Third Level Admissions Reform

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Ceisteanna (356, 414, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

356. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the college entry requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36999/12]

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

414. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to implement the recommendation of the Points Commission report in 2000 that colleges be obliged to publish the number of places available on courses those colleges offer through the CAO, in order to lead to more transparency and accountability regarding the way public funding is being used by colleges for third level education and also help inform public policy in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38269/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

470. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering adapting the leaving certificate points system to a ranking system based on relative performance as proposed by Irish university presidents in their recent report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39354/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

471. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering changing the number of leaving certificate grades from 14 to eight as recommended by Irish university presidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39355/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

472. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering adopting a move towards greater common entry for third level courses to take some of the pressure off the points race; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39356/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

473. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering incentivising other strategically important leaving certificate subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39357/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

474. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering introducing an examination in mathematics and Irish at the end of fifth year as recommended by Irish university presidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39358/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

475. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering reviewing the date of publication of leaving certificate results as recommended by Irish university presidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39359/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

476. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering introducing a graduate entry-only level for certain professional courses as recommended by the Irish university presidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39360/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 414 and 470 to 476, inclusive, together.

My Department is in discussion with all of the relevant bodies, including the universities, on the full range of issues related to the transition to higher education which are identified in the NCCA-HEA report published following the Transitions conference last September. It will submit a report for me on all proposals for change, including timeframes for implementation early in the New Year. In this regard I have received an interim report from the Irish Universities Association of their consideration of the NCCA-HEA Transitions report. They have also informed me that they are working to develop more specific proposals in relation to changes to the third level entry mechanism. The NCCA and the State Examinations Commission is also undertaking work in relation to proposals in the Transitions report about the Leaving Cert assessment process.