Cross-Border Co-operation

Thursday, 16 October 2025

Questions (56)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

56. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the recommendation from Universities Ireland, which was agreed by individual universities, to drop the requirement for four A-levels from students for a more equitable points conversion system was announced and made public to schools and the student population in the North of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55765/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The recent revisions to the CAO points assigned to A level grades arose as a result of a Working Group established in 2023 under the auspices of Universities Ireland, which is an organisation composed of the Presidents and Vice Chancellors of Universities on the island of Ireland. Higher education institutions, as autonomous bodies, are responsible for their admissions policies and the communication of changes, including any future amendments, to such policies to their stakeholders, including prospective students is a matter for them.

It should also be noted that the CAO has a dedicated page on its website detailing the revisions, along with a guide to the application of CAO points assigned to all A Level grades. I also understand that CAO representatives participated at the Spring Northern Ireland Schools and Colleges Careers Association (NISCA) Spring conference and took the opportunity of explaining the changes to all participants there.