The latest figures from the Department of Education on the number of students taking science subjects at school show further steep declines.
The figures will add to concern in industry and Government that the economy's need for science and technology graduates will not be met if the decline is not reversed.
According to a parliamentary answer from the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, the number of students taking Junior Certificate science dropped from 56,641 to 54,384 in 1999 and is down from 59,034 since 1995.
The number taking Leaving Certificate physics also dropped last year, from 9,660 to 9,112, while the number doing chemistry slipped from 7,325 to 6,963. The number doing biology was down from 30,613 to 28,749.
The numbers doing chemistry, physics and biology at Leaving Cert have been declining since 1995. In biology the drop since 1995 is 2,710, in chemistry it is 1,499 and in physics it is 1,979.
While the main subjects are declining, so have the number of Leaving Cert students taking the joint option of physics and chemistry.
While there was a slight recovery last year, in the last five years the number has dropped from 1,531 to 1,370.
The only science subject at Leaving Cert level whose popularity is increasing is agricultural science. Since 1995 the number taking this option has increased from 2,452 to 2,999.
It is considered an easier subject to gain an honour in than chemistry and physics by most teachers.
Data for the current year will not be finalised for some weeks, as schools have to finally verify the numbers taking the subjects.