Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an examination has been carried out by his Department into the value of giving homework for children in primary school; if his Department has agreed standards on the allocation of homework in the school system, if he intends bringing forward any changes to policies in the area of homework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26912/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The position is that my Department does not issue any guidelines relating to homework being given in schools. It is a matter for each school, at local level, to arrive at its own homework policy. In keeping with good practice, the process of drafting a homework policy should involve consultation with teachers, parents and students. However, my Department does acknowledge that homework can play an important part in helping pupils prepare for forthcoming class work and in reinforcing work already covered during class time.