Vol. 497 No. 5
358 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to promote the value of the applied leaving certificate among employers, many of whom fail to appreciate the value of the qualification. [25684/98]
A campaign for the promotion of the leaving certificate applied was initiated in 1997 and is continuing in 1998. The campaign is being administered by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment under a joint Department/NCCA steering group.
The essential objective of the campaign is to make information available about the educational value of the leaving certificate applied. The promotion is primarily directed at employers. It is directed also at schools, teachers, parents and the further education sector.
The promotion campaign has involved media briefings and a publicity campaign. It has involved the production and dissemination of materials including: a video; an individual pay slip insert for all post primary teachers; a brochure for employers; a brochure for the further education sector and the leaving certificate applied journal.
It has also involved briefing sessions for employers and the organisation of national events including, for example the launch of the promotional campaign and the presentation of first certificates by myself in the Royal Hospital on 18 February 1998.
An Internet web site dedicated to the leaving certificate applied is being set up.
My Department had discussions with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to minimum entry requirements for recruitment to An Garda Síochána.
The Department had discussions with FÁS in relation to the entry requirement for leaving certificate applied students for FÁS standard based apprenticeships. This was set at 25 credits in the leaving certificate applied.
There has been in ongoing communication with the Department of the Environment and Local Government in relation to the educational requirements for entry to certain positions in local authorities.
The Department deals with inquiries from individual employers regarding the leaving certificate applied on an ongoing basis.
The Department has established that 60 credits in the leaving certificate applied is the equivalent of six Grade Ds at ordinary level in the established leaving certificate.
The matter of a full schedule of equivalence as between the leaving certificate applied and the established leaving certificate is currently under active consideration in the Department.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to give a high priority to promoting the importance of the leaving certificate applied.
