Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the area of computation in maths has been considered by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment or by his Department in terms of helping students to manage maths as a subject within the primary and secondary curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33594/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The term 'computation' has a variety of different meanings, ranging from a simple process of (number) calculation or reckoning, to very sophisticated algorithms or protocols that occur within closed physical systems, such as computers.

In respect of school students and their learning in mathematics, computation in terms of number operations is included at both primary and second level, and is accompanied by estimation, by means of which the reasonableness of the outcome of a calculation can be judged. This is particularly important where the use of a calculator is intended for all or part of the process, so that students have a means of checking their answers. Apart from initial learning and practice of the number operations themselves, which typically would form an introduction to the study of 'number', their use arises frequently in other areas of mathematics and thus the students' computation skills are reinforced. Development of good computation skills is seen as essential for successful study of later topics in mathematics at all levels.

Applications of computation in post-primary mathematics which involve formulae/algorithms arise, for example, in topics within 'applied arithmetic and measure' such as mensuration (involving calculation of area of shapes, etc.), or when determining the compound interest gained by investing a sum of money at a given rate of interest over a stated period of time. Similarly, topics such as sequences and series involve establishing and/or using a relationship which describes the pattern of numbers in a given situation/problem to compute specific elements of the sequence or series.

Appropriate use of the calculator or computer also features in both primary and post-primary mathematics. This technology itself depends on algorithms and routines for computing the results of frequently very complex mathematical problems, and its use greatly enables the student to focus on the mathematics involved rather than on the tedious task of processing the numbers with accuracy.

"Computation" is included in the current Junior Certificate Mathematics Syllabus as part of the Arithmetic strand of Mathematics. This is part of strand 3 of the revision of syllabuses taking place as part of "Project Maths". Work has begun to revise strand three currently at course committee level and will be completed before the end of the current school year. At that stage a draft strand 3 syllabus will be introduced in the 24 pilot schools. The syllabus will be introduced in all schools from Sept 2011.