Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
599. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the exceptions being made for those that had sat their leaving certificate in 2019 and applied for college places in 2020 given that average grades across all subjects increased by 4.4% in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24719/20]
View answer611. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science The steps he is taking to address the number of students with deferred college applications that received no CAO offers in 2020 or otherwise missed out on their CAO choices as a result of the significant points increase for 2020/2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24767/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 611 together.
The CAO system is a system that works on the assumption that grades obtained in the Leaving Certificate by candidates determine their points. It is on this basis that the CAO system allocates places to applicants including those from different years. To ensure impartiality, the automatic CAO points systems have been created in a way that does not allow for different treatment to be applied to different sub-groups.
In order to help mitigate the impact of the changes to the grading system I announced the creation of an additional 2,225 places on high-demand courses in Higher Education Institutions. These places were provided in order ensure that as many students as possible could be accommodated on a course of their choice, given the unprecedented circumstances they are facing. These additional places meant the 53,815 applicants received CAO offers in Round One, more than in any previous year.
Nonetheless, there were fluctuations in CAO points this year, as there are every year. The changes in points depend not only on the grades received by applicants but also on the number of applicants, and the number of places available. As we are in the midst of a global pandemic and economic flux, there is more volatility than usual this year due to factors such as reduced opportunities in the economy, students seeking to defer or re-apply in subsequent years and uncertainty around students travelling internationally both to and from Ireland.
While the Round One offers have now been issued the full picture, taking account of all supply and demand variables, will not be known until all places are filled at the end of the CAO process. Round Two offers will become available on Wednesday 23rd September. My Department will continue to monitor developments closely in collaboration with the higher education sector and the Department of Education.
I know how difficult a time it has been for students and parents, but I would like to stress the range of options available both in further education and training and apprenticeships, but also in pathways in higher education. For those whose route into higher education may not be what they originally planned, once they have a place there may be a pathway back to their preferred option.
