Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances in which her Department has recently initiated a review of the equivalence relationship between the leaving certificate and the European Baccalaureate for the purposes of matriculation and entry to universities here, notwithstanding the acceptance of that qualification immediately subsequent to Ireland's accession to the European Economic Community and its successor organisation the European Union; the status of that review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4846/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the European Schools is a group of thirteen co-educational schools established at various locations in the EU to serve the needs of children whose parents are officials of the EU Commission, European Parliament and other official European organisations. The schools have been established by an intergovernmental treaty — the Convention of the European Schools — to which Ireland is a signatory. In accordance with this Convention, Irish universities recognise the European Baccalaureate for the purposes of admission to their courses and programmes.

I can confirm that issues have been raised with my Department, by the parents of students attending the European Schools, regarding the equivalence of the European Baccalaureate qualification with the Leaving Certificate for the purposes of entry to university courses in Ireland. Issues in relation to admission to university and the evaluation of the qualifications of prospective students are matters that are determined by the universities, not by my Department. In accordance with this, the issues raised in the correspondence from the parents have been referred to the Irish Universities Association (IUA). The IUA is the representative body of the Heads of the seven Irish universities and is the appropriate authority to respond to the issues as they relate to the collective policies of the Irish university sector regarding admission requirements.

My officials wrote to the IUA asking that the matter be reviewed in full and have also met with the IUA on a number of occasions. My Department has also liaised with the Bureau of the European Schools in Brussels so that any relevant material regarding the European Baccalaureate examination and certification required by the IUA, for the purposes of the review, could be provided.

A table was received from the IUA on Monday, 12 February 2007 which presents their initial conclusion that it is difficult to argue that holders of the European Baccalaureate are not given equitable treatment regarding entry to Irish universities. The table of comparison between the European Baccalaureate and Irish Leaving Certificate results provided by the IUA is set out below. The IUA has advised my officials that a fuller report will be made available on the matter in due course.

Comparison of available data between European Baccalaureat and Irish Leaving Certificate results during the period 2003-2005 shows that a greater overall proportion of EB students achieve grades of 90% or above than LC students (A1 and A2 grades), and significantly greater proportions of EB students achieve grades of 75% or above. Furthermore, given the additional weighting of 6.25% applied by the NUI universities and DCU to all EB scores of 90% and above, it is difficult to argue that EB holders are not being given equitable treatment regarding entry to Irish universities.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the instructions she has given to her officials to ensure that the terms of the European Convention of March 2000, guaranteeing equitable treatment for the holders of the European Baccalaureate in respect of entry to universities here will be respected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4847/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The European Schools is a group of thirteen co-educational schools established at various locations in the EU to serve the needs of children whose parents are officials of the EU Commission, European Parliament and other official European organisations. The schools have been established by an intergovernmental treaty — the Convention of the European Schools — to which Ireland is a signatory. In accordance with this convention, Irish universities recognise the European Baccalaureate for the purposes of admission to their courses and programmes.

I can confirm that issues have been raised with my Department, by the parents of students attending the European Schools, regarding the equivalence of the European Baccalaureate qualification with the Leaving Certificate for the purposes of entry to university courses in Ireland. Issues in relation to admission to university and the evaluation of the qualifications of prospective students are matters that are determined by the universities, not by my Department. In accordance with this, the issues raised in the correspondence from the parents have been referred to the Irish Universities Association (IUA). The IUA is the representative body of the Heads of the seven Irish universities and is the appropriate authority to respond to the issues as they relate to the collective policies of the Irish university sector regarding admission requirements.

My officials wrote to the IUA asking that the matter be reviewed in full and have also met with the IUA on a number of occasions. My Department has also liaised with the Bureau of the European Schools in Brussels so that any relevant material regarding the European Baccalaureate examination and certification required by the IUA, for the purposes of the review, could be provided.

A communication was received from the IUA on Monday 12 February 2007 which presents their initial conclusion that it is difficult to argue that holders of the European Baccalaureate are not given equitable treatment regarding entry to Irish universities. The tables of comparison between the European Baccalaureate and Irish Leaving Certificate results provided by the IUA is included below. The IUA has advised my officials that a fuller report will be made available on the matter in due course.

Comparison of available data between European Baccalaureat and Irish Leaving Certificate results during the period 2003-2005 shows that a greater overall proportion of EB students achieve grades of 90% or above than LC students (A1 and A2 grades), and significantly greater proportions of EB students achieve grades of 75% or above. Furthermore, given the additional weighting of 6.25% applied by the NUI universities and DCU to all EB scores of 90% and above, it is difficult to argue that EB holders are not being given equitable treatment regarding entry to Irish universities.