Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if transition year is not just for the cream of the crop and is open to any student regardless of ability or junior certificate results; the body or individuals who are responsible for deciding the number of students and which students take transition year at each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27735/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The transition year programme is available as an option to all second level schools. Currently, more than 500 schools are providing the programme. The transition year programme is suitable to students of all levels of ability. Its aim is to provide students with a broad educational experience that will allow them to mature while developing their personal, academic and social skills. There is not a prescribed national curriculum for transition year. Each school has the freedom to design its own programme in accordance with the needs of its students.

The management authority of each school carries responsibility for making all decisions regarding the transition year programme in that school. Guidelines have been issued by my Department to support schools in this process. 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 schools where restrictions apply, an open and transparent selection process should be in place which is based on criteria that promote the educational well-being of all students.