Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on the difficulties being faced by some boarding schools in respect of the new standardised school year arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14260/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The 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 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 the country. 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.

The issue of a derogation for a number of 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. Boarding schools continue to have discretion in relation to the start and end of the school year which are not covered by the Sustaining Progress requirement.