The higher diploma in education is offered by the education departments of Trinity College Dublin and the four universities of the National University of Ireland at Cork, Dublin, Galway and Maynooth. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of applicants and places available in Trinity College, Dublin and Maynooth in the past five years is as follows. It is important to have regard to the fact that the applications figures would include candidates who have applied to a number of institutions.
Applicants for a place on a higher diploma in education course are assessed according to academic achievement, the subjects taken in their degree programme, teaching experience, other relevant experience, e.g. social-voluntary work and in the cases of Trinity College and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth performance at an interview. In the case of the National University of Ireland, Dublin, 50 per cent of places are offered at random to qualified applicants. The universities are autonomous institutions which set their own admission requirements regulations and it would not be appropriate for me to become involved in such matters in the case of an individual student.
Number of applicants for the higher diploma in education and the number of places provided by Trinity College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth for the last five year.
