Applications for the higher diploma in education are made through the Higher Diploma in Education (National University of Ireland) Applications Centre, known as HDEAC, which was established in 1998. HDEAC centrally accepts and processes applications to the four constituent colleges of the National University of Ireland for the higher diploma in education, namely, National University of Ireland, Cork; the National University of Ireland, Dublin; National University of Ireland, Galway; and National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Previously, graduates interested in studying for the higher diploma in education applied directly to the university of their choice.
Applications are made to HDEAC through one common application form. In the case of Trinity College, applicants continue to apply directly to the university and I understand that places on the higher diploma in education course are awarded on the basis of academic qualifications and the results of a competitive interview process. My Department is responsible for approving the annual number of places on the higher diploma in education course. The numbers of applicants to HDEAC and approved places in the years referred to by the Deputy are set out in the following table:
|
Number of Applicants
|
Number of Approved Places
|
1998 (1998/99)
|
940
|
Exact figure not available*
|
2000 (2000/01)
|
1,000
|
1,892
|
2002 (2002/03)
|
1,000
|
2,340
|
2004 (2004/05)
|
1,000
|
3,169
|
* Applicants applied directly to the constituent colleges in 1998.
On Trinity College, the numbers of applicants for the years in question are held by the college and I will arrange to have them forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as they are made available to my Department. The numbers of approved places are set out in the following table.
|
Number of Approved Places
|
1998 (1998/99)
|
130
|
2000 (2000/01)
|
130
|
2002 (2002/03)
|
130
|
2004 (2004/05)
|
130
|