Mr. Michael Gillespie:

We called for that for a long time. We had nothing for people who were in special classes or special schools that indicated they had achieved a particular social development when they completed a set of tasks. We had nothing to measure that or to say that. It has been described by some parents as getting something with the harp on it when they finish school. We had it in junior cycle as a pilot. It is operating quite well and especially in special schools. We want to spread into special classes that are in special schools. We know that 32 schools are doing it to junior cycle. We would hope they will all take it on into leaving certificate. We will now have the same day as a leaving certificate student, be they LCA students or doing the leaving certificate traditional. These students will get something with a harp on it. Our L1 and L2 students will get something with a harp on it that says they have achieved. This is a really special thing for them. We really like that. We have to give credit for the fact that we have been given ring-fenced posts for L1 and L2 students. This is a very special group of students. We need more but it is a great step forward that these students will get something at the end, where we have these classes. It is something we are quite proud of that we are moving with those students.