Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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462. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to schools minimising their midterm break but opting for extended breaks later in the spring; if this decision is supported by her Department; her views on whether schools should ensure that when children return to the classroom that any additional interruptions should be kept to a minimum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8860/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The scheduling of the school holiday periods during the academic years is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and my Department for the purposes of standardising breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term. This is important to ensure certainty for the school community about the dates of school holidays.

The Department’s circular 0005/2020 outlines the arrangements for the 2020/21 school year and subsequent years.

In respect of the February mid-term break all primary schools will be closed on Thursday 18th February 2021 and Friday 19th February 2021. Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day break for the period from Monday 15th February 2021 to Friday 19th February 2021. Post-primary schools will close from Monday 15th February 2021 to Friday 19th February 2021.