Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will support the introduction of information and communications technology as a subject for the junior certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5012/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have no plans to introduce information and communications technology (ICT) as a discrete subject for the junior certificate. Recent thinking on ICT in schools is that the best way to learn ICT skills is to apply them in a meaningful context. Based on this, the focus in Ireland is on developing and promoting the use of ICT as a tool for teaching and learning across the curriculum. A national evaluation of the implementation of ICT in teaching and learning in primary and post primary level schools has been completed, and the report will be available later this year.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that offer the physics and chemistry course to leaving certificate level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5007/07]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools which offer music to leaving certificate level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5006/07]

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of post-primary schools now offering the full complement of science subjects to leaving certificate level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5023/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 181 and 190 together.

The latest information available to my Department on the number of schools offering specific subjects relates to the 2005/06 school year. 449 second-level schools offered music in senior cycle in 2005/06. 554 second-level schools offered physics to Leaving Certificate level. 69 second-level schools offered physics and chemistry to Leaving Certificate level. 550 second-level schools offered chemistry to Leaving Certificate level. 691 second-level schools offered Biology to Leaving Certificate level. 193 schools offered applied mathematics to Leaving Certificate level.

The Deputy will be aware that the decision as to which subjects to offer is made at the level of the individual school, subject to compliance with my Department's regulations concerning provision of the core curriculum. Demand will of course depend on the number of students that want to take other subject options.