be here at Question Time, has asked me to intervene to impress on the Minister that there is a real danger here and to ask him if he did in fact write to the managers concerned?
Yes, I have done that. The first thing I did, when the question of continuing standard time arose, was to mention my anxiety in this matter in the form of a letter to managers.
Has the Minister circularised the managers in the city and county of Dublin?
I have, indeed.
The interests of the children were not taken into consideration.
I will take it up again.