Nursing Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Questions (475)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

475. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to providing additional places for nursing through PLC courses in view of the fact spaces are limited for entrants that do not reach the recommended points but have a passion for working as a nurse; the number of places that are available; the details of the colleges that provide nursing at a PLC level in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18571/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, higher education institutions are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures.

The CAO processes applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the HEIs.  Decisions on admissions, including the number of places offered, are made by the HEIs which then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. This includes decisions on the number of places offered to students applying through a specific route, such as access via a PLC course. Neither I nor my Department have a function in relation to the admission process.

The list of further education institutions requested by the Deputy is available in the attached table. 

PLC Colleges