Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
63. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he remains satisfied that adequate third-level places remain available for students seeking such places in 2020; if he foresees difficulties arising from the impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22625/20]
View answerI appreciate that entry to higher education is a source of anxiety to many students this year, and I have taken steps to increase the number of places available in higher education.
1,250 additional places are being offered on certain high-demand undergraduate programmes. These extra places are focused on programmes that attract students across a range of CAO points levels, and this will have a cascade effect, creating greater capacity in lower demand courses.
These places are in addition to the 1,415 places in key skills areas created under Pillar 2 of the Human Capital Initiative. Those places will be in areas such as ICT, Science, Engineering and Professional Construction.
The provision of these places gives us scope to ease anxiety, reduce uncertainty and demonstrate the ability of the education system to respond to student concerns. While some options usually open to school leavers, such as travel and alternative experiences, will be more restricted than in the past there are more choices and options across the higher and further education system than ever before.
