The CAO is an independent body whose function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). HEIs are autonomous in relation to their admissions criteria, and neither I nor my Department have a role in admissions matters.
There is no specific CAO pathway for either beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants. In general, beneficiaries of temporary protection are eligible to apply through the CAO on a competitive basis, in the same manner as EU students. Entry criteria for applicants who completed their secondary education in a country other than Ireland are published by the CAO on their website.
International Protection Applicants may be eligible to apply through the CAO and should engage directly with the HEI they are interested in attending to determine whether they should apply through the CAO or apply directly to the institution.
Temporary Tuition Fee Support System
In 2022/2023 and 2023/24 the Government provided tuition fee supports to eligible higher education Ukrainian Students that qualify for protection under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015, through the Higher Education Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme (TTFSS) for Displaced Ukrainian Students.
For academic years 2022/2023 and 2023/24 the TTFSS provided EU tuition fee funding supports for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students attending an approved course at an approved Higher Education Institution. In 2022/23 (not applicable in 2023/24) the scheme also allowed for medicine and dentistry students to enter transition programmes. These temporary supports were not means tested and supports were not limited to students that applied to attend higher education through the CAO system only.
In 2022/23, the TTFSS benefitted a total of 310 students at a cost of €1.7m. For 2023/24 provisional funding claims from institutions indicate that c540 students may benefit at a cost of c€2.6m, final costs will be confirmed after the completion of the academic year.
Higher Education Stipend
Alongside fee supports, qualifying students in receipt of Temporary Protection who are pursuing or progressing in a full-time approved course in a publicly funded higher education institution are supported financially through a monthly stipend of €1,150. Currently there are 543 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection studying in Ireland in receipt of this funding, with 503 of those expected to continue for the next academic year. Details on the total value of these stipends are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.
Ukraine PLC Bursary
The Ukraine PLC Bursary Scheme was established in response to the emergency situation in Ukraine in February 2022. It was aimed specifically at persons who:
• were living in Ireland
• had been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015
• wanted to participate in a SOLAS-approved full time post leaving certificate (“PLC”) course in their local Education and Training Board, and
• were not in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance from the Department of Social Protection.
This financial support took the form of a bursary of €6,115 which was paid in monthly instalments to qualified persons who attended a SOLAS approved PLC course in the 2022/23 academic year. This support was continued in the 2023/24 academic year.
477 awards were made for the 2022/23 academic year, and 614 awards were made for the 2023/24 academic year.
International Protection Students (IPS) Scheme
The International Protection Student (IPS) Scheme was introduced in 2015. It is targeted at three particular groups of students (asylum applicants, subsidiary protection applicants and leave to remain applicants) who are pursuing an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved undergraduate or postgraduate course. Such students cannot access the Student Grant Scheme because they do not have leave to remain in the State. The IPS Scheme largely mirrors the Student Grant Scheme and is means tested.
Since 2019, a total of 94 applicants have qualified for support under the IPS Scheme. Details of the total value of these awards are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.
