Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will investigate the possibility of introducing set eating times for children in primary schools during lunch break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12685/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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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.

Where a recreation interval or break of a longer duration than the foregoing are taken (for example when children are allowed to have lunch in the classroom prior to the official commencement of the recreation interval) the length of the school day must be extended correspondingly.

The arrangements relating to time for recreation and for pupils to eat their lunch is a matter for each Board of Management to determine. These arrangements are dependent on a variety of local factors such as accommodation, staffing, supervision, sequencing of breaks etc. and as such are best left to be managed locally by the school.