Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he will take in response to concerns expressed by the Teachers Union Ireland and Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland that the necessary resources which are needed to enable the successful implementation of Junior Certificate reforms will not be made available and that international surveys confirm the serious underfunding of the State's second level school system. [17576/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can assure the Deputy that funding has been ring-fenced for the implementation of the new Junior Cycle. The combined costs of curriculum and CPD support in a full year will be of the order of €10 million. A Junior Cycle Support Service will be established under the directorship of Dr. Pádraig Kirk, currently CEO of Co. Louth VEC.

It is important to note that this is not a cost-saving exercise. In fact significant resources are needed to implement the new junior cycle. But even in these very difficult financial times, this Government believes in investing in our children and all the necessary resources will be provided to make this a success.

The Department has established an Education Partners Consultation Group to provide the partners, including the ASTI and TUI, with a formal medium for assisting in the planning of the phased implementation of the Junior Cycle. These meetings are currently happening approximately every 4 to 6 weeks. At these meetings the partners have a forum in which to highlight both the opportunities and challenges of the reform.

In addition the ASTI and the TUI are represented on the Council of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and on its Subject Development Groups. At these meetings the future shape of the curriculum is considered and their findings are presented to the Minister.

The latest edition of Education at a Glance published by the OECD in September 2012 showed that Ireland had the fifth highest proportion of persons aged 25 to 34 who completed upper secondary at 87%. We are fortunate that over 90% of our young people stay on to Senior Cycle and complete the Leaving Certificate.