The mathematics programme, created by the Centre for Innovation of Distributed Systems (CIDS), was launched at the Institute of Technology Tralee (IT Tralee) during a conference on economic forecasting. 

Sir Clive Granger said the notion that people did not need to do maths because it was supposedly not relevant was a "ludicrous attitude". The more competent mathematicians a country has the better for its economy, he said.

Sir Clive was awarded the Nobel Prize for economics in 2003, and is one of the world's leading economists. A professor at the University of California, San Diego, he has specialised in statistics, economic forecasting and analysis. (Source: Irish Times)