Mr. Lewis Purser:

This has been in place for a number of years but we are going to make it more explicit and broaden the concept in order that it is available for all first year programmes. This will hopefully result in a significant decrease in complexity for people applying to university. We are not particularly worried about those who will apply anyway; we are concerned about widening access for students who may be the first from their family or community to apply. It is bewildering, confusing and complicated. There are too many choices to be made too early in their academic lives and this affects how they study in senior cycle of secondary school and what subjects they take in senior cycle and, in some cases, junior cycle.