Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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548. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an appeal request by a person (details supplied) for a HEAR application decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4560/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the HEAR scheme is a reduced points mechanisms for entry into higher education. It is managed and operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who are autonomous bodies. Admissions under the schemes are regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. Each institution determines its own admissions policy in relation to the schemes, the number of places they reserve and the allocation of those places.

Applications to the schemes are submitted to the Central Applications Office (CAO) who coordinate the scheme for participating institutions.

As such, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has no role in the administration of the scheme or the appeals process.

However, I can advise the Deputy that the review and appeals process is in place to make sure that all HEAR applicants are treated fairly and that the assessment procedures have been applied consistently. Further information on the appeals process is available at: www.accesscollege.ie/hear/making-an-application/hear-review-and-appeals/.

Subsequently, applicants also have recourse to make an appeal to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman’s service is free, independent and impartial, and the applicant may wish to consider contacting the Ombudsman’s Office to see whether an appeals process is open to him/her.

Further information and contact details for the Ombudsman’s Office are available at: www.ombudsman.ie/publications/information-leaflets/The-Ombudsman-and-Education-services.pdf.

I have referred your query to the IUA for direct reply.