Olwyn Enright TD, Spokesperson on Education and Science, Fine Gael, writes:

I have followed, with a great deal of interest, the ongoing debate in JMI regarding the challenges facing music today.

Music, and indeed the arts generally, have historically been overlooked within our education system. In his contribution to this debate, Professor Brian Norton rightly noted that Irish musicians have achieved great success, both artistically and commercially, on the international stage. However, these successes should not overshadow the considerable gaps in music education provision within our school system.

The 2003 report prepared by Music Network, A National System of Local Music Education Services, outlines a new model where the school music curriculum is complemented and supported by a community-based instrumental and vocal education service. However, I remain very concerned at the number of second-level schools that still do not offer the music subject to Junior and Leaving Certificate level.

The latest available figures from the Department of Education and Science confirm that there are 442 second-level schools (249 mixed-sex and 193 single-sex) providing music up to the Leaving Certificate examination. This shows that there are 300 second-level schools, or 40% of the total number, which are not offering Leaving Certificate music.

Clearly, if we are to ensure that children and young people have the opportunity to explore their musicality and engage with music from the day they enter school to the day they leave, there will have to be a concerted effort to substantially increase the number of schools offering the subject at both junior and senior cycles in our second-level schools.