Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce more mandatory subjects for leaving certificate along with English, Irish and Math; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51953/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is not my intention to introduce additional mandatory subjects for study at Senior Cycle. Currently, the approved course for recognised Senior Cycle students of the established Leaving Certificate must include no fewer than five subjects of which one must be Irish (unless the student has an exemption from Irish). Overall, I am in favour of leaving the decisions on what is offered at the discretion of the school, and of students having as broad a range of options to choose from as possible. Schools are best placed to know the needs of their individual students. Curricular choice has been shown to be an important factor in strengthening retention rates to completion of senior cycle in school. Ireland currently has a retention rate of some 90%.