Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1026. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding options that are available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13166/23]

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. The HEAR scheme is managed and operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions who set the policy criteria for the scheme. Admissions under the schemes are regulated by the higher education institutions themselves.

Under the scheme a person can make an appeal for reasons such as missing the closing date. Appeals relating to missing the HEAR application closing date should be made in writing to the CAO Independent Appeals Commission.

The CAO Independent Appeals Commission will consider appeals from:

- Applicants who miss the HEAR March 1 deadline

- Applicants who missed the HEAR March 15 deadline, i.e. applicants who applied to HEAR by March 1 but did not provide any of the required supporting documents by March 15.

- Applicants who miss the July Review & Appeals deadlines, i.e. applicants who met the March 1 and March 15 deadlines, received an ineligible application outcome letter from HEAR but missed the Review & Appeals deadline

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