I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 66 together.
In accordance with the rules and programme for secondary schools, the approved course for the established leaving certificate must include not less than five approved examination subjects, of which one must be Irish. The exception to this is where a student has been granted an exemption from the study of Irish. The rules and programme for secondary schools are updated from time to time, to take account of such matters as new and revised syllabi.
It is the intention of my Department to have them updated for the 2006-07 school year. No change is proposed, however, to the minimum course requirements outlined above for students following the established leaving certificate programme.