Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Statistics.

Damien English

Ceist:

103 Mr. English asked the Minister for Education and Science the total number of secondary schools in the State; the number of secondary schools that offer music to junior certificate level; the number that offer music to leaving certificate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26567/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

In the school year 2002-03 there were 746 second level schools recognised by my Department. Of these, 475 offer music as a subject up to junior certificate level and 404 offer music as a subject up to leaving certificate level.

The curriculum to be offered to pupils attending second level schools is a matter for the authorities of the schools concerned subject to my Department's regulations concerning provision of the core curriculum. At post-primary level, the revised music syllabi for both the junior and leaving certificates emphasise three main activities, namely, listening, performing and composing. Students studying these courses have the opportunity of availing of class-based tuition in an instrument and/or voice. Students may have lessons outside their school in a college or school of music, or privately. In the case of school-based tuition, my Department pays the salaries of the teachers, so there are normally no tuition costs to the students in these circumstances. In cases where students learn instruments and-or singing outside their own school, some of these courses are run by vocational education committees, which my Department helps to fund, notably, County Cork, City of Dublin and the City of Limerick vocational education committees. Modules in music are also available as part of the leaving certificate applied programme.