Debate contribution: Reducing Barriers to All-Ireland Student Mobility

Debate contribution by Mr David Brooks on 28 April 2025.

MLA

Mr David Brooks

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

28 April 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Reducing Barriers to All-Ireland Student Mobility

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4914095

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I was just outlining a point of difference. I do not plan to get into that particular debate. I am going to address the issue, but I was outlining how we come from a different angle in that regard. There is a degree of uncertainty when those big choices have to be made. If more clarity can be provided for students when they are making those choices, that should be encouraged. Our party has been to the fore in raising that issue, and, indeed, I know that the deputy First Minister has raised it at the North/South Ministerial Council, with the Taoiseach and with other relevant stakeholders. We want a system that is fair for our students and for students here to have those choices not only open to them but achievable through appropriate recognition of their academic achievements. Whilst the Member on the opposite Benches has indicated his disappointment that the Education Minister is not here for the debate, the Education Minister addressed the issue in response to Mr O'Toole just 20 minutes ago, so his view is on the record. The CAO system has clearly undervalued A-level qualifications in a way that has been exclusionary towards Northern Ireland students or, at least, forces them to go over and above in their A-level workload, despite the same qualifications being more than acceptable for many world-leading universities. It is, of course, any country's prerogative to set its own system, but, in wanting to support mobility for our students, I observe that there is a continuing disparity and unjustified disadvantage in the current CAO system; a disadvantage that has not been inherent for Republic of Ireland students who engage with UK universities and in our system. Indeed, those students are able to access our universities on a similar basis to students from Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, rather than as students from a foreign jurisdiction. Only a minority of applicants from Northern Ireland or the rest of the UK make it all the way through to be offered and to accept a place in Irish higher education institutions. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found that that partly relates to those candidates being less likely than those from Ireland to meet the minimum matriculation requirements. In Northern Ireland, very few students take four A-level subjects, and, therefore, when students apply to an institution in the Republic of Ireland, the points system can cause them difficulty. ESRI produced a report on student mobility in Ireland and Northern Ireland, which found that the points differential and the timing disparity between CAO and UCAS offers, as the Member mentioned, discourages our A-level students from applying to Irish universities. Mr Honeyford's personal experiences reflected some of that as well. The disparity in timing is further demonstrated by the fact that Leaving Certificate students applying to UK institutions will have their offer held pending confirmation from the UCAS system. From our end, as well as engaging in working towards a fairer system for our students, we may wish to reflect on what more can be done to inform and prepare them for as wide a choice as possible. At my school, as far as I recall, we were encouraged to apply to the universities in Northern Ireland, one in GB and one in the South or internationally, but I am not sure that, back then — it seems a while ago now — I had a full understanding of the system. Perhaps those who expressed an interest in going South had more information provided to them. Nevertheless, students from the UK struggle with the CAO application and the translation of A-level results into Leaving Cert points. The British Council found that some schools in Northern Ireland provided information on the CAO application system but that, generally, students did not receive assistance. The CAO system is challenging for A-level students to navigate and understand. Cross-border mobility provides opportunities for students and opens doors to a range of courses. That is particularly the case for those who seek to study veterinary medicine, as we have no established veterinary school in Northern Ireland, and it would help to address our current shortage. Undergraduate and postgraduate enrolment in Ireland from students based in the UK has been volatile. In 2020-21, students from Northern Ireland made up only 0·6% of students in Ireland. Numbers from NI have increased each year but increased by only 12 students in 2021-22. If Irish institutions want to attract A-level students to choose their offering, they must provide clarity on how they can do so. We will support the motion and the amendment.

771 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:28 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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