Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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331. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the new bank holiday on 18 March 2022 and the first Monday in February thereafter will count as one of the 167 school days at secondary level and 183 school days at primary level, that is, the school term will not be extended into the summer holidays by one day on account of the additional bank holiday. [7176/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decided on the 19^thJanuary 2022 that a public holiday is to be held on 18 March 2022 in recognition of the efforts of the general public and Ireland’s frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition the Government also decided that there will be a new annual public holiday from 2023 in celebration of Imbolc/St Brigid’s day, which will be the first Monday in every February, except where the 1st day of February happens to fall on a Friday, in which case that day will be a public holiday. The first such public holiday will be Monday 6 February 2023.

The Department is currently considering the impact on the school year and will be in communication with schools in due course.