Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the predicament facing leaving certificate students with conditional offers to Dutch and other foreign third-level institutions that will be unable to take up their places unless they receive early access to leaving certificate results; and her plans to address such cases. [19322/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Similar to Ireland, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Europe are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures, and as such, have administrative policies and deadlines in place to ensure that teaching and learning is delivered in a consistent manner to all of their students.  All EU Member States have challenges similar to ours in addressing the concerns of students this year due to the COVID pandemic.

I have written to all EU Ministers with responsibility for higher education, and sought their assistance  to seek special consideration and flexibility within their third level institutions' administrative procedures with regard to the registration of Irish students.  However, it is also important for the students themselves to contact the HEIs in question to pursue that flexibility. 

Turning to the Netherlands, in response to my letter, I am pleased to say that Minister van Engelshoven has clarified the matter with institutions there, and the University Association (VSNU) and the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (VH) are advising their members to accommodate Irish students.