Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to those who sat the 2020 health professions admissions test, HPAT, exam to use their 2020 HPAT results to gain entry into medicine and health professions degree programs in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26069/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The HPAT is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and the RCSI. The selection criteria and process for admission to medical schools is a matter for those institutions in line with their statutory autonomy in relation to academic affairs.

I understand that students choose to sit the 2020 Leaving Certificate exams in November and who receive an improved CAO offer on foot of these results will receive a deferred offer to start their course in the 2021/22 academic year. Such offers are part of the 2020 application cycle, and will use the results of the 2020 HPAT sitting. However neither I nor my Department have a function in the administration of the HPAT, or in deciding the length of time for which HPAT results are valid.