There has been a dreadful falling off in the number of students taking higher level chemistry, physics and mathematics. Fewer than 10% of students now take the first two subjects at leaving certificate level. Only a few years ago the figure was 20%. We must examine the reasons we are so short of teachers in these areas. Even recently there was not too much in the way of employment for mathematics and physics graduates, but now there is a huge range of opportunities for them. I met a physics graduate from Trinity College who told me he was going to South Korea to design computer games. It is a first class job and I was delighted for him, but if we lose enough people with such skills, we will be in a bad way. I heard someone suggest we should bring in science and mathematics teachers from eastern Europe and Russia where there is a surplus. Has the Department addressed this issue? It is vital that we do so because otherwise we could leave ourselves sub-skilled in these areas.