Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason Central Applications Office forms are distributed to secondary schools when more than 75% are returned on-line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36484/09]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the distribution of Central Application Office forms is carried out by An Post when other operators have offered to do it more cheaply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36485/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together.

The CAO is a private (not-for-profit) company and receives no State funding. The higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing centrally applications for admission to their first year undergraduate courses. Neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority has any role to play in relation to the operation of the CAO.