Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will expand on his recent remarks at the National Parents Council primary annual conference in Limerick that students might in future be required to obtain a minimum number of points for entry to third level, with admission then determined by random selection; the way in which he views that this will increase access to third level to students from disadvantaged backgrounds; his views on whether this method would turn entry into third level into a lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14352/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The remarks to which the Deputy refers were aimed at encouraging debate on the very important issues associated with high points pressure for second level students and the implications of this for the educational experience of students at senior cycle level.

The main recommendation of the report of the commission on the points system of 1999 was that the points system should be retained on the basis that it is well established, is broadly fair and transparent and is generally accepted by the public at large. However, the report also found that a number of damaging effects were attributed to the points system. The report pointed to a negative impact on students' personal development; the fact that students' subject choices were being unduly influenced by the aim of maximising the level of points for entry to third level education; a narrowing of the curriculum arising from the tendency to teach to the examination rather than to the aims of the curriculum; and an undue focus on the attainment of examination results. The report noted that the courses for which the greatest competition occurs and in which the cut-off points are consistently high are the health care courses.

As the Deputy will be aware, last August, the HEA published a report, "Study into Alternate Methods of Entry into Health Sciences Professional Courses at Third Level". The report was commissioned by the HEA at my request on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and proposes the removal of health science professional courses from the points system. The report recommends that entry to a range of health sciences programmes should be on a post-graduate basis. It finds that removing entry selection to these high points programmes from the CAO points system would have hugely positive benefits for individual students in terms of reduced pressure and enhanced educational experience at senior cycle in second level. The implementation issues associated with this recommendation for medical education are currently being considered by a working group on undergraduate medical education.

As the Deputy will also be aware, I have invited the OECD to conduct an extensive review of higher education in Ireland in order to map a future strategy for the sector. This is set against a background of Ireland's strategic objective of placing its higher education system in the top rank of the OECD in terms of both quality and level of participation and by the priority to create a world class research, development and innovation capacity and infrastructure in Ireland.

In addition, through its ongoing work, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is pursuing quality and ongoing improvement of the educational experiences of children and young people. Its consultative work in reviewing second level senior cycle education is aimed at supporting this objective.

I welcome all contributions to the important debate on how we can ensure that our senior cycle education system best serves the educational interests of our young people, while facilitating progression in maximum numbers and on an equitable and transparent basis to higher education.