Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Deputy's and Deputy Ó Laoghaire's constructive engagement on this issue. I have looked at all the options because this year calls for us to look at absolutely everything we can possibly do. The clear advice available to me, and I am happy to write to the Deputy on this, is that the ring-fencing of places is legally fraught for a variety of reasons, principally on the basis that if a 2020 student missed out versus a 2019 student, and there are a number of issues in that regard, the idea of recalculating grades to bring 2019 in line with 2020 does not work. The 4.4% is an average figure. It does not mean everybody in 2020 rose by 4.4%. The clear legal and policy advice available to me was that the most logical and sensible thing to do, based on my engagement with the institutions, was to increase the number of places.

Let us be honest, however. Every year people apply to the CAO from different years. Many are happy and get their first choice. I expect many more people to get their top preferences this year than in any other year. We also know it is a day of disappointment for other people. All Members of the House must point out that there are many pathways to get to where one wishes to go. I encourage people to have their plan A for Friday but also to have their plan B, that is, if they do not get their choice to look at what else they might like to do this year. There are many options. They should talk to a teacher or guidance counsellor and get that good advice.

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