(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that 14 students who passed their pre-medical examination in University College, Dublin, have been informed that no places are available for them; and whether he will take steps to arrange that these boys will be admitted and accommodated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accommodation in UCD.
197.
It is necessary to limit the intake of students to the medical faculty of UCD. The normal intake is 120. The College authorities found it possible this year, however, to raise the limit to 135 places, of which 108 were allotted on the results of the June pre-medical examination.
The 27 places remaining were offered for competition, at a supplemental examination in the Autumn, among the candidates who had failed previously. The 14 candidates referred to by the Deputy having failed the June examination were lowest in the order of merit list of the supplemental examination. Accordingly, they were not eligible to be awarded places in the medical school this year.
198.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that a number of students in certain faculties at UCD, although they passed their first year examination, have not been permitted to proceed to the 2nd year's course because of lack of accommodation, and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to deal with this situation.
My information is that all students who had passed their first year examinations were allowed to proceed to the second year of their courses. Accordingly, the second part of the question does not arise in relation to these students.
The Deputy may, however, have pre-medical students in mind. If so, I would refer him to my reply today to Deputy Fitzpatrick's question in regard to such students.