Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 414: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of transition year places when a child is unable to obtain a place at his or her own school due a restriction in numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18195/10]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 415: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines if any, that have been issued to schools regarding the provision of transition year places to students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18196/10]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 418: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the barriers to students seeking to study for the leaving certificate applied or leaving certificate vocational examinations in undertaking transition year prior to these courses; if any departmental guidelines have issued regarding same; if schools are permitted to make a policy decision not to recommend transition year for students who will be following LCV and LCA courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18199/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 414, 415 and 418 together.

The management authority of each school carries responsibility for making decisions regarding the Transition Year (TY) Programme in that school. In some schools, the programme is compulsory for all students.

In those that offer it as an option, circumstances may arise where it is necessary to limit the number of students who can avail of it. In such cases, it is the board of management that decides the number of places available to students. In cases where restrictions apply, schools should have clear procedures regarding how places are allocated to students.

There is no inherent reason why TY should not be made available as an option to students intending to pursue the Leaving Certificate Applied or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.