asked the Minister for Education the percentage of senior cycle pupils in post-primary schools who are studying history.

In the school year 1976-77 approximately 37 per cent of senior cycle pupils in post-primary were studying history.

Will the Minister not agree that this is a scandalous state of affairs? Can he confirm the fact that even pupils who do history can follow a course that makes no mention whatever of Northern Ireland?

I would be horrified to think that was so.

I can pass over to the Minister for his information the journal of the Association of Secondary Teachers—for all I know he is still concerned with that organisation—which states that almost 20 cent of those who are studying history in our schools follow a course that makes no mention of Northern Ireland. Will the Minister investigate the situation?

Whatever the course might say, a history teacher would be in grave dereliction of duty as a teacher in our society if this was the case.

Might this not be a matter for the relevant syllabus committee?

We could refer it to the syllabus committee. I am pleased with the Deputy——

The question relates to the number of students.

I crave the indulgence of the Chair. We are all northerners.