Schools in Ireland are obliged to open for 183 days per year at primary level and 167 days per year at post-primary level.
Since 2004 school terms have been standardised under a series of agreements made between representatives of schools, teacher unions, parents’ organisations and other relevant bodies.
The dates for the start and the end of the school year are not standardised so schools have some discretion about when students finish school in the summer and when they start school in the autumn. All schools are closed for July and most (or all) of August. The dates for the Christmas, Easter and mid-term breaks are standardised.
At the start of the school year, parents/guardians will get a list of days that the school will be closed during the year, including holidays and training days for teachers. If there are other unexpected closures the school will let you know in advance.
The Department of Education and Skills Circular 0016/2014 deals with the standardisation of the school year. The circular also provides guidance about how schools can make up any time that is lost due to unforeseen closures.