Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I broadly agree with the views expressed by the Deputy. At one point, we were going to restrict the number of subjects that could be done in the new junior cycle to eight, of which three would be the core subjects. In reality, almost 90% of young people are taking science. Making it compulsory would run into the difficulties to which the Deputy referred, since some small post-primary schools of 200 plus pupils would not have the resources or facilities to provide the course. The level of uptake is high at 88%.

Giving schools and pupils the choice to run their junior cycle in the revised system of ten subjects rather than eight, which was the original thinking, plus the specific breakdown of subjects that might replace a course, will provide some flexibility. I hope that, as we move forward, science will become embedded and will be regarded for all intents and purposes as a core subject along with the others.

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