Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to teachers' concerns about the new junior certificate examination proposals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21395/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Short courses were originally suggested in the document "Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle" prepared by the NCCA. There was extensive consultation over many months with teachers and other stakeholders in relation to this document. The NCCA advice in relation to short courses was largely taken up by the Minister in the "Framework for Junior Cycle" published in October 2012.

Some short courses will be designed centrally by the NCCA and others by schools themselves or other bodies. It is a matter for schools to determine whether they wish to offer short courses as part of their junior cycle programme, being mindful of the needs of their students and their particular local circumstances. Short courses will enable schools to have the opportunity to broaden the learning experiences of their students if that is what the school decides. The opportunity to include short courses has been widely welcomed.