Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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527. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if provisions are being made for applicants to the CAO for undergraduate medicine that completed the leaving certificate in previous years (details supplied); if there is a reduction in international students taking-up course offers on undergraduate medicine programmes; if the places can be made available to EU applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14715/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The system whereby calculated grades are generated includes a process of national standardisation in which marks and rankings submitted by schools will be examined and may be adjusted using statistical methods to ensure a common national standard is applied. Profiles of achievement at Leaving Certificate level over the last three years will be used as part of this process and this will help ensure that the grades issued remain in line with national performance standards over time. Nonetheless, there will be fluctuations in CAO points this year, as there are every year, which will depend on the volume of applications, the number of applicants who meet the entry requirements and the grades received by applicants.

In light of the current public health circumstances, it is difficult to predict the expected international student numbers for next academic year. Much depends on unfolding events such as all available national and international public health advice, particularly in respect of international travel for programmes where a physical presence in Ireland is needed.

Higher education institutions are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures. The 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. Neither I nor my Department have any role in the operation of the CAO.

However a quota applies to the intake of EU students to medical education. Thereafter, the number of places allocated to non-EU students is a matter for the individual HEI concerned with the availability of clinical placements being an important factor in this regard.