Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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811. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 434 of 14 October 2025, whether she will provide funding for specific Leaving Cycle Coordinator roles, in addition to other supports. [59078/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to the ongoing delivery of Senior Cycle Redevelopment in our schools, with many of our young people already experiencing the benefits of the reforms in classrooms today. Senior Cycle Redevelopment includes redevelopments to the Leaving Certificate Established (LCE), the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP), the Transition Year (TY) programme and the introduction of new senior cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes.

The Deputy may be aware that a robust package of supports, known as the Implementation Support Measures, was published in May, following extensive discussions with teacher unions. The package contains a broad ranging series of measures, designed to support schools in the continued delivery of the vision for Senior Cycle Redevelopment.

My department recognises the importance of supporting the implementation of Senior Cycle Redevelopment at a leadership level in schools and is therefore introducing a number of additional posts of responsibility at Senior Cycle.

Under a commitment in the published Support Measures package, schools will be provided with an additional post of responsibility at Assistant Principal 1 or 2 (AP1 or AP2) level, informed by school enrolment numbers. This post will be implemented across all schools from the commencement of the 2026/27 school year and will include timetable alleviation at an appropriate level.

My department has also committed to the establishment of a dedicated Post of Responsibility in schools which offer Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 learning programmes. The post will assist those schools in continuing and enhancing their support of students with special educational needs.

The Deputy will be aware that for the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme there is currently an allocation of 0.50 WTE post granted to schools, where they provide the LCA programme.

In addition, where a school has pupils enrolled in Transition Year an allocation of teaching hours is provided based on the total enrolment and in accordance with published arrangements for posts of responsibility. The Department is committed to ensuring universal access to Transition Year and addressing those cases where places are constrained at a school level. The Department is currently examining the provision of additional allocations to schools in certain, specified circumstances and the development of a scheme by which schools can apply for such additional allocations.

The Department will continue to work with all our education partners to ensure schools have the resources necessary to realise the vision for a redeveloped Senior Cycle that meets the needs of all our students.