Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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539. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of leaving certificate students that received their first preference choice of course in 2020 in comparison to 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23612/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This year in the CAO Round 1 offers, 24,458 students received a first preference offer for a Level 8 course. This is in comparison to 23,129 students last year, an increase of 1,329 or 6% on last year. 28,677 students received a first preference offer for a level 7/6 course, an increase of 1,403 or 5% on last year.

There is some overlap in these categories, as a student can receive a first preference offer for both a level 7/6 and a level 8 course.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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541. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a review can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23709/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are academically independent and have the right to determine the procedures and criteria for the selection and admission of students. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the higher education institutions.

Admissions under the alternative routes and schemes, including places for applications under further to higher education access routes are also regulated by the institutions themselves and not by my Department. Each higher education institution determines its own admission policy, the number of places they reserve for these routes and the allocation of those places. Further information on applicants presenting QQI FET/FETAC awards for higher education entry purposes can be found on the CAO’s website at the following link:

Any requests in relation to a specific application should be directed to each of the individual HEIs that were applied to, as neither I nor my Department have a role in this matter.