Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

Maraon le mo chomh-Sheanadóir, ba mhaith liom mo chomhgairdeas a ghabháil leis na mic léinn a fuair torthaí na meanteistiméireachta inniu, leis na daltaí a rinne an scrúdú ard leibhéil sa matamaitic agus go háirithe leo siúd a rinne an t-ábhar nua, project maths. Tá sé rí-thábhachtach go mbéadh líon mór daltaí ag déanamh matamatice ar an ard leibhéal.

Iarraim ar an Cheannaire dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire chun deimhniú nach mbéadh aon laghdú caighdeáin ar an gcuraclam matamaitice de bharr project maths, so that it is the methodology that has changed and not the curriculum as such. We need a strong and rigorous set of A-level mathematics students so this country can continue its recovery. Project maths is very welcome but we should make sure it does not lead to dumbing down.

I will finish by mentioning all students starting their third level studies. I was out at the campus of NUI Maynooth twice this week, and the enthusiasm and the sense of hope and self-belief was very strong. Thinking of this broken country, I was reminded of the words of T. S. Eliot: "What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow/Out of this stony rubbish?" Our students are our hope for the future and I wish them well.