Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 8

Written Answers. - Transition Year.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Ceist:

33 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Education the uptake of transition year there has been this autumn; the way in which this compares with the 1993 to 1994 figures; and the resources, if any, she has made available to the scheme. [1058/94]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

From September 1994, on the introduction of the restructured senior cycle programme, schools have been offered the option of providing the transition year programme.

Schools wishing to offer the transition year programme for the 1994-95 school-year were required to notify my Department by January, 1994 of their intention to offer the programme. A total of 575 schools did so. A transition year had been in operation in 159 of those schools in the 1993/94 and previous school years.

My Department is, at present, seeking confirmation from schools of the actual up-take and I will make this information available to the Deputy when it has been assembled.

I have taken the following steps to assist schools in providing the transition year programme.

Schools already receive an allocation of teaching resources and grants towards recurrent costs in respect of recognised pupils, including pupils taking the transition year programme. The rate of capitation grant for voluntary secondary schools was increased by £8 per pupil and by £23 per pupil in the case of disadvantaged schools. The budgets of community and comprehensive schools and of vocational education committees were also increased.

As a contribution towards the planning and coordination necessary to ensure that students derive maximum benefit from the programme, an additional grant of £50 per annum will be paid in respect of each pupil on the transition year programme.

A video and a booklet on the restructuring of the senior cycle, including the transition year programme, has been produced and circulated to schools, students and parents.

A special pack of resource material for the transition year programme has been developed and distributed to schools and is available from public libraries.

Applications or additional accommodation, where required, are being dealt with as part of the second-level capital programme.

An in-career development programme for the teachers in schools which opted to offer the transition year programme is under way.

I have established two monitoring groups, one within my Department and one including representatives of managerial authorities, teacher unions and parents, to keep all aspects of the implementation of the senior cycle restructuring under review.