Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in Dublin 9 and 11 that are on reduced school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2781/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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A commitment was made under the Programme for Government to ensure robust data collection on the use of reduced school days and to further ensure that they are only used in a manner that is limited, appropriate and absolutely necessary. My Department provided guidelines to schools on Reduced School Days in September 2021 to come into effect from 1^stJanuary 2022.

My Department is working closely with Tusla Education Support Service to ensure that all students are supported to the greatest extent possible to attend for the full school day. Tusla Education Support Service is gathering data from schools in relation to the use of reduced school days.

A report from Tusla Education Support Service to my Department is expected after the first quarter of 2022. I expect to be in a position to publish a report at that stage which will include details of the extent of use of reduced school days.