Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
326 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if schools have requested a derogation from his Department in respect of the new arrangements to standardise the school year; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by some boarding schools in respect of this standardisation; if he has made a decision regarding requests for derogations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11191/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe arrangements for the standardisation of breaks at Christmas and Easter and mid-terms were agreed at the Teachers Conciliation Council. The council comprises representatives of the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and the Departments of Education and Science and Finance. The issue of a derogation for certain schools, including boarding schools, was discussed at the council following representations from those schools. There was no agreement at the council to grant such a derogation.
The purpose of the discussions at the council was to implement a specific requirement in the national agreement Sustaining Progress. Sustaining Progress set the achievement of a standard school year as a requirement for all primary and post primary schools. In encompassing all schools in both sectors it was designed to bring certainty and clarity on a countrywide basis to the arrangements for the vacation periods covered by the agreement. The agreed arrangements achieve that purpose and will have general application. Schools continue to have discretion regarding the start and end of the school year which are not covered by the Sustaining Progress requirement.
