Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 March 2004
325 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of recognised post-primary schools which furnished completed declarations with regard to his request of January 2004 to post-primary schools to furnish declarations regarding arrangements for a standardised school year, parent/teacher meetings and staff meetings; and the number of recognised post-primary schools which did not furnish completed declarations. [10120/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received 734 completed declarations from post-primary schools in relation to the operation of the agreed arrangements for standardisation of the school year, parent teacher meetings and staff meetings. A further four declarations were returned to my Department which are unidentifiable as the school name and roll number was omitted. Nine post-primary schools have not yet returned their declarations. My Department is in touch with the schools concerned in order to obtain all outstanding returns.
326 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools which were in breach of Sustaining Progress in view of the information declared by them and Circular M5/04 of 9 January 2004 (details supplied) to chairpersons of boards of management and managers. [10121/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy will be compiled by my Department and forwarded directly to her.
327 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Education and Science the penalties which were imposed on offending schools in comparison to schools which accorded with the terms of circular letter 19/03; and the penalties which were imposed on the teachers in the offending schools in comparison to those working in schools that accorded with the terms of circular letter 19/03. [10122/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAgreement was reached at the Teachers Conciliation Council recently about the standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the first and second terms for the next four school years. In the context of that agreement and having regard to the difficulties encountered in relation to the arrangements for the 2003-04 school year, the parties acknowledged that the new agreement removed any uncertainty and confusion which may have prevailed. In addition, the parties agreed that all schools that had a difficulty will ensure that over the balance of the school year the minimum 167 and 183 day requirement is satisfied and any loss of tuition time will be addressed at school level.
