Vol. 552 No. 1
704 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received a letter (details supplied) from an address in Lucan, County Dublin; if so, when he hopes to reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11348/02]
The correspondence, referred to by the Deputy, has been received by my Department and its receipt acknowledged. A detailed reply will issue shortly. With regard to the issue of entry to third level education by students with a disability, third level institutions in Ireland have certain rights and responsibilities, enshrined in legislation, to determine their own admissions policies. The Universities Act, 1997, requires each university to prepare a statement of its equality policy addressing, inter alia, access of people who have a disability. The Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992, sets out in section 7(5) that “In performing its functions a governing body shall have regard to the attainment of gender equity and of equality of opportunity in education”. The Dublin Institute of Technology Act, 1992, contains a similar provision.
Students applying for a place in a third level institution generally do so through the Central Applications Office. The CAO processes applications for entry to courses in universities, colleges of education, institutes of technology and other institutions of higher education in the Republic. Applicants with disabilities who wish to be considered for non-standard entry may also make a direct application to the college of their choice.
