Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 6 March 2019, the position of the right of parents to opt their children out of the junior certificate National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, religious education syllabus. [12466/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Junior Cycle Religious Education is an optional examinable subject at Junior Cycle level and the question of opting out on grounds of conscience should not therefore arise. This is separate from a programme of religious instruction approved by the school patron which may also be offered and students may opt out of that programme.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools teaching computer science in the school year 2018-19; and the number that will teach the subject in the school year 2019/2020. [12473/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Leaving Certificate Computer Science was introduced in 40 schools in September 2018, with students to sit the first examinations in June 2020. These 40 schools will continue to offer the subject to fifth years beginning September 2019, with examinations in June 2021.

From the beginning of the 2020/21 academic year, the new subject will be made available to all interested schools, should they wish to offer it as an option for their Leaving Certificate programme for incoming 5th years. A further communication will be issued to all second-level schools early in the 2019/2020 school year in relation to the national roll out asking them to express their interest in delivering the subject.