Mae Sexton (Longford-Roscommon, Progressive Democrats)

It is difficult in five minutes to cover adequately an issue of such importance to all second level students who make very significant sacrifices at a relatively young age to study hard to ensure they get the required points to pursue a career of their choice.

When I tabled this matter on the Adjournment I did not expect that on the same day The Irish Times would carry the moving story of Katie Murphy from Wexford. Her story, told so expressively, encapsulates in a way I could never have done the hope when she applied for a re-check, the joy when she got her additional points, the utter disbelief when no place was available to her, the subsequent disappointment of attempting to access a place and finally the resignation she experienced when she realised that her hopes and dreams were to be dashed, for this year at least. She now must watch helplessly while her friends and contemporaries start their first year in their chosen career without her. None of us can fully understand the impact such a disappointment will have on Katie and the other students whom she, perhaps unintentionally, represents.

I will confine my contribution to the faculty of medicine although it could equally apply to several disciplines. The number of re-checks of papers this year and the percentage of students upgraded were the largest ever, while the number of qualifying students refused places in the faculty of medicine was at an all-time high. I understand, however, that the Minister for Education and Science will address this soon.

Information has come into my possession which suggests that rules governing the allocation of places are not equally applied. University College Cork had four such cases and all four were offered places. Why is there not a universal and common approach between the Central Applications Office and all State universities? This would ensure that no student would feel victimised by a flawed system of allocation.

Natural justice suggests that if a wrong has been perpetrated by any Department, in this case in the correction of papers under the Department of Education and Science, that Department bears responsibility and is morally obliged to right that wrong by ensuring places are made available immediately. The decision must be made for this year and not deferred until next.

A system must be introduced from next year to ensure the results of re-checks are available in time to allow the final CAO offers to take those re-check results into consideration in the allocation of places. I appeal to the Minister to ensure the students who have been treated so unjustly by our system are accommodated this year.

The letter sent to the students concerned from University College Dublin advising that the course was fully subscribed, also stated:

Although students are not usually permitted to defer and attend another third level institution in the intervening year, in your circumstances this would be permitted. We have also been instructed that choosing this option of deferral will have no bearing on any current entitlement to 'free fees' with respect to next year.

As a result 16 students are allowed into a course which is not of their first choice and which must be extremely costly to the State with the knock-on effect this will have in the following year. I appeal to the Minister to ask the Higher Education Authority to conclude its report immediately to allow places to be found this year for the students who so richly deserve them.

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