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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 4

Written Answers. - School Year.

David Stanton

Ceist:

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.

At second level, the minimum number of instruction hours per week is 28, six per day or three in a half day. A full school day at primary comprises a period of not less than five hours and forty minutes. Any day on which the pupils complete two hours and 50 minutes but less than five hours and forty minutes is regarded as a half school day.
Subject to the requirement in the primary sector that the schools must close for the months of July and August, the organisation and structure of the school year are matters for individual boards of management or vocational education committees, which are charged with the direct governance of schools.
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