Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the current review and appeal process by third level institutions participating with the higher education access route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6942/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Higher Education and the Disability Access Routes to Education, otherwise known as the HEAR and DARE schemes, are reduced points mechanisms for entry into Higher Education which support national policy goals regarding access of under-represented groups.

Both schemes are operated by the Irish Universities Association, on behalf of the higher education institutions which set out the policy criteria for these schemes.

Admissions to higher education institutions are legally a matter for the institutions themselves. Each institution determines its own admissions policy in relation to the two schemes, the number of places to be reserved, the allocation of those places, and the review and appeals processes.

In this context, neither I nor my Department have any role in the design and implementation of these schemes, including the review and appeals processes.

My Department is informed by the Irish Universities Association that the appeals process allows for appeals on the following grounds:-

1. Where it is believed there has been an administrative error in the assessment.

2. Where an applicant was deemed ineligible due to the omission of or error in supporting documents and now wishes to submit further document(s) for consideration.

3. Where an applicant wishes to provide further information or amend existing information in relation to key eligibility criteria.

4. Where an applicant believes that their assessment outcome was unfair, published criteria were not applied or terms and conditions were not followed.