Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 May 1991

Vol. 407 No. 7

Written Answers. - Educational Trips.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

88 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her Department's policy on requests from schools to send classes on educational tours or training-educational weeks; if schools need special permission from her Department in this regard; if there are any current requests from primary schools in the Dublin area with her Department; and the average length of time it takes her Department to reply to such requests.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

At present national schools wishing to make an educational trip of one day's duration need not apply to the Department for sanction.

It is the practice that educational tours of more than one day require sanction with each case being considered on its own merits.

When assessing the merits of individual cases consideration is given to the itinerary, the educational content, the benefits that may be gained educationally, socially and culturally, as well as all the other practical details regarding the proposed tour. It would not be realistic, therefore, to attempt to define an average length of time for the processing of such applications.

However, I can assure the Deputy that every effort is made to respond to applications as promptly as possible.

There is, at present, one such application from a primary school in the Dublin area with the Department.