Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the number positions in universities for the academic year 2020-2021 across professions (details supplied); and the intake for these professions in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020. [13297/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Authority collects data on student enrolment in higher education institutions (HEIs). Attached is the latest HEA disaggregated data of the type sought by the Deputy in the relevant period.  

It should be  noted that HEIs are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures. The Central Applications Office (CAO) processes applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the HEIs.  Decisions on admissions, including the number of places offered, are made by the HEIs which then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. The Department does not have any role in the operation of the CAO.

The Department was engaged in the development of the National Framework for Health and Social Care Workforce Planning published in November 2017. Current and future demands for health and social care workers are examined under this framework and appropriate supply responses formulated with HEIs where necessary in order to ensure the delivery of an integrated approach to workforce planning.