Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider providing a Level 2 Leaving Certificate cycle for the 2023/2024 school year for students currently undertaking a Level 2 Junior Certificate Programme (details supplied). [22529/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2022, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience which will:

• Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century
• Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system
• Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels

My approach to Senior Cycle redevelopment is ambitious, optimistic and inclusive. Senior Cycle redevelopment will ensure that the diversity of students’ learning needs and strengths are addressed and that all learning pathways in school are accessible and equally valued. It will broaden the ways used to assess and accredit students’ achievement, to better reflect and encourage the learning we wish to promote.

In a redeveloped Senior Cycle, real opportunities to progress, consolidate and transfer learning should be available for students of Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes, for those who can currently access these programmes at Junior Cycle.

As part of the reform process, I requested the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to develop follow-on programmes for students studying Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes (L1/L2LPs) in Junior Cycle as they progress to Senior Cycle.

To commence this process, the NCCA has completed a review of the L1/L2LPs in Junior Cycle, during which it also sought to learn more from schools about their curriculum provision for students in Senior Cycle who followed L1/L2LPs in Junior Cycle. The findings of the review are informing the work of the Post Primary Special Education Development Group which is tasked with the development of follow-on Senior Cycle modules for students progressing from Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes.

These modules will be student-centred and age-, peer- and learning needs appropriate and contribute to students’ intellectual, social and personal growth and maturity.

The NCCA has recently completed a public consultation on the Background Paper and Brief for the development of the follow-on modules for L1/L2LPs. Feedback from the public consultation will inform the work of the Post Primary Special Education Development Group.

It is expected that the development of the first tranche of modules will be completed in time for implementation in schools in September 2024.