asked the Minister for Education if his Department agrees in principle to the fourth year in secondary school being a transitional year, thereby extending the secondary school term by an extra year similar to the vocational schools' programme which is subsidised by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Post Primary Education.
78.
The Government's decision in this matter was issued in May 1985, in my Department's document Ages for Learning, Decisions of Government. Paragraph 17 of that document states that post primary courses will be developed to enable pupils to spend up to six years overall in a post primary school. Subject to my approval and taking account of the need to rationalise course provision in the various school centres, schools will be permitted to develop additional courses from among the following:
(a) Transition year immediately following the junior cycle. This course will allow for the development of broad general education, including academic study and elements of career education.
(b) One or two year ESF funded vocational preparation — training courses.
(c) Post Leaving Certificate ESF funded one year vocational — training courses.