Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding arrangements to post-primary schools for the leaving certificate applied, LCA, programme; if schools that choose to organise the LCA programme can access funding in year one of the two year programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31102/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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A grant in respect of the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is paid annually to post-primary schools offering the programme in June of each year. It is paid to schools for the pupils enrolled in both year one and year two of the programme.  The rate is €151 per pupil in accordance with Circular letter 0029/2016 which can be accessed on my Department's website.

In addition to the funding provided, schools running the LCA programme receive an additional fixed allocation of 0.5 of a teaching post.  There is no minimum number of LCA pupils required for schools to secure the additional teaching allocation from my Department.

The LCA is supported by a programme of professional development from the Professional Development Service for Teachers, including seminars, online content, evening workshops and the development of an active learning toolkit for all LCA co-ordinators. This programme of support will continue in 2017/2018.

The 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 students.  

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.

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 that curriculum development continues to respond to the changing needs of learners, society and the economy.