Daire Hickey is in sixth year in Ballincollig Community College in Cork. He gets "a hell of a lot" of homework. Most days he returns from school at 4 p.m., does an hour, and then goes back to school for a three-hour study session. Much of the time is taken up with assigned homework, he says.

"I don't get much time for self-directed study because of the volume of homework that I get in school and from grinds. If I get sprung with a test midweek I'm up until all hours trying to prepare for it.

"I don't seem to be able to manage my time very well. The school ran a study skills seminar last week but I missed it because I had to study for an economics test."

Daire would love to have a lighter load in sixth year, with more opportunities for relaxation. He has managed to keep up his rugby training two days a week, but that's about the extent of his leisure. But his parents' gentle nagging is a positive force, he believes.

"Guilt is a powerful motivator. If my parents didn't raise their eyebrows when I flop down in front of the TV I'd probably stay there all night."