Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I ask that the Deputy table a separate parliamentary question on that matter. This question relates to the teaching of maths.

With regard to Deputy Smith's question, there are no exact figures for the take-up of CPD. However, I will endeavour to come back to him at a later date with additional information on the matter. If he is asking whether I am satisfied with the rate of reply to the survey, the straight answer is that I am not. The schools have until 26 September to provide responses to it. I ask the Deputy to have some forbearance and allow us to assess the position at that point. The Department and the Minister, Deputy Quinn, are extremely conscious of the fact that we must grapple with this issue. We must do so on the basis that we will be provided with a true picture of the actual scenario. In that context, the agencies and stakeholders involved have been given a clear signal to the effect that we require sound data. We cannot make proper policy decisions unless such data which must be both qualitative and quantitative are forthcoming. I hope the Deputy will accept my comments on this matter in good faith.

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