Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way he is to address the concerns of the TUI and ASTI regarding the junior cycle student award ahead of balloting their members on industrial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9157/14]

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.