Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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466. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for differing school times (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43522/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Circular 11/95 and the Rules for National Schools provide that the minimum length of the normal full school day at primary level comprises of a period of not less than 5 hours and forty minutes.

The Deputy has not stated the class that the child is attending but Circular 11/95 and the Rules for National Schools also provide that pupils in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day.

It is a matter for the Board of Management of a particular school to decide whether this concession should be applied in the case of its school. If pupils in infant classes are being given a shorter day, their parents should be notified accordingly and invited to collect them at time of dismissal.

Where the implementation of the shorter day for pupils in infant classes may cause issues for some parents, my Department would encourage school authorities to engage with parents locally with a view to arriving at a mutually acceptable resolution.

My Department does not support the position of any school which may take a unilateral decision to shorten the school day for any pupil, irrespective of whether the pupil may have a special educational need or not. It is the position of my Department that all school children are entitled to participate fully in their school. If there are reasons why an earlier finishing time should be applied in the case of any child, any such arrangements should be agreed with the parents of the child in advance of their implementation.

If the Deputy has information which indicates that, because of a child's special educational needs, a school has shortened their school day, without the agreement of the child's parents, such information should be forwarded to the special Education Section of my Department.