Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 May 2022
175. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on recent reports that 2022 CAO points are highly likely to reach the record high of 2021; and the steps he will take to increase third level capacity and address this matter. [25237/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CAO process applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO, or in the determination of points levels.
CAO points are determined by the grades received by students, the number of applicants for a course and the number of places available. The number of applications received by the CAO this year has declined slightly from last year's record high, but remains high over all. The Department of Education and State Examinations Commission have given an undertaking that the grades awarded in the 2022 Leaving Certificate will overall not be less than those awarded in 2021. Given these two factors it is likely that CAO points will remain at a similar level to last year although, as with any year, individual courses will see increases and decreases in the required points.
My officials, the HEA and the higher education sector have been engaging on a targeted expansion of places in the higher education system for the next academic year. These additional places will be created in areas of acute skills need as identified through our national skills architecture. The engagements on additional places are at an advanced stage, and I hope to update Cabinet on this shortly.
However higher education is just one element of our broader education and training system. We must also work to strengthen the further education and training system and create additional capacity in apprenticeship programmes.
Information on the options available in further education, higher education and apprenticeship are all available at cao.ie/options and I encourage any potential learners to take a look at see the range of opportunities available to them.
