A review is to be undertaken as to whether History should be an optional subject at Junior Cert level, it has been announced.

Speaking at Fine Gael’s Ard Fheis in Dublin, Minister for Education, Joe McHugh said: “It’s already recognised that History is generally the fifth most popular subject in the Junior Certificate examination.

“That shows the demand is there both from the teachers who attract students to the subject through their own love and passion for education and learning and by engaging the natural curiosity of students.

“Schools have the freedom to shape their teaching in line with resources, the needs of students and their educational philosophies. We want to build on that.

“I believe it is through learning the lessons of our past that we can plan for our future. And the past century and more has been an immense period for Ireland.

“Even the events of the last week with our nearest neighbours, trying to plot their Brexit, provide testimony to that."

The Minister for Education added, “The importance of understanding our shared history cannot be clearer and while we have deepened our relations in recent years we can use our understanding of History to build on those.

“It’s also in the context of marking the end of the First World War and how we commemorate anniversaries of the War of Independence, Civil War and Partition.

He concluded, “I look forward to meeting officials from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in the next week or so to determine how we progress this.”

Meeting so many people @FineGael #FGAD18 @irishguidedogs Senator Martin Conway @AaronSweeney1 Manus & John Boyle & Bert Galbraith pic.twitter.com/U5rTH3h99n

— Joe McHugh (@McHughJoeTD) November 17, 2018