asked the Minister for Education whether she will ensure that the six-year cycle is retained as an option for second level schools.
Written Answers. - Second Level Cycle.
50.
Circular letter M85/85, which issued to post-primary schools in October, 1985, introduced the requirement that, with effect from the beginning of the 1986-87 school year, the junior cycle be of three years' duration, and the leaving certificate course be of two years' duration in all schools. Schools which at that time were providing an authorised three-year leaving certificate course were permitted, however, to finish out that course for existing senior pupils. Schools which were then providing an authorised four-year junior cycle course were permitted to finish out that course for existing junior pupils up to the end of junior cycle.
This removed the anomaly that existed up until then, whereby some second level schools offered a six-year cycle to leaving certificate while the vast majority of such schools offered a five-year cycle.