Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school in County Dublin is open for five hours and twenty minutes which violates her Department's Primary Circular 11/95 to the boards of management and principals of nationals schools which stipulates that a full school day comprises a period of not less than five hours and forty minutes; the action she will take to ensure that this school adheres to the primary circular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3953/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. In general, the Board has the responsibility to ensure that the school operates efficiently and effectively.

Boards of Management are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Rules for National Schools and the terms of Circulars issued by my Department. Circular 11/95 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.

My Department supports the principle that concerns in relation to national schools should be raised in the first instance at school level. My Department will only become involved in an investigation of specific complaints after every effort has been made to resolve the matter at local level. Therefore, the issue raised should be brought to the attention of the Board of Management of the school concerned in the first instance.

In the event that the deliberations of the Board of Management result in the issue remaining unresolved, it may then be referred to my Department, where a decision will be taken on an appropriate course of action.