Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which discussions are ongoing with the relevant unions with a view to achieving an amicable settlement in respect of reform of the junior certificate cycle and-or any other outstanding issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15962/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I have accepted Paraic Travers' revised and clarified proposal of 23 February as the basis for agreement on the implementation of Junior Cycle reform. It addresses, I believe, concerns on the union side while retaining many of the important benefits for learners.

I have a mandate to act responsibly on behalf of our junior cycle students, their parents and our wider society. That is why I have signalled my intention to now proceed with implementation of Junior Cycle reform on the basis of the Travers proposals. And it is my intention to work with all interested partners in advancing that.

I remain open to the two post-primary teacher unions coming on board and working with not only the Department, but also the other education partners. However, I cannot wait indefinitely for the teacher unions'. I cannot entertain further efforts to seek to erode essential elements of the new programme.

I held a conference on 26 March called Junior Cycle Advancing Implementation. Representatives of the two teachers unions attended the opening session of this conference. Videos and presentations from that conference are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

I want the teacher unions involved. The Travers 23 February document is the basis for the way forward. If the Unions accept this then I would be willing to work with them alongside the other partners on implementing the reform of the junior cycle.