Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has carried out a study of opening hours of public offices under the control or remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32001/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the opening hours of her Department's public offices and public phone lines and if they close for lunch; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32051/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 455 together.

My Department's offices in Dublin, Athlone and Mullingar open to the public from 9.15am to 5.30pm and do not close for lunch. The same times apply to the Department's main phone lines. The Department's Press Office operate from 8am to 8pm and the Press Officer can also be contacted outside normal office hours.

The Department's Regional Offices open to the public from 10.00am to 12.45pm and from 2.00pm to 4.30pm. The Regional offices provide a lo-call number which operates from 9.30am to 5.15pm. Staff in the Regional Offices also represent the Department at various local and regional meetings outside normal working hours as required. Members of the Department's Inspectorate also attend evening meetings of school boards of management etc as required.