Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the same issue as Senator Mullen and to discuss and call for a debate on mathematics. I wish to discuss the uptake of higher level mathematics and standards attained. It was the subject of a report from the National Competitiveness Council that was announced on radio this morning and I heard the Minister being interviewed on the subject. This year there is 25 bonus points for students taking honours maths exams but he said that it was not enough. He was not given an opportunity to expand on his comment. We should focus on the matter. Last week we discussed the Gaeltacht Bill and will do so again today and tomorrow because it is important but mathematics is extremely important too. The subject has not been discussed openly enough when we debated it here and in the Lower House. It is essential for the future competitiveness of the economy, as the National Competitiveness Council has said. If the IDA and Enterprise Ireland are focusing on jobs that require a level of mathematical attainment, the education system needs to respond to that. Legislators also need to respond to that demand.