Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the list of schools that will be implementing computer science at leaving certificate level in 2020 will be announced; and if new applications will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27915/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The specification for the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) subject was approved by the Council of the NCCA and the Minister in December 2017. Following a public call to schools, the Steering Group established to oversee implementation of LCCS selected and approved 40 schools that will introduce the subject in September 2018 as part of the phase 1 roll-out. The first examination of the LCCS will take place in June 2020.

It is my Department’s intention to offer Leaving Certificate Computer Science to all interested schools from September 2020. An open call will be made for expressions of interest from schools in 2019. 

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the list of schools that will begin implementing physical education at leaving certificate level in 2020 will be published. [27916/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The specification for Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE) will provide learners with an opportunity to study physical education for the Leaving Certificate examination, providing an additional optional Leaving Certificate subject. The new examinable subject will be introduced in September 2018 into a cohort of 64 post-primary schools participating in the phase 1 implementation of this new subject.

It is my Department’s intention to offer LCPE to all interested schools from September 2020. An open call will be made for expressions of interest from schools in 2019.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the list of schools that will implement politics and society at leaving certificate level in 2020 will be announced; if new applications will be accepted; and if new schools have been admitted to provide the subject since it was first commenced in September 2017. [27917/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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A new specification for Leaving Certificate Politics and Society was introduced in September 2016 to a selected Phase 1 cohort of 41 schools who were selected from almost 120, following an open invitation to introduce this as an optional Leaving Certificate subject. The first examination in Leaving Certificate Politics and Society took place on 20 June, 2018.

The introduction of the specification was part of the Department of Education and Skills commemoration of 1916 and its commitment to education for sustainable development.

Phase 2 (availability to all interested schools) has commenced with all schools having been asked to express their interest in providing Politics and Society as an option for their students from September 2018. The decision to offer optional subjects rests with individual schools. Over 55 schools are availing of Continuous Professional Development from the Professional Development Service for Teachers to assist in the implementation of Politics and Society in their schools from this September. This brings the total number of schools providing Politics and Society for Leaving Certificate to nearly 100.