Minister Ruane secures key assurances on application of A level students to universities in the South

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has been assured that students from the North of Ireland will not be disadvantaged in applying to universities in the South of Ireland.

Following the decision of the Central Applications Office (CAO) in the South to proceed with a two stage process that would see first round offers of university places being made to Leaving Certificate students two days before the issue of A level results in the North, the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane MLA, has secured important assurances from Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD.

Minister Ruane said: “I was very concerned to learn that a process was being put in place that could have disadvantaged A level students who have applied to higher education institutions in the South. I raised the matter with Batt O’Keeffe TD, Minister for Education and Science in the South, both in writing and at last month’s meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Education Sector format.

“While I would much prefer our students not to have been put in this position in the first place, I am pleased that my intervention has secured important assurances from the higher education bodies and from the Minister himself.

“He has told me that parents and students here can 'rest assured that applications for entry to higher education will continue to be based on merit, not geography' and has also assured me that students from the North will not be disadvantaged by the later than usual publication of A level results.

“I am pleased with this assurance but I shall be keeping a careful eye on this issue to make sure that our students receive equal treatment with their counterparts in the South.”

Notes to Editors:

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