Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht a cheist. Déanfaidh mé gach iarracht é a fhreagairt.

I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for raising this issue of entry requirements for students from Northern Ireland wishing to study in one of our higher education institutions, HEIs. I may need extra time on the follow-up question, especially concerning the PE question the Senator asked.

In seeking entry to a higher education institution, a student must ensure that he or she meets the basic subject and level requirements for entry, first, to the institution and, second, to the course of study. It is only then that the points achieved through the Central Applications Office, CAO, are used to determine the allocation of places.

On the first part of the Senator's question, which focuses on the points system for applications through the CAO, the process for A-level students applying for entry to a HEI is similar to a candidate sitting the leaving certificate. A-level applicants are scored on the basis of their best four results. Up to 180 points are available for each of the first three results, with up to 60 additional points available for the fourth subject. For universities, those results must include four A-levels from a single sitting or three advanced GCEs A-level and an advanced subsidiary GCE AS-level in a different subject from the same or preceding year.

For institutes of technology, other than Dundalk IT, and other HEIs offering Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, higher education and training awards, applicants are scored on the basis of a maximum of four different subject results at A-level or AS-level in a single year or a combination of A-level results from a single year with the best AS results from the same or preceding year. Dundalk IT provides for the scoring of four subjects but offers a maximum of 175 points for each of the first three subjects, with a maximum of 75 points for the fourth subject.

The maximum number of points that can be achieved is 600. This is comparable to the maximum points achievable by a student undertaking six subjects in the leaving certificate. An additional 25 bonus points are available for both leaving certificate students and A-level students achieving certain minimum grades in mathematics subjects. This gives a maximum possible score of 625 for both A-level and leaving certificate candidates. Further information on the CAO process is available on the CAO website and in the CAO handbook.

On the second part of the Senator's question and the entry requirements set down by the HEls, for the four National University of Ireland, NUI, constituent universities, UCD, UCC, Maynooth University and NUI Galway, the Senate of the NUI determines basic matriculation requirements. Each university may also prescribe additional requirements, either generally or in respect of particular faculties.

Outside the NUl constituent universities ,Trinity College Dublin, the University of Limerick and Dublin City University all require six distinct recognised subjects at GCSE or advanced GCE A-level. Generally, at least two of these must be at a GCE A-level C grade or above. Trinity College currently excludes the GCSE or advanced GCE A-level subjects of physical education, general studies and media studies from the subjects recognised for matriculation and eligibility for points accumulation under the CAO process.While physical education is not currently an examination subject at leaving certificate level, the roll-out of an examinable version of the curriculum is under active consideration within the Department. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies. Management of their academic affairs and issues relating to the delivery of courses, including entry requirements, are matters for individual institutions.

If the Senator wishes to ask me more about the PE questions, I am very willing to answer.