Minister for Education Helen McEntee has responded to criticism about the school holidays

Having three months off for the summer seems excessive compared to some schools across Europe. It's something many parents have called to change in Ireland.

Many believe the Irish school holidays are too long.

However, Minister McEntee has defended the length of the summer holidays in Ireland.

She said that it is incredibly important for both staff and pupils to take time away from school.

Speaking at St. Mary’s Junior National School in Clondalkin, the Education Minister said:

"Our teachers work hard. Our schools are very active throughout the year. I think the time that’s taken throughout the summer gives everybody a chance to take a break."

"I do acknowledge, I have to say, the challenges for parents when it comes to childcare, when it comes to the fact that in many households you have both parents working now fulltime, so the summer does pose challenges," she added.

Minister McEntee continued, "We’ve always had a particular time period for school holidays. What we find, particularly for secondary schools, is that they’re actually coming back earlier now, in August. So the Leaving Cert results will be out from the 22nd, some students are actually in that week and in fact the following week is when a lot of schools are coming back."

She did acknowledge that there may be changes to the summer holidays in the future and said families would be consulted if changes were to be made.

"I think any changes to summer breaks, any changes to holidays, that’s something that would always have to be considered in engagement and consultation with schools, with teachers, with parents, with families overall."

McEntee was visiting St. Mary’s Junior National School in Clondalkin to see how their summer programme was going.

The school is one of 1,8000 schools in Ireland taking part in the two-week summer programme.

The programme offers educational support to pupils, including those with special educational needs, during the summer break.