State Examinations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (1086)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

1086. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science , further to Parliamentary Question No. 659 of 24 February, if he will provide assurances that the delay in issuing of the 2021 leaving certificate results will not disadvantage students in Northern Ireland from accessing third-level places here; if he has met his counterparts in Northern Ireland to discuss this; and the ongoing engagement between the two jurisdictions on this issue. [31899/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The timing of the Leaving Certificate results will not impact negatively on Northern Ireland students seeking to study here.

With respect to the questions of students with Leaving Certificates wishing to study in Northern Ireland, it is important to note that the latest date for the acceptance of conditional offers within the UCAS system is 8th September 2021. The publication of the Leaving Certificate results is 3rd September.

Last week, officials from my Department have contacted the Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Queens University Belfast (QUB), University of Ulster (UU), St Mary’s University College (SMUC) and Stranmillis University College to confirm that Irish Leaving Certificate candidates will be processed without any difficulty, and at this stage, QUB and UU have confirmed that no issue will arise. Based on last year’s experience, when the Leaving Certificate results were published on 7th September 2020, I do not anticipate any issues with the remaining two colleges.