The school year runs from the beginning of September to the end of June, with breaks of approximately 2 weeks for both Christmas and Easter and shorter breaks in between. While there are certain dates where all schools must close this can vary and each school should issue you with a list of opening times, holidays, half days, staff meetings, half term breaks etc, at the beginning of the school year.

Primary schools and special schools must be open for tuition for all pupils for a minimum of 182 school days. The practice of sending children in junior infants home early from school at the commencement of the school year for a period in excess of two weeks is not permitted.

Post-primary schools must be open for tuition for all students for a minimum of 166 school days. Where there are arrangements in place to stagger the commencement of the school year, the requirement for a minimum of 166 school days must be met for all students.

The requirement for a school to be open for a minimum of 166 days at post-primary level and 182 days at primary level as set out in Circular 0008/2022 'New Public Holiday from 2022'

See Circular 0072/2022 Standardisation of the School Year in respect of Primary & Post-Primary Schools for the years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 (www.gov.ie)

It is not a requirement of this agreement that the commencement or end of the school year either at primary or post-primary level should be standardised.

However while schools may use their discretionary days, where available, to determine the precise start and end of the school year, it is recognised the commencement of Certificate Examinations will mean that post-primary schools will not be open for tuition beyond the Friday preceding the June bank holiday in any year. The expectation is that the school year will normally commence during the week in which the 1st September falls. However, a school year may commence in the week prior to that in which 1st September falls in circumstances where otherwise it would not be practicable for the school to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of 166 at post-primary level or 182 days at primary level and in such a case, the school should ensure that the date of commencement is as close as possible to the 1st of September. Schools are reminded that any day on which a school completes less than a full school day’s tuition shall not be counted as a full school day for the purposes of meeting the overall requirements of 166 days at post-primary or 182 days at primary level.

October 2023 mid-term break

All schools will close from Monday 30th October 2023 to Friday 3rd November 2023 inclusive.

Christmas 2023

All schools will close on Friday 22nd December 2023, which will be the final day of the school term.
All schools will re-open on Monday 8th January 2024.

February 2024 mid-term break

All primary schools will close on Thursday 15th February 2024 and Friday 16th February 2024. (Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day break for the period from Monday 12th February 2024 to Friday 16th February 2024 inclusive unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.)

Post-primary schools will close from Monday 12th February 2024 to Friday 16th February 2024 inclusive unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.

Where contingency arrangements are required a school authority may reduce the length of the February mid-term break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 14th February 2024.

Easter 2024

All schools will close on Friday 22nd March 2024, which will be the final day of the school term, unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures. Where contingency arrangements are required a school authority may reduce the length of the Easter break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 27th March 2024. All schools will re-open on Monday 8th April 2024.

Classes usually start between 9am and 9.30am. A school day lasts 5 hours and 40 minutes. Schools open from Monday to Friday. This includes assembly time, roll call and breaks.
There is normally a morning break around 11 am and a lunch break around 12.30pm. It is important to give your child healthy food and drink for these two breaks. Schools encourage healthy eating and many schools ask parents not to give sweets, chocolate, crisps or fizzy drinks for lunch. 
The school day typically breaks down as set out in the following model.
 

Special Provisions for Infants and First Class
Schools are permitted to reduce the school day by one hour for children in infant classes. The decision to apply this concession rests with the school's Board of Management. The special provisions for infant or first class children do not exempt any teacher from attendance for the full period.

There are exceptional circumstances when the school might have to close, such as for Political Election purposes where the school is being used as a polling station or in the case of adverse weather conditions. It is suggested that school managers could usefully engage in discussion locally with parents concerning the practical arrangements which will apply when closures occur at short notice. [See the Department of Education and Science Circular 11/95 here]