Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 926: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if she has reviewed the recently published Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland science survey on the impact of budget cutbacks on science in second level schools; her views on the details revealed in the survey; the action she will take to address the concerns raised in this survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15161/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 927: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that have dropped science subjects from the school timetable in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15162/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 928: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the steps she will take to ensure that schools will not be forced to drop science based subjects next year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15163/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 930: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the number of second level schools here that do not offer physics, chemistry or biology as part of the subject choice to their students; the number of schools that have dropped physics, chemistry or biology as a subject choice in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15165/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 931: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if higher and ordinary level science classes are being amalgamated at junior and senior cycle in second level schools as stated in the recent Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland report on the teaching of science at second level; the number of schools that have taken this action; the number of students affected; the steps she will take to address this problem in view of the commitment to improve the uptake and quality of science education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15166/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 926 to 928, inclusive, 930 and 931 together.

I am aware of the recent ASTI report based on responses from 334 teachers of Junior Certificate science. This shows that 14% of schools have dropped a Leaving Certificate science subject from the curriculum this year, and indicates a teacher view that a further 20% are likely to drop a science subject next year. Of the schools which have dropped a subject, 4% have dropped Biology, 65% have dropped Physics, 33% have dropped Chemistry, 4% have dropped Agricultural Science, and 9% have dropped the combined subject of Physics and Chemistry.

The data requested by the Deputy is set out below in tabular form. It should be noted that school changes in subject offer is a regular occurrence, and the data for schools discontinuing a science subject in 2007/8 before the increase in the pupil teacher ratio, is largely the same as the numbers discontinuing science in 2009/10. In addition, the table shows the level of overall change between the number of schools not offering a science subject in 2005/6 and the position pertaining in 2009/10.

Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

In accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support through curricular concessions. This concession is available as a short term support for teaching in specific curricular areas affected by circumstances which have not yet been possible to resolve through the normal planning and management processes.

The allocation processes also include appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The Board of Management of a school can submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board which was established specifically to adjudicate on appeals on staffing allocations in post-primary schools. This Board operates independently of my Department.

The renewed Programme for Government provides for 500 teaching posts to schools over the next three years over and above additional posts that will arise due to demographic increases. Following consultation with the education partners clear and transparent criteria have been agreed for the allocation of these posts. One hundred posts have been allocated to each sector, primary and post-primary in the current school year. Agreement has also been reached on the allocation of 100 posts to the post-primary sector for the coming school year, 2010/11. Additional supports will be targeted at co-educational schools in single post-primary catchment areas and at schools that join together with other local post primary schools to increase subject choice in a town.

My Department is committed to enhancing the teaching and learning of science in senior cycle, and increasing the proportion of students choosing the Physical Sciences. A comprehensive range of measures to achieve this objective are funded through the Discover Science and Engineering programme at both primary and second level. Revised curricula in science were implemented in 2003 in primary schools and in junior cycle for first examination in 2006. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed revised syllabuses for Leaving Certificate science, but is trialling assessment approaches in schools prior to submitting its advice to my Department.