Third Level Examinations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Questions (377)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

377. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties which will be caused for students who sit the HPAT exams if the results are not released before the CAO course change option is closed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that HEAR and DARE eligible students will be particularly affected; if he can report on the date for release of the HPAT results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32675/21]

Written answers

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

The HPAT is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and the RCSI. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the Universities, Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology, in line with their institutional autonomy in relation to admissions. Neither I nor my Department has a function in the administration of the HPAT or the CAO and it is not within my remit to determine either the release date for the HPAT results, or the close date for the CAO's change of mind facility.

It is my understanding that the HPAT results are to be released in late June, and that the CAO's change of mind facility will close on 1st July at 5pm. Therefore there should be, at a minimum, one day between the release of HPAT results and the closure of the change of mind facility.