Vol. 489 No. 1
74 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the Conference of Religious of Ireland in relation to the operation of the points system for entry to third level education; his response to the points made by CORI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7446/98]
I set up the Commission on the Points System in October 1997. An Action Programme for the Millennium sets out as a key priority the appointment of such a group to examine the points system. I have set out in the terms of reference for the commission that it should review the present system of entry to third level institutions and make any recommendation that it considers appropriate. The commission is in the middle of an extensive period of public consultation and I am delighted that it has already received around 100 submissions.
One of the submissions that has been made to the commission is from the Conference of Religious of Ireland. I am confident that the commission will give the fullest consideration to this detailed submission, as it will to all of the submissions that it has received. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to respond to issues that have been raised in any of the submissions that have been made, other than to say that I look forward to the outcome of the work of the commission and to its recommendations.
