Standardisation of the School Year in respect of Primary & Post-Primary Schools for the years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Source: DES Circular 0072/2022

The following are the agreed arrangements in respect of the standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the first and second terms for the school years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.

School Year 2023/24

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

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.

School Year 2024/25

October 2024 mid-term break

All schools will close from Monday 28th October 2024 to 1st November 2024 inclusive.

Christmas 2024

All schools will close on Friday 20th December 2024, which will be the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on Monday 6th January 2025.

February 2025 mid-term break

Post-primary schools will close from Monday 17th February 2025 to Friday 21st February 2025 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 19th February 2025.

Easter 2025

All schools will close on Friday 11th April 2025 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 16th April 2025. All schools will re-open on Monday 28th April 2025.

School Year 2025/26

October 2025 mid-term break

All schools will close from Monday 27th October 2025 to Friday 31st October 2025 inclusive.

Christmas 2025

All schools will close on Friday 19th December 2025, which will be the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on Monday 5th January 2026.

February 2026 mid-term break

Post-primary schools will close from Monday 16th February 2026 to Friday 20th February 2026 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 18th February 2026.

Easter 2026

All schools will close on Friday 27th March 2026, 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 1st April 2026. All schools will re-open on Monday 13th April 2026.