Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There is no "Junior Cycle Coordinator" post of responsibility in place. However, to ensure that the necessary time and resources are available to implement the Junior Cycle, a number of resources continue to be made available to schools. These include:

• An extensive programme of CPD for school leaders and teachers;
• Professional time for every teacher;
• Additional paid hours for the coordination of Subject Learning and Assessment Review meetings; and
• Management resources hours for each school.

The board of management of each school or the ETB, as appropriate, along with the in-school management team, is accountable for the overall implementation of the Junior Cycle in the school, as it is for all other aspects of the school’s work. In recognition of the fact that the introduction of the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 has implications for school leaders, additional management resource hours were allocated to schools (via substitution) with effect from 2016 on an interim basis pending the restoration of leadership posts in schools, to help with the facilitation of this additional work. Circular Letter 3/2018 - ‘Leadership and Management In Post-Primary Schools’ provided details regarding the restoration of leadership and management posts in those schools, including some 1,300 leadership posts being restored to post-primary schools.

While these management resource hours were due to lapse my Department has decided, on an interim basis, to continue to allocate these hours. Schools are receiving these additional resources on the basis that their Junior Cycle students have access to teaching, learning and assessment practices, including the holding of SLAR meetings, in line with the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 and the associated specifications designed by the NCCA and approved by the Minister, including all assessment arrangements set out in Junior Cycle circulars.

For these hours, the Principal, with the approval of the Board of Management, following an open invitation for expressions of interest from the teachers in the school, allocates the additional teaching hours granted to the school to support him/her in implementing the new Junior Cycle.