Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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860. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of subjects second year students in post-primary schools are obliged to take; the position regarding students with dyslexia in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14477/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Framework for Junior Cycle (2015), sets out that students will study a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 subjects for final examination for Junior Cycle, the exact number being dependent on whether the student is also taking short courses.  This has been reiterated in subsequent circulars, the most recent of  which is the circular on 'Arrangements for the Implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle (CL 76/20)', which can be found here - www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0076_2020.pdf.

Exceptions to the minimum number of 8 subjects should only be made in the cases of students with additional educational needs who may take a lower number of subjects, combined in some cases with Level 2 or Level 1 learning programmes. In the case of some individual students with special educational needs, this will be a combination of priority learning units, and/or short courses and/or subjects, suited to their individual needs.

Further information and guidelines on Level 1 Learning Programmes (L1LPs) and Level 2 Learning Programmes (L2LPs) can be found on page 14 and appendix 1 of the aforementioned circular letter 76/2020.

In the case that a student has received an exemption in Irish, as per circular letter 53/2019, due to a Specific Learning Disability such as dyslexia, it is possible that this exemption will bring the student under the minimum 8 subjects. Schools, where appropriate, should take account of the literacy learning needs of students who are exempt from the study of Irish when deploying available special education teaching resources. Students who are exempt from the study of Irish may also be allowed to substitute another subject, short course or area of learning for Irish.

The Department of Education does not give exemptions from the study of modern foreign languages, as the study of these subjects is not mandatory, which means that students do not have to study these subjects. However schools may have their own rules in relation to the study of a foreign language.

When planning its Junior Cycle programme, each school is required to take account of the school’s local context and the backgrounds, interests, and abilities of its students and to ensure that, within the school’s Junior Cycle programme, there is sufficient flexibility to cater for the individual learning needs of all students, including those with special educational needs.

Schools should be conscious of this when planning their Junior Cycle programmes in order to ensure that, as far as possible, the particular range of subjects, short courses and Priority Learning Units available is appropriate to the needs and aptitudes of each student. The individual student and his/her parents/guardians should be made aware of the feasibility and appropriateness of the curricular options available in light of the student’s ability.