Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is funding available to a person (details supplied) to provide financial assistance with paying the fees for a transition year course for her son. [43617/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Transition Year is a valuable programme for students that offers opportunities for life skills, personal, social and academic development and experience of adult and working life. Transition Year has a unique and important value in the life of students.

The management authority of each school carries responsibility for making decisions regarding the Transition Year programme in that school. Each school designs its own Transition Year programme, within set guidelines, to suit the needs and interests of its students. In establishing its own distinctive programme content, the school takes into account the possibilities offered by local community interests.

There is no specific funding source for schools aimed at a student's participation in a specific programme at Transition Year. A Transition Year grant is paid on a per capita basis, at a rate of €95 per annum per student.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has advised my Department that Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels, and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. Sport Ireland channels funding through the relevant National Governing Body of sport. Funding for football is allocated to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). It has also advised that students are recommended to engage with the FAI to discuss their individual needs and how they may be supported by the governing body.