Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are guidelines for primary schools as to how early before the start of formal lessons children may be admitted to school property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28581/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Sections 14, 15 and 23 of the Education Act,1998 assigns each Board of Management and Principal Teacher responsibility for the day-to-day management of the school concerned. The terms of Circular 16/73 provide that the Principal of primary schools should organise supervision for the order and general behaviour of the pupils during school hours. In particular, s/he should organise and participate in the effective supervision of the pupils during breaks, lunch-breaks, assembly and dismissal. This circular was drawn up in consultation with the school management representative bodies at that time.

Rules 121(4) and 124(1) of the Rules for National Schools and Section 23(2) of the Education Act 1998 oblige teachers to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of pupils and to participate in supervising pupils when the pupils are on school premises, during school time and/or on school activities. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of all teachers individually and collectively to provide a duty of care at all times towards the pupils in the school in which they teach, including periods of supervision remains.

While my Department does not issue specific guidelines on requirements for supervision of different age pupils, it acknowledges that the degree of supervision required of school authorities varies with the circumstances, including the age of the pupil. Circular 11/95 (paragraph 3) states that a typical school day for Junior classes is 4 hours 40 minutes and Senior classes 5 hours and 40 minutes with appropriate recreation. This Circular is available on my Departments website at www.education.ie In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The Statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils. The Safety Statement should be reviewed on a regular basis.

Finally, in instances where children who are not availing of school transport arrive earlier than the school opening time the board should provide advice, through effective communication with the parents that the pupils are not to arrive before a certain time.