asked the Minister for Education if his Department have as yet re-examined the position arising from the introduction of European Standard Time and its effect on school opening hours and the dangers to young children.
124.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - European Standard Time.
123.
asked the Minister for Education whether any decision has been reached in regard to school opening times throughout the country, having regard to the hazards imposed on young children as a result of our adoption of European Standard Time.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take questions 123 and 124 together.
With a view to obviating any hardship which the introduction of European Standard Time might have caused to pupils my predecessor advised primary school managers in October last that they were free to postpone school opening for an hour.
Post-primary school authorities were free to do likewise. The arrangement of school time-tables is a matter for each individual manager. Reflectory arm bands were issued to pupils by the Safety First Association.
In fact, very few complaints in relation to hardship were received in the Department.
Is the Minister not aware that this was raised in the House repeatedly during the last session and that, in fact, there was evidence of very severe hardship? Is he also not aware that it was the convenience of others rather than the pupils that was considered when the question of the hours of school opening was decided?
I cannot say I am aware of that. I know it was discussed in the House but, my information is that letters complaining about the starting hour received in my Department were: three from public bodies, one from a school, two from private individuals. My Department have not had any others.
Does the Minister not pay any heed to the discussions which take place here on important matters such as this? Is he not aware that the issue of the arm bands was given to a voluntary organisation which nearly killed itself trying to issue those arm bands and was unable to meet the demand? If this is to continue, will the Minister ensure that immediately after the school holidays somebody will be instructed to issue armbands for the coming season when they will be needed?
We would have had more complaints from parents if this problem existed. We have not got them. I saw an interview on television with parents whose children had the option of travelling in the dark in the morning or in the dark in the evening. The parents seemed to have been in favour of having their children travel in the dark in the morning because drivers seemed to be more careful in the morning than in the evening.
Surely the Minister must be aware that it is not necessary that children should travel in the dark either in the morning or in the evening, especially in country areas.