Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail)

I rise today on a joyous occasion in Limerick to congratulate the fourth-year students at Castleroy College who graduate from transition year today. The programme is all about the development of thinking, caring, articulate and self-confident young people. I congratulate the principal, Brian O'Donoghue, transition year co-ordinator, Geraldine McGrath, and all the TY students and their families on completing the year.

Transition year is such an important year in the life of a young person. It is designed to act as a bridge between the junior certificate and leaving certificate programmes, and each school around the country designs its own programme, within guidelines, to suit the needs of its students. It can include volunteering with groups, often includes entering competitions like The Big Idea or trying new activities and sports such as, for example, rowing, horse riding, surfing or whatever the school is able to facilitate, and, importantly, trying out new subjects which the students may wish to opt for during the leaving cert programme. Importantly, the ESRI has confirmed that students who complete transition year achieve higher results in their leaving cert and, therefore, while it is not for every student, it is something that should be facilitated and encouraged.

However, it can be a very costly year for parents and indeed for many families. The average cost is somewhere between €500 and €1,000 for the school fees and, in addition, there are bus transport fees, activity transport fees and optional activity fees throughout the year. It is a real pressure on parents. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Education to the House for a debate on the benefits of transition year and a discussion on what subsidies, bursaries or supports can be put in place to ensure this year is available to students throughout the country.