Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

This is a policy issue for the Government. Her predecessor opposed the argument for bonus maths points. The clear spin put about by the Tánaiste in one of her addresses to the teacher conferences was that she was in favour of bonus points. Either we have a policy or we do not. If we do, the universities will implement it. As I have suggested previously, one solution could be to apply bonus points for maths if a student goes on to do a maths or science course in any higher education institution. This is a simple CAO requirement that the Tánaiste, on a policy level, could implement were she so minded.

The proposal by the innovation task force is that bonus points should be introduced next September. In other words, it would be implemented in respect of students taking their leaving certificate exams in 2012. Will this occur, yes or no?

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