Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 416: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the body responsible for determining or changing Central Applications Office points into universities; the role of the CAO office in this process; the role of her Department in this process; if it will be impossible for bonus points in mathematics to be applied to leaving certificate results if the universities concerned choose not to accept this system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17030/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that I have indicated my own view of the desirability of sending a clear signal to our second level students with the introduction of CAO bonus points for achievement in Leaving Certificate mathematics at higher level. I believe that a suitably devised bonus points system could successfully encourage students who study higher level maths not to drop down to ordinary level at the final stage of their programme.

The higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing applications to their first year undergraduate courses. However, the participating institutions retain the function of making decisions on admissions. Neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority has any role to play in relation to the operation of the CAO or the admissions policies of third level institutions.