Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1644: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there is an alternative to the established junior certificate programme; if there are plans to roll out a junior certificate applied programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29444/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) was introduced in September 1996 as an intervention within the Junior Certificate specifically aimed at students who are potential early school leavers. It is designed to assist schools and individual teachers in adopting a student-centred approach to education and to provide students with a programme to meet their individual needs. There are currently 225 schools/centres offering the Programme.

The DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) Action Plan for Educational Inclusion provides for extended access to the JCSP for second-level schools with the highest concentrations of disadvantage. My Department decided to extend the Programme, on a phased basis over three school years, to those schools which are participating in DEIS. The first phase commenced in September 2007 with an additional 30 schools selected to offer the Programme. A further 24 schools were selected to join in 2008. It is intended that all DEIS schools will be approved to offer JCSP by 2010.

Participation in the programme is supported by an enhanced pupil:teacher ratio and a once-off per capita grant. In addition, professional development support to schools and teachers offering the Programme is provided through the Second Level Support Service (SLSS) by the JCSP Support Service which is located in the Curriculum Development Unit of the City of Dublin VEC.