Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 448: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to encourage more schools to offer alternative curricula such as the junior certificate schools programme and the leaving certificate applied course. [18419/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In February 2008 a letter issued to all second-level schools participating in the DEIS programme inviting them to participate in the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP). 25 schools have been selected to join in 2008, which is in addition to the 28 schools which joined the JCSP programme in September 2007 on foot of a similar invitation issued in March 2007. Participation in the programme is supported by an enhanced pupil:teacher ratio and a once-off per capita grant.

138 DEIS schools are currently providing the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme, and 370 centres are offering the programme overall, including 46 out of school centres of education. All DEIS schools are being encouraged to provide the LCA by 2010. An invitation to participate in the programme is issued to all schools each year.