Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the decision that schools may not use their discretionary days to close for Christmas holidays before 24 December 2008. [35878/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the requirements of Sustaining Progress, agreement has been reached between the parties to the Teachers' Conciliation Council in relation to the standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the first and second terms for the school year.

Once schools adhere to the agreed standardisation, they have local flexibility in determining how they make up the required number of teaching days, 183 days in respect of Primary and 167 days in respect of Post Primary Schools. My Department does not centrally determine whether or not a school opts to have a closure for any particular event, once, the overall number of teaching days is delivered by the school over the course of the year. This approach aims to strike a balance between allowing schools some local discretion while at the same time ensuring that pupils get their full entitlement to education. It is of course essential that there be the greatest possible consultation with parents and that sufficient notice is given in relation to any school closure.

Schools may use their discretionary days, where available, to determine the precise start and end of the school year. However, it is recognised that the commencement of Certificate examinations will mean that post primary schools will not be open for tuition beyond the Friday preceding the June bank holiday in any year. The expectation is that in order to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of 183 days at primary level or 167 at post primary level the school year will normally commence in the week that 1 September falls.

In reality most post primary schools would not have any discretionary days, but where they do, the arrangements provide some limited flexibility to schools on certain other days outside of the defined periods at Christmas, Easter and mid-term.