Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the review of the CAO system will be carried out hand in hand with reform of the leaving certificate curriculum; and his engagement to date with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on the issue of CAO and leaving certificate reform. [14510/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I have asked the universities and institutes of technology to examine the scope for reform of the current points system for entry to higher education to address some of the negative backwash effects on students' learning in senior cycle. I am anxious that all possible reform options would now be explored and presented for wider discussion and consideration ahead of a planned joint HEA-NCCA conference to take place this coming September.

The NCCA will shortly advise on reforms in junior cycle to address curriculum overload and rote learning, and promote creativity and innovation. Hopefully, the reforms will provide some scope in the longer term for further expansion of second assessment components in senior cycle subjects. These changes are being advanced in the context of the imperative to strengthen attainment levels in maths, science and technology, and to promote the skills for independent learning and critical thinking on a lifelong basis.