Phil Hogan
Question:100 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason universities do not give any points for leaving certificate vocational programme link modules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25873/98]
Written Answers - Leaving Certificate Examination.
Richard Bruton
Question:239 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to require all third level colleges to give due weight to points earned in the new strands of the leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26037/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 100 and 239 together.
There are three strands to the leaving certificate. For the established leaving certificate the system of access to third level education awards points for all subjects at higher and ordinary level in accordance with grades achieved. In the case of the leaving certificate vocational programme, the institutes of technology award points for three grades of achievement — pass, merit, distinction — in the examination of the links modules. As the Deputies will be aware, the question of points equivalence is a matter for the individual institutions and I understand consideration is being given by the conference heads of Irish universities and the Dublin Institute of Technology for the awarding of points for the links modules also. The appropriate recognition of the link modules in the leaving certificate programme for points is among the issues that have been raised in submissions to the commission on the points system which is due to report in late spring/early summer 1999.
In the case of the leaving certificate applied, direct access is not possible to higher education.
However, access is possible to a wide range of post leaving certificate courses certified by the National Council for Vocational Awards, NCVA. The NCVA has developed linkages for graduates from some of these courses to courses in institutes of technology.