Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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485. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to address the critical gap in the education system for students with additional educational needs who are unable to complete the traditional Leaving Certificate or Leaving Certificate Applied programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16797/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As Minister, I recognise a need to ensure that all of our students can follow a senior cycle learning pathway most appropriate to their needs, and any new learning pathways need to be valued.

Last September, under Senior Cycle Redevelopment, the Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes Statement, and initial modules in Numeracy, and Communication and Literacy, were published. The SCL1LP and SCL2LP consist of a range of curriculum areas, each designed on a modular basis. A specification is provided separately for each curriculum area and its associated modules.

The introduction of the senior cycle L1 and L2 programmes provides, for the first time, programmes designed for students with special educational needs to support those who would find learning at LCA or LCE too difficult to access. These programmes are designed to consolidate, continue and progress students' learning from their junior cycle learning experiences across six curriculum areas. As the learning programmes are personalised, organising the programme will revolve around the individual student’s strengths and specific needs which should be identified in consultation with parents/guardians, teachers and the student themselves, where possible.

Schools can now make the first phase of the L1/L2 learning programme modules available to students, based on needs identified following a robust, collaborative information-gathering process. This should be guided by the Continuum of Support Framework. The student’s learning profile included in their Student Support File (SSF) will provide the collated evidence and information to indicate if they are best suited to pursue the SCL1 or L2.

The learning programmes, and two Curriculum Areas and associated modules: Numeracy, and Communication and Literacy, are available on curriculumonline.ie

Additional modules in Personal Care and more electives are in various stages of development. A public consultation on the elective modules of Drama, Literature, Looking After My Environment, My Life, My Finance, and Physical Education took place earlier this year. It is intended that these elective modules will be available for September 2025.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is actively working with schools, including special schools, teachers and students to develop appropriate resources, case studies and assessment guidelines.

Oide, the support service for teachers and school leaders, has been providing a comprehensive programme of L1/L2 Professional Learning Events to support teachers in both special schools and post-primary schools, with further events planned.

The State Examinations Commission will certify students' achievement in the L1 and L2 Programmes.