1/3 of parents have admitted pulling their children out of school for a holiday. According to the AA Travel Insurance study of 10,700 parents, a further 21% said they had been very tempted to do so.

Some parents said they had taken children out of school early due to work commitments and childcare - but the majority said it was down to holiday costs.

They say it is mainly to avoid paying peak prices during traditional school breaks.

77% would like to see a cap on the hikes holiday operators introduce when school is out. It comes as educators warn that attendance is the biggest indicator of educational outcomes.

Peter Mullan is a senior official with the INTO. He says it can cause disruption both to the kids who have gone on holiday and to those in the classroom.

The Education Minister says he can understand why parents take their children out of school to go on holidays. But Ruairi Quinn says while children and parents need holidays, they have to look at the impact that will have on their education.

While these people have mixed feelings on taking children out of the classroom for holidays.