Dr. Ciarán Mac an Bhaird:

When we refer to the mathematics problem, it is loosely described as students coming to third level without the basic skills they need to cope. However, this is not unique to Ireland. The pioneers of mathematics support were principally in the UK. The vast majority of higher education institutions in the UK - they are not referred to as "third level" there - have some mathematics support. It is provided worldwide. The documentation shows that this is a problem everywhere. There is mathematics support in Australia, Canada and the US, to name just a few countries.

There are many reasons for that. I do not know that I can say what they are. Many more students are completing second level, which is one issue. A high number of students are going from second to third level. In the past, people were not completing second level and if they were, they were not going-----