Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

416. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current subvention paid to schools for transition year, per student; whether there is a cap on such subventions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14149/25]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

417. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the deadline for schools to provide final numbers for transition year each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14150/25]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school has reached its quota for transition year places and has to create a lottery, whether the school can apply for supplemental supports from the Department in the event it decides in the best interests of students to facilitate additional numbers. [14151/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 to 418, inclusive, together.

The Transition Year Grant is paid to non-fee charging voluntary secondary schools, community and comprehensive schools and schools in the ETB sector in addition to capitation payments. The Transition Year Grant is paid on a per capita basis – therefore it increases or decreases in line with the number of actual participants in a given year when compared with other years.

It is a matter for a school to determine the number of places it makes available in Transition Year in a given year and no quota is imposed on a school in that regard, nor is there a cap on the total subvention available to schools under the Transition Year Grant.

The amount paid to schools under the Transition Year Grant is based on the returns made by Post Primary Schools for students that are present and attending their school on 30 September each year, which includes all Programmes and Programme Years.

Since its introduction, the popularity and uptake of Transition Year has increased significantly to the point where it is now offered in almost every post-primary school. The number of students participating in Transition Year has also grown in recent years, with the latest figures showing that over 60,000 students are currently in Transition Year, equivalent to just over 80% of the number of third year students in the previous school year.

As a result of this increase in participation in Transition Year, the amount of TY grant funding provided by my Department has risen from approximately €3.1 million in 2014 to €5.1 million in the 2023/24 school year.

Transition Year is also supported through the payment of teachers’ salaries and the provision of capital funding to schools. The number of students in Transition Year is taken into account when the teaching allocation available to a school is determined, in line with the relevant circulars including Circulars 0008/2024, 0009/2024 and 0010/2024.

The rate for the Transition Year Grant in the 2023/2024 school year was €95 per student. As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024, an additional €21 million was secured as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This supports a permanent restoration of funding for post-primary schools from the 2024/25 school year. This brings the rate of the Transition Year Grant to the pre-2011 level of €100 per student in post-primary schools.

Timetabling for the academic year is arranged by the school and unfortunately this may not always be able to accommodate every student’s subject or programme choice.

In cases where restrictions apply, schools should have clear procedures regarding admission to the programme or subject which indicate how places are allocated to students if there is over or under subscription for a particular subject or programme.

As part of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme, I am committed to expanding access to Transition Year and to supporting schools in giving every student the option of participating in Transition Year in the future. My officials are currently working to identify barriers to participation and understand their causes and this work will inform my approach to making Transition Year accessible to all.