Pa Daly
Question:337. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action he will take regarding a CAO appeal by a person (details supplied). [48965/21]
View answerThursday, 7 October 2021
Questions (337)
Written answers
I appreciate that it can be quite upsetting for an applicant to realise their examination information was incorrect. If Ms Donegan feels that she has been unfairly treated in this matter, she may seek redress via the office of the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman provides an impartial, independent and free dispute resolution service, and the CAO falls within the remit of the office of the Ombudsman. In addition, it may be noted here that under Section 40 of the Disability Act 2005, redress may be sought via the Office of the Ombudsman if the difficulty in question is due to the CAO having failed to carry out their accessibility responsibility under Sections 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29 of the Act.
Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO. The CAO is responsible for the processing of applications for undergraduate - and some postgraduate - courses on the behalf of Higher Education Institution, who make decisions regarding admissions that are in line with their institutional autonomy. Following these decisions, the HEIs then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. As such, my Department and I have no remit to overrule the CAO on the matter of CAO appeals.