Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a report by a person (details supplied) which criticised the subject matter of project maths and the inadequate training of teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24256/12]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recommendations from a recent report on project maths from a college (details supplied); which, if any, of these recommendations he will implement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24257/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.

The detailed comments in the "Interim Report on Project Maths" prepared by the School of Mathematical Sciences in UCC will be considered by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment which is the body responsible for the development of the Project Maths syllabus. The research was completed last November and the focus of their analysis is on an earlier version of syllabus which has now been updated. Ongoing engagement with third level mathematics and engineering departments has been a feature of the NCCA's work in developing the syllabus. Indeed, the lead author of this UCC study, Dr. James Granell, is the nominee of the Irish Universities Association (IUA) to the NCCA's Board of Studies for Maths.

While there will always be differing views on curricular reform, Project Maths has been welcomed by FORFAS, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, Engineers Ireland and industry interests. Implementation of the change is supported through a Project Maths Implementation Support Group, as an industry/education partnership. This Group reported in 2010 on how stakeholders from business, second level and higher education can work together to achieve the objectives of Project Maths and its recommendations are being progressed. Project Maths implementation is supported by a comprehensive investment in professional development for teachers, at a cost estimated to be in the region of €3.3m per annum.

In addition, the Department has tendered for the development of a post graduate course for teachers who need more intensive support. A wide range of resources for the project are available on www.projectmaths.ie. The support for teachers is supplemented by evening courses in the Education Centre network and by summer courses in the National Centre of Excellence for Maths and Science Teaching and Learning in the University of Limerick.