asked the Minister for Education his policy in relation to the granting of summer school holidays.
Written Answers. - School Holidays.
435.
In the case of national schools, summer vacation this year will commence on the second school day in July and will cover the remainder of the month of July and the entire month of August. In 1979 and thereafter all national schools will close for summer vacation for the complete months of July and August.
Second level schools make their own arrangements for holidays subject to my Department's requirements for examinations and the minimum number of days of opening.
At the outset of this Question Time the Taoiseach said that the Government Press secretary was the best possible liaison between him and the Press, that he felt it right that he should be at the Ard Fheis and that the former Press secretary was in attendance at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis. Would the Taoiseach accept that the former Press officer or, to be more precise, the head of the Government Information Service, did not attend or liaise with the Press at a Fine Gael Ard Fheis because of the view that this would be improper?
I have no notice of this.
The Deputy was kind enough to tell me that he was going to raise this matter, and that is why I came into the House to acknowledge a correction if it was to be made. I regard the attendance of the Head of the Government Information Service, or the Government Press Officer as the case may be, at an Ard Fheis of the party of which the Taoiseach was the leader, as completely acceptable. When the question was put down I made enquiries as to whether this happened before and I was informed from what I would regard as reliable sources that the former Head of the Government Information Services during the period up to the change of Government attended a Fine Gael Ard Fheis. The leader of the Fine Gael party tells me that that was not so, and I accept that completely.
Obviously there is a difference in standards in this respect.
I wish to give notice that I intend to raise on the Adjournment tonight the reply to my question No. 26 of last Thursday by the Minister for Transport and Power relating to the granting of helicopter licences.
I will communicate with the Deputy during the afternoon.