Vol. 509 No. 4
335 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if, subject to section 25 of the Education Act, 1998, he has prescribed the minimum number of days in a school year, the minimum number of hours of instruction in a school day or week and any other matters related to the length of the school year, week or day; if he has further prescribed the organisation and structure of the school year, week or day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20317/99]
On 4 February 1999 I made the first of the commencement orders under the Education Act, 1998. This brought a number of sections of the Act, including section 25, into effect from 5 February 1999. This allows me to prescribe matters relating to the matter of time in school. However, since the commencement I have prescribed no changes to the pre-existing arrangements.
The current position in relation to the length of the school year and other related issues was outlined to schools by circular in 1995. School authorities are obliged to ensure that schools adhere to the prescribed minimum number of teaching days per annum. At primary level the minimum number of teaching days per school year is 183, while at second level, schools are required to be open for teaching for 167 days.
