Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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All the other education partners and the wider community are broadly in favour of reform of the junior cycle. The two teachers' unions have a mandate from their members not to engage. I think some may have suspected that I was going to make some kind of concession at the conferences. We have established a working group, which the teachers' unions attend. They are engaged but are not engaged adequately. I have asked them to specifically state in writing what additional resources they would like, what changes they would like, etc. I respect they are representing a wide spectrum of members.

However, the other education partners have engaged. I have received documentation back from the joint management bodies, the leaders of the principals and deputy principals and others. I am prepared to address all of their concerns as best I can, provided we maintain the momentum of the reform of the junior cycle, as set out.