Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of boys and girls respectively who study home economics at junior certificate level; and if he will consider making the subject compulsory at that level. [24725/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In 2016, a total of 21,464 students sat Junior Cycle Home Economics as part of the State Examinations. 15,848 female students sat the Junior Cycle Higher Level Home Economics examination, while 2,079 male students sat the paper.  At ordinary Level 2,307 female students and 1,230 male students sat the paper.

There are no plans to make the subject compulsory in the Junior Cycle.

A new specification for Home Economics will be introduced to schools, in September 2018, in line with the continuing programme of curriculum reform for Junior Cycle. This specification was developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment following broad consultation.