Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the Central Applications Office, CAO, is a private entity - a limited company - owned jointly by the seven universities, which set both the policy and the standards that apply. I understand that approaching 40 colleges and other third level institutions now avail of the CAO facility. A recently published strategy document indicates that it is hoped to increase this for non-college applicants as well. The CAO, which is an independent body, uses the leaving certificate results as the platform for assigning points. This matter has been raised previously by certain North-South institutions in the context of the value the CAO assigns to the higher level A points relating to the British system.

I will raise the matter again and consider it as the Deputy has suggested. I would prefer to see at least the same number of Northern Irish students studying in the Republic as there are students from the Republic studying in Northern Ireland.

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