I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 to 429, inclusive, together.
In accordance with the rules and programme for secondary schools, the approved course for the established leaving certificate must include Irish and not less than four of the following examination subjects, all of which are optional: classical studies; ancient Greek; Latin; English; Hebrew studies; French; German; Italian; Spanish; history; geography; mathematics; applied mathematics; physics; chemistry; physics and chemistry; agricultural science; biology; agricultural economics; engineering; technical drawing; construction studies; home economics — scientific and social; accounting; business; economics; art, including crafts; music; Russian; Arabic; Japanese; and religious education.
Rule 46 of the rules and programme for secondary schools and in my Department's Circular Letter M10/94 make provision for exemption from the study of Irish in limited special circumstances. In the established leaving certificate examination, separate higher, ordinary and foundation level papers are set in the case of the subjects Irish and mathematics. In the case of the other subjects papers are set at both ordinary and higher levels. The subject economic history has been discontinued. It was examined for the last time in the leaving certificate examination in June 2005.