Mr. Eamonn Moran:

I cannot give the Deputy the definitive figures on the move between the take-up of history and geography at senior cycle and junior cycle, but the ballpark figures he gave reflect the fact history certainly takes a hit at leaving certificate level. That was one of the reasons the previous Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, made a statement that in addition to Irish, English and maths, history would be included among the subjects that had to be taken at junior cycle. History is now a required subject that students must take in junior cycle, with some exceptions for students with special needs. I think the intention was that if all students took history at junior cycle, it would increase the number who would take it at leaving certificate level, although it is not the silver bullet that will increase the take-up of the subject at leaving certificate level.

To come back to a point made by Mr. Tattan on the increased number of subjects that are available, in the past few years new subjects have been introduced at leaving certificate level, including politics and society, which is taken by a number of students who might have previously taken history at leaving certificate level; computer science, physical education, Polish, Lithuanian and Portuguese. There are many new subjects and it is a busy space at leaving certificate level. I am aware of the effort of the former Minister, Deputy McHugh, to try to increase the uptake by making it a requirement at junior cycle level.