The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment are the body charged with advising my Department in regard to the curriculum generally and to the syllabus content of individual subjects.
In order to enable them to carry out this function, the council have established syllabus committees as appropriate for the different subjects. Membership of these committees provides representation for school managerial authorities, teacher unions, subject associations, the Committee of Heads of Irish Universities, the National Council for Educational Awards and the Department.
It is precisely because of the implications which leaving certificate syllabuses have for third level education that representation is accorded on the syllabus committees to the representatives of the universities and of the National Council for Educational Awards. This mechanism provides for full consultation with third level interests in regard to any changes in curricula or syllabuses at post-primary senior cycle level.