Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
589. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the additional 2,000 undergraduate places secured in the budget for the academic year 2021-2022 are separate from and in addition to the maintenance of all places added in for the academic year 2020-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3920/21]
View answer590. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide additional detail on the circa 5,000 additional places for higher education referenced in the Budget 2021 expenditure report; if this figure includes postgraduate and international students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3921/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 590 together.
I am conscious of the impact that Covid-19 is having on the leaving certificate class of 2021, and will take action as necessary to ensure that a full range of further and higher education options are available to them.
In 2020 more students than ever before were offered a place in higher education with more than 49,000 accepting an offer of a place. There is no indication that a higher number of students than usual opted to defer their place to the 2021 academic year, and given the large numbers of students who have been accommodated in higher education this year it is feasible that the numbers of students reapplying to the CAO next year on the basis of Leaving Certificate results from prior years will be lower in 2021 than previously.
Funding was provided in Budget 2021 to both sustain additional undergraduate places and address demographic growth pressures. €20 million was provided to fund the approx. 2,300 additional places created in 2020, while €18 million was provided to create over 2,000 places to address demographic pressures. These places are in addition to the 1,330 additional places commencing in 2021, funded through the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 2, which will be on undergraduate courses in areas of identified skills needs.
I know how difficult a time it has been for students and parents, and my Department will be closely examining a number of indicators of demand for higher education, in order to assess if there will be a need to create further places.
