Vol. 402 No. 3
146 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the schools, from the most recent edition of Liosta de iarbhunscoileanna which (a) have been allowed to continue providing a six year programme in accordance with paragraphs 2,3 and 4 of circular M8/88 of her Department and (b) have been allowed to continue providing an approved transition year course in accordance with paragraph 5 of circular M8/88.
The approval of my Department for a six year programme in the case of any school is given only on the basis that one year will be a transition year. Such approval is confined to schools which fall into either of two categories: (a) those which had a four year junior cycle in the 1985-86 school year and (b) those which had a transition year course in the 1987-88 school year.
A total of 124 schools have been given approval to provide transition year programmes. A further 84 schools have the option of seeking approval. I am arranging to provide the Deputy with a list of the schools concerned. However, the division of these schools into the categories indicated above would take an inordinate amount of official time which would not be warranted.
