Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 686: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she proposes to encourage particular subjects at second level to ensure the availability of adequate graduates to meet requirements in the areas of medicine, engineering and the sciences in general; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33210/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department actively encourages the uptake of science and technological subjects through an ongoing programme of curriculum reform and teacher in-service and by upgrading school facilities. A new science curriculum was introduced into primary schools in 2000 as part of the revised primary school curriculum. Revised syllabi in junior certificate science and in leaving certificate physics, chemistry and biology have also been introduced since then. The introduction of these syllabi was supported by comprehensive in-service programmes for teachers. Work by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, on the revision of the two remaining leaving certificate science subjects, agricultural science and combined physics and chemistry, is at an advanced stage.

The introduction of science at primary level was supported by a resource grant of €1,000 per school plus €10 per pupil. Additional equipment grants were provided to schools at post-primary level, and laboratories continue to be refurbished as part of the ongoing schools building programme. In that context, €16 million was provided to schools in 2004 to support the implementation of the revised junior certificate science syllabus.

Following a review by the NCCA of existing technological subjects at leaving certificate level, four syllabi were submitted to my Department for consideration. These are engineering technology, formerly engineering, architectural technology, formerly construction studies, design and communication graphics, formerly technical drawing, and a new syllabus for technology which is available only to junior certificate at present. My Department is developing proposals to secure a commitment to a multi-annual funding package which will enable the revised syllabi to be implemented at the earliest possible date.

In response to a request from my Department, the NCCA is conducting a review of mathematics at post-primary level. A key component of this is a public consultation process, which has just begun. The 2002 report of the task force on the physical sciences highlighted the importance of addressing the decline in the numbers of students participating in physics and chemistry at senior cycle and choosing science options in higher education, and set out a range of strategies and actions to address these issues. The report contains 39 recommendations, with costed proposals totalling €244 million, of which €66.3 million would be a recurring annual cost. My Department is progressing these recommendations as resources permit, in collaboration and consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. To date, progress has been made on 25 of the recommendations.