Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1414: 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. [47972/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 225 schools/centres offering the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP), and the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is currently offered in some 380 schools/centres and taken by around 6% of students each year.

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. An additional 30 schools joined the programme in 2007, and a further 24 schools joined in 2008. Participation in the programme is supported by an enhanced pupil:teacher ratio and by the provision of professional development support to schools and teachers.

Participation in the Leaving Certificate Applied programme is also supported by an enhanced pupil:teacher ratio and by the provision of professional development support to schools and teachers. In framing the budget for this year, a range of very difficult policy choices had to be faced by the Government across all areas of public expenditure, including in the field of education. While education remains a priority for the Government, it has been necessary to curtail expenditure in some areas. Among the areas affected are the Junior Certificate School Programme and the Leaving Certificate Applied where the special grant has been ceased.

However, I would like to emphasise that the capitation grant for post-primary schools has been increased by 4.3%, representing an increase of €14 per student, to bring it to €345 per student from January 2009. In addition, voluntary secondary schools will benefit also from an increase in the school services support grant by €8 per student from January 2009. This will mean, for example, that a secondary school with an enrolment of 500 students will receive an additional €11,000 in funding in 2009. I am confident that the Junior Certificate School Programme and the Leaving Certificate Applied will continue to be viable options for students.