Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the requirements in place for children to have their lunch indoors in schools. [8081/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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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.

The Rules for National Schools provide for a midday recreation interval of one half-hour.

The arrangements within the recreation interval for pupils to eat their lunch are a matter for each board of management to determine.  My Department has not issued guidelines to schools in this regard.  In the event that a parent has concerns regarding these arrangements the parent should raise these concerns with the Board of Management in question.