Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
316. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to legislate for a change to Croke Park hours for teachers due to concerns that have been raised (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13541/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 (36 hours 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 mandated 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.
