Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has concerns regarding the impact that the new junior certificate programme will have on the take up of history and geography; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51321/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In the new Junior Cycle all students will be expected to achieve 24 statements of learning over the period of their Junior Cycle. These include valuing local and national heritage and understanding the importance of the relationship between past and current event and the forces that drive change and understanding the origins and impacts of social, economic and environmental aspects of the world around him/her.

It is clear therefore that geographical and historical awareness skills, will be necessary to achieve the required outcomes. Overall, I am in favour of leaving the decisions on what is offered to the discretion of the school, and of students having as broad a range of options to choose from as possible.