Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that this issue been raised and I think the Deputy is the first in the House to wish the leaving certificate cohort of this year the very best in their examinations. He is correct in saying that dhá bhliain aisteach a bhí ann. They have had two very strange and difficult years because of Covid-19 both in fifth year and in the leaving certificate year. We wish them the very best as they prepare for their examinations. The Deputy is also correct that there has been an increase in CAO places, partly we suspect because of the Brexit effect, but that being said, we do need to increase places. We increased places substantially last year.

As part of the recovery and resilience plan announced yesterday, we will provide significantly more places in apprenticeships, further education and higher education. The Minister with responsibility for higher education is working on a plan to increase places, given the demand that will be there and the pressure that will be on.

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