Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the selection criteria used for non-EU citizens applying to Irish medical schools; if these applications are at the discretion of each individual school; and if the CAO is involved in these applications as it is with ones from within the EU. [37640/18]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Irish medical schools can admit non-EU students ahead of Irish students of equivalent academic standard if the Irish student is prepared to pay the same fees. [37641/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.

Universities in Ireland are autonomous institutions under the Universities Act, 1997. The entry requirements and selection criteria for entry to academic programmes, including medicine, is a matter for, and at the discretion of, each higher education institution. This applies to both EU and non-EU students.

In relation to EU students, medical schools operate within a quota of places at both undergraduate entry and graduate entry. The quota arose from the Fottrell Report and was determined by medical workforce planning needs.

Non-EU students are admitted outside this quota and through a separate entry stream. Applications are generally made directly to the University through the international admissions office and the CAO is not generally utilised for this purpose.

Depending on their country of origin, non-EU applicants are required to meet certain entry requirements such as relevant secondary school or college entry qualification, international examination scores (e.g. International Baccalaureate, A-Level) and demonstrated English language proficiency (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL). Courses such as medicine may have their own additional subject requirements as well.