School Costs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023

Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Questions (688)

Gary Gannon

Question:

688. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the €95 per student transition year grant for schools in the free education scheme for post-primary schools directly subsidises the cost of transition year for parents; and if not, if spending is left to the discretion of each school. [13046/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Transition Year is a valuable programme for students that offers opportunities for life skills, personal, social and academic development and experience of adult and working life. Transition Year has a unique and important value in the life of students. Currently over seventy per cent of students avail of Transition Year. On 29 March last year, I announced that Transition Year should be available to every student who wishes to participate in the programme. This will be achieved by working with schools to ensure that schools who are constrained in the numbers they can currently accommodate in Transition Year are supported to expand the provision.

I also announced that a revised Transition Year programme statement will be developed through working with schools. This will be available from early 2024 and will help to ensure the delivery of a valuable Transition Year experience for students across all schools participating in the programme. This will include the provision of professional support to teachers and schools in terms of continuous professional development.

Since my announcement significant work has taken place to advance this work. The NCCA has prepared a background paper and brief for the revision of the Transition Year Programme Statement and completed a public consultation on same. The NCCA has also convened a Statement Development Group for the revised Transition Year Programme Statement.

The Transition Year grant is paid on a per capita basis – therefore it increases/decreases in line with actual participants. The rate is €95 per annum per student. The amount of funding provided by my Department for transition year has risen from €3.1m in 2014 to €3.6m this year.