Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was just about to say that measuring teaching outcomes from either a quantitative or qualitative point of view is quite challenging, particularly in view of the different academic ethos which obtains within the various higher education institutions. One way to try to ensure more efficient outcomes from a teaching point of view is to consider professional academic development and the research which underpins it. The system at post-primary level is highly evolved.

There should also be a system that is promoted at tertiary level. If there is greater academic professional development, there are better teachers, more specialties are created and better outcomes are driven. This issue is being considered as part of the national forum.

The straight answer to the Deputy's question is that I am unsure as to whether we have those data. We can check for him. However, there is a focus on his points regarding the need for metrics and indices.

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