Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respect the outcome of the 27,000 second-level teachers who will be balloted on non-cooperation with new junior cycle proposals this March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9123/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I regret the announcement by the ASTI and TUI of the fact that they are balloting their members on industrial action on the new Junior Cycle Student Award (JCSA). I have considered the concerns expressed by the unions and others in relation to the new JCSA. In that context, I have responded to their concerns in relation to the implementation of the Framework on Junior Cycle. I have slowed down the pace of implementation and provided additional professional development opportunities for teachers and school leaders. I hope that the teachers, through their unions, will use the National Working Group for Junior Cycle, which I set up, as the forum to proactively address identified challenges as they arise over the phased implementation time schedule that is the Junior Cycle. I am expecting a report from this Group in May.