Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2022
158. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the courses that have been forced to use random allocation to allocate places in 2021; the number of additional places that will be added to each course in the 2022-2023 academic year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25070/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Applications Office (CAO) is a not-for-profit company created by the Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It processes applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on the behalf of HEIs. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. The CAO publishes information on Round 1 offers, including the courses which were offered via random selection, on its website.
Random selection is the method chosen by the CAO to differentiate between candidates when the number of candidates with a given number of CAO points outnumber the places available on the course these candidates have applied for. It is based on a randomly generated number allocated to each candidates for each course they apply for. Where candidates are tied on points and random selection occurs, this selection is based on which students have the highest random numbers. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO, or the use of random selection.
My officials are engaging with the HEA and the higher education sector on the creation of additional places for the 2022 academic year. It is important that these places be in areas of specific skills needs, and in courses where demand outstrips supply. Places in courses which provide healthcare workers, courses related to construction, and courses related to the green economy are of particular interest.
