Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 25 March 2014, and based on the response (details supplied), if he will encourage third level institutions which require mature student applicants with previous degrees to complete the MSAP examination, to consider changing their admission policy in the future. [17017/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The MSAP (Mature Students Admission Pathway) is designed to assess a range of competencies considered important for success in tertiary study. I understand that mature students applying for specific courses in UCC, UCD and NUIG are required to have a MSAP result. Universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997 and the management of their academic affairs, including admissions criteria, are matters for the individual institutions concerned. My Department has no function in relation to such matters, it would not be open to me therefore, to request a university to consider changing their admissions policy.