Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the definition of a sufficient amount of time allotted to primary school children for eating their lunch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5168/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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At primary level, circular 11/95 “Time in School” paragraph 3 states that a typical school day for Junior classes is 4 hours and 40 minutes and Senior classes 5 hours and 40 minutes with appropriate recreation i.e. 30 minutes. Under the Rules for National Schools, forenoon and afternoon breaks of five minutes each are allowed.

Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management is responsible for the day to day running of a school. The arrangement within the recreation interval for pupils to eat their lunch is a matter for each Board of Management to determine. My Department has not issued guidelines to schools in this regard.