Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a housing estate (details supplied) is geographically split in two for the purposes of deprivation indices used for qualification for the higher education access route, HEAR, scheme; his plans to address this in order that all residents of the estate are treated equally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53708/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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HEAR is a college and university admissions scheme offering places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantages backgrounds. 

The HEAR scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and regulated by the higher education institutions themselves and not by my Department. The operational management of HEAR has transferred from the Shared Services Unit in the IUA to the Central Applications Office (CAO).

Any queries in relation to the regulation of the scheme should be raised with IUA directly.