IBEC has expressed concern at the dramatic fall in the numbers of Leaving Certificate students taking chemistry in the past decade. It has warned that if this trend is not reversed, it could have a detrimental effect on future technology-based development in Ireland.

The numbers taking Leaving Certificate chemistry fell by over a quarter between 1987 and 1997, from 10,287 to 7,669. This coincided with a 17 per cent rise in the total number of Leaving Certificate students.

IBEC pointed out that in the past decade employment had increased by 85 per cent in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. In the past 18 months alone there had been an 12 per cent increase in jobs.

The director of the Irish Pharmaceutical and Chemical Manufacturers Association, Mr Matt Moran, said yesterday: "Misconceptions of chemistry being a difficult subject have resulted in the decreasing popularity of the subject. Science subjects keep career options open."