Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

639. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if those students who sat the leaving certificate exams in November 2020 and receive improved grades will be offered a deferred place for their courses when results are released in the coming weeks based on the 2020 Central Applications Office, CAO, points. [1625/21]

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

It is my understanding that those who opted to sit the Leaving Certificate exams in November 2020 and 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 therefore will be based on the 2020 CAO points.

The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on the behalf of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. The CAO are therefore best placed to provide answers to any queries in relation to third level offers. The CAO can be contacted through the contact form available on its website www.cao.ie

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

640. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make arrangements with the CAO to relax its deadlines due to the fact that access of leaving certificate students to guidance and to their teachers will now necessarily be restricted. [1652/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

667. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider extending the deadlines for CAO and disability access route to education, DARE, applications in 2021, given the closure of schools and the inability of students to access some essential documents within the school premises for these applications. [1318/21]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 667 together.

The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Decisions on admissions, including deadlines for submissions of applications, are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO in this matter. The DARE scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) who set the criteria for the scheme, including application deadlines.

My officials have met with representatives from the further and higher education sector to discuss the potential impact of COVID-19 on entry to further and higher education in 2021. The potential for the closing of schools to impact students' ability to submit supporting documentation was raised and the possibility of extending the deadlines for submitting such documents will be kept under review. I will encourage the further and higher education institutions to show flexibility where possible in order to minimise the impact of the current situation on students' ability to access further and higher education. However the final decision on these deadlines will be made by the HEIs, and it is not within my remit to instruct them in regard to this matter.