Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 January 2014
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the transition year programme continues to be used as a way to give opportunities to students to gain useful experience likely to positively impact on their career choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2915/14]
View answerThere are currently a significant number of initiatives which support enterprise in schools. In senior cycle students taking not only the Transition Year option but also the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Applied are provided with specific opportunities to acquire enterprise skills. These programmes place a strong focus on active learning, community-based approaches, personal development and teamwork. Students also engage in work experience. In addition, enterprise is part of the Business syllabus in second level schools.
For Transition Year students there is the opportunity to participate in the Sean Lemass Awards that jointly include the Transition Year Mini Company and its "Get up and Go" competition along with the County/ City Enterprise Board "Student Enterprise " Competition. In 2013, almost 16,000 students participated in the Student Enterprise competition.
I am committed to our young people developing entrepreneurial skills and a number of initiatives, as noted above, are in place to make this a reality. I am also emphasising the role of enterprise in the Junior Cycle by seeking to ensure that each student "takes initiative, is innovative and develops entrepreneurial skills".
