Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)

What role can the shared island unit play in further and higher education? I welcome the investment in Magee University but students who have top marks, four A* grades, cannot get college places here. I have a particular situation with a family where both students got top marks. The sister was already going to Trinity College. They were accepted for the scéim, the Gaelige and all of that, within Trinity College but then they did not get a place. Part of the reason is that there is a breakdown between the information available in the second level schools in the North and the universities. Can the shared island unit play a role there in trying to fill that gap, perhaps by having information days at a very early stage in the school year to ensure that students and families are fully aware of what they need to do? There is a real unfairness there. I want to commend the colleges, particularly Trinity, which have doubled their places for Northern students. However, if the prospective students do not have full information to be able to access it that is not worthwhile. Can the shared island play a role there?