Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the preparations being made by the CAO in advance of applications under a year of a non-traditional leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10767/21]
View answerUniversities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous and determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf.
Decisions on admissions are made by the higher education institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore neither I nor my Department have a function in relation to the management or administration of the CAO.
The Deputy will be aware that on 17th February Minister Foley confirmed that the written Leaving Certificate would be held this year, in conjunction with a corresponding process of Accredited Grades overseen by the State Examinations Commission (SEC). Student may choose to proceed with either or both of these options, and if they choose both they will receive the higher grade achieved in any given subject.
These grades will be transmitted to the CAO in the usual manner. 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 not anticipated that the different form of this year's Leaving Certificate will impact the way in which places are allocated. Places will be allocated in accordance with this points in the same manner that occurs in any year.
I am aware of the high number of CAO applications this year, and my officials are engaging regularly with representatives from the higher education sector in relation to the 2021/22 academic year and demand for places. Information will become available next month on the types of applicants in the current year, and the courses they are choosing which will assist us in planning for the current year.
Funding was provided in Budget 2021 to both sustain additional undergraduate places and address demographic growth 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 continue to closely assess demand for higher education places and take action as necessary to ensure that this year's Leaving Certificate students have a range of pathways into further and higher education.
