Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be reached as to whether a student will have to study honours maths for the leaving certificate in order to study for a bachelor of education. [21365/14]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the grounds on which honours maths is essential in order to study for a bachelor of education. [21366/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.

As all primary teachers teach mathematics as an integral part of the curriculum, I believe that raising the quality of teaching and the confidence of teachers will have a positive effect on all children's performance in mathematics. I have asked the Teaching Council to advise on the entry requirements for initial teacher education including those for mathematics in view of overall

concerns regarding standards in mathematics.

The Teaching Council undertook a public consultation process on a proposal to raise the entry requirements for primary initial teacher education. However, the Council advised that due to the complexity of the issues involved it was not possible to make any clear conclusion from the consultation, and that further research was required. The Council has commissioned the ESRI to

conduct research and it is expected that the final report will be presented to the Teaching Council's Education Committee in the last quarter of 2014.

I have asked the Council that the research be conducted in an expedient manner so that clear and definitive advice can be provided and a decision made at the earliest opportunity.