Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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3331. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the poor CAO points conversion rates for A-level students in Northern Ireland to have a fairer opportunity to access undergraduate courses in the south, considering that in order for students to achieve the maximum 625 points, they would need to do four A-levels, when most Northern Ireland students get their offers there based on three A-Levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41473/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The CAO is an independent, non-profit private company. Its function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). CAO points are determined by the Leaving Certificate grades of applicants, the number of available places, and the number of applicants and can, therefore, go up or down in any given year as a result of these factors. Data on CAO points is made available publicly on the CAO website. Enquiries regarding the CAO process and CAO statistics should be directed towards the CAO directly.

Changes to the conversion criteria for A-Level applicants to Irish higher education, via the CAO, were announced in December 2023, following a review led by Universities Ireland, representing universities on both sides of the border, and adoption of the resulting recommendations by all individual universities, for new entrants in 2025.

These changes will make it easier for students from Northern Ireland to study in this jurisdiction. Previously it was necessary for students from Northern Ireland to take 4 A-Levels – including one in mathematics – to achieve the maximum points of 625. However, most students sit only 3 A-Levels, with approximately 3% taking a fourth A-Level. From 2025 onwards students from Northern Ireland will be able to combine 3 A-Levels with an AS Level and, with top grades, attain 600 points in the CAO or 625 if one of the A-Levels is maths.

The new conversion criteria were widely publicised at the time and have been published on the CAO’s and individual universities’ websites since then. The full details are available on p88 of the CAO list of Entry requirements criteria for EU/EFTA/UK Applicants.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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3332. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the need for better career guidance supports and advice for prospective students from Northern Ireland, who make up just 1% of total CAO applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41474/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Following the recent summit between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Starmer, it was agreed that both Ireland and the UK will promote greater understanding of education opportunities for full-time students through improved knowledge, guidance and information using higher education entrance systems.

Officials in my Department are working closely with their counterparts across the Devolved Administrations to deliver on this objective.

I also wish to advise that higher education institutions have adjusted the CAO points attaching to A Levels, which will increase the opportunity for Northern Ireland students to apply for courses in Ireland and acknowledge the work of the CAO, who delivered a detailed presentation on the CAO at the Spring Conference on the Northern Ireland Schools and College Careers Association.

Finally, I met with Minister Archibald at the margins of the recent North-South Ministerial Conference and took the opportunity to re-iterate my ambition to increase the number of students coming from Northern Ireland.