Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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547. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the lack of availability of the leaving certificate applied programme in post-primary schools in County Leitrim on the grounds of the discriminatory exclusion of suitable educational options for children living in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27996/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme is one of a number of options made available by my Department for Senior Cycle students which schools can choose from, based on the education needs and interests of their student.  

It is the responsibility and choice of each individual school to decide to put in place the LCA programme, based on the educational needs and interests of their students.  It is also for schools to decide on the admittance of a student to the programme, in their school. Schools are encouraged to provide maximum access to these options and to have clear procedures in place regarding how the available places are allocated to students.

Schools that choose to organise the LCA programme are entitled to an additional fixed allocation of 0.5 of a teaching post, over the standard allocation. There is no minimum number of LCA pupils required for schools to secure the additional teaching allocation from my Department.

The number of students taking LCA varies across counties. The Department's information indicates that a school in Leitrim is providing the LCA for final year students this school year 2016/2017 (i.e. exam sits in 2017).

My Department is committed to supporting this programme, which is appropriate for members of the student cohort whose needs, aptitudes and learning styles are not fully catered for by the other two Leaving Certificate programmes (Leaving Cert Established and Leaving Cert Vocational Programme). That is why I have asked the NCCA to consider the LCA, as part of its review of Senior Cycle which commenced in 2017. This review will help to ensure curriculum development continues to respond to the changing needs of learners, society and the economy.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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548. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to prevent individual schools from opting not to have the leaving certificate applied programme available to students as an option in view of the fact that it promotes elitism, discrimination and attaches a stigma to this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27997/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme is one of a number of options made available by my Department for Senior Cycle students which schools can choose from, based on the education needs and interests of their student.  

It is the responsibility and choice of each individual school to decide to put in place the LCA programme, based on the educational needs and interests of their students.  It is also for schools to decide on the admittance of a student to the programme, in their school. Schools are encouraged to provide maximum access to these options and to have clear procedures in place regarding how the available places are allocated to students.

Schools that choose to organise the LCA programme are entitled to an additional fixed allocation of 0.5 of a teaching post, over the standard allocation. There is no minimum number of LCA pupils required for schools to secure the additional teaching allocation from my Department.

My Department is committed to supporting this programme, which is appropriate for members of the student cohort whose needs, aptitudes and learning styles are not fully catered for by the other two Leaving Certificate programmes (Leaving Cert Established and Leaving Cert Vocational Programme). That is why I have asked the NCCA to consider the LCA, as part of its review of Senior Cycle which commenced in 2017. This review will help to ensure curriculum development continues to respond to the changing needs of learners, society and the economy.