James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider closing schools on 17 December 2021 for the Christmas holidays to enable families to spend Christmas with vulnerable loved ones; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56284/21]

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.

There are no plans to alter the school break at Christmas. My Department, the Department of Health and Public Health continue to work closely to support schools to operate safely during Covid-19 to follow and implement public health advice.