Third Level Admissions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (817)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

817. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will intervene to ensure that students in Northern Ireland are not disadvantaged from accessing third-level places here due to the delay in leaving certificate results in 2021 given that the UCAS offers will be released a number of weeks before the CAO; if she has met with her counterpart in Northern Ireland to discuss this; and the ongoing engagement between the two jurisdictions on this issue. [31900/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy 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 will take place on 3rd September.

I can also confirm that there has been contact at official level with the offices of the Vice Chancellors and Principals of 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. To date, 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 higher education institutions.