Written answer
School Staff
The Minister said schools cannot charge parents for compulsory curriculum activities; only genuinely optional extras or clearly voluntary contributions are permitted, with greater transparency proposed.
256. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the requirement for primary school teachers to complete Croke Park hours is under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66375/26]
Comment on this
The Croke Park Agreement hours are part of wider productivity measures introduced under the Public Service Agreements. In schools, the Croke Park Agreement hours are 33 additional hours a year at post primary and 36 hours a year at primary) worked by teachers.
A central purpose of the Croke Park Agreement hours is to provide for certain essential activities such as staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings, school planning, subject planning and continuous Professional Development to take place without reducing tuition time. Utilisation of the additional hours for these purposes has practically eliminated school closures which were previously necessary for activities such as the ones mentioned above.
A review of the usage of Croke Park Hours is currently in progress under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC). As proceedings at the TCC are confidential, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment at this time.