Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
250. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education when the new transition year programme statement comes into effect; if it references and provides guidance around refusal of applications for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14896/25]
View answerTransition 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.
All schools design their own Transition Year programmes within set guidelines to suit the needs and interests of their students. As the Deputy is aware, a new Transition Year Programme Statement was published last September and provides a framework for schools to develop their programmes.
Over the 2024/25 school year, all schools have the opportunity to audit their current Transition Year offering and revise it where necessary in line with the Programme Statement. The new Programme Statement then applies to programmes commencing in the next school year (2025/26) across all schools who offer Transition Year.
The Programme Statement continues to offer schools a significant level of autonomy while placing more structure on the design of Transition Year programmes. The Programme Statement was developed following public consultation in which the level of autonomy for schools was welcomed while also providing parameters and guidance within which schools will work to develop the TY Programme.
It is a matter for a school to determine the number of places it makes available in Transition Year in a given year. 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 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. This work will inform my approach to making Transition Year accessible to all.
