Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be put in place to ensure students are not disadvantaged by grade inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6389/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 1st February 2022 the Minister for Education announced that the Leaving Certificate examinations would be proceeding with no corresponding Accredited Grades process, but with adjustments to the examinations which take into account the disruption faced by students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Education and the State Examinations Commission have made a commitment that overall the grades awarded in 2022 will not be less than those awarded in 2021.

While Leaving Certificate grades don’t impact the number of higher education places in and of themselves, high grades drive up CAO points requirements and I know that this can make students feel under pressure. However CAO applications appear to be down slightly in comparison to last year, and as CAO points are determined by the demand for courses, as well as the grades received by applicants, it is likely that this years CAO points will remain at a similar level to last year's.

I have asked my officials to work in collaboration with the Higher Education Authority and with the higher education sector to examine where targeted additional places can and should be provided in the higher education system for the next academic year. This engagement is underway.

However increasing places in higher education is just one element of our response, and It is just as important to ensure that all learners have access to the right courses for them, across the spectrum of provision.

There is additional capacity being created in apprenticeships, with new programmes starting each year. 2021 saw our highest number of new apprenticeship registrations yet, and I am committed to building on this progress through continued implementation of the Apprenticeship Action Plan.

I would encourage any Leaving Certificate students who are feeling worried or uncertain about their future educational journey to go to the CAO's website at cao.ie/options, where they will find information on the wide range of opportunities available to them in further education, higher education and apprenticeships. There are many pathways in the education system, and I encourage any potential learners to consider them all.