Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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659. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if assurances will be provided that any potential delay in the issuing of the 2021 A level results will not disadvantage students in Northern Ireland from accessing third-level places here; and the ongoing engagement between the two jurisdictions on these issues. [9547/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Decisions on admissions, including deadlines for receipt of school leaving exam results, are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO in this matter.

My officials are meeting regularly with representatives from the further and higher education sectors to discuss issues relating to entry to further and higher education in 2021, including issues surrounding cross-border student mobility. I will encourage higher education institutions in Ireland to exercise the required flexibility to ensure that any delays in the publication of A Level results does not create a difficulty for NI students.

Mobility of Northern Irish students to Irish HEIs is very important for me, and in this regard, the Deputy should note that I have amended the Student Support Act 2011 to allow the payment of SUSI grants to eligible NI students, in addition to ensuring that they will maintain access to existing fee arrangements.