Mr. Lewis Purser:

Yes, my contribution will be partly in response to Deputy O'Callaghan's question and I will provide further information to follow up on a question from Deputy Conway-Walsh earlier. Since 2015, Trinity College Dublin has been operating what it calls a feasibility study with a special focus on encouraging applicants from Northern Ireland. In preparation for meeting the committee I talked informally with its officials and they provided me with some data. I am sure they would be happy to engage more formally, if the committee is interested. Its feasibility study effectively sets aside a number of places for applicants from Northern Ireland in all of its programmes at undergraduate level. I believe Deputy Conway-Walsh explored this programme as part of her study. Of particular interest is that Trinity College Dublin only requires three A-levels for applicants to those reserved places. This is where we see the importance of the whole guidance issue and the lack of guidance. Even Trinity College Dublin, with its reserve quotas, extensive historical networks in Northern Ireland and alumni networks, has been unable to fill those places. Indeed, the numbers of students coming from Northern Ireland more than halved between 2015 and 2022.