Michael Ring
Ceist:423 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education if she will give an extra holiday to the school children in counties Mayo and Meath on 30 September 1996 rather than the day taken from the school's allocation of holidays. [16559/96]
Written Answers. - Extra School Holidays.
The maximum period for which a national school may be closed for vacation in any school year is 56 days. All schools must close for summer vacation for the complete months of July and August. The choice of the remainder of the vacation days on which a school will be closed is a matter for the board of management.
Closure on special days not occurring during school vacation is at the discretion of the board of management, subject to meeting the requirement of 183 teaching days per year.
At second-level, schools are required to be open for teaching on 167 days. School management has discretion in the planning of the school year to allow for holidays and other closures which do not reduce this minimum requirement.