Debate contribution: Reducing Barriers to All-Ireland Student Mobility

Debate contribution by Ms Aisling Reilly on 28 April 2025.

MLA: Ms Aisling Reilly
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 28 April 2025
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Reducing Barriers to All-Ireland Student Mobility
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4914108

Text

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion on behalf of Minister Archibald and thank Members for bringing the issue to the Floor. As the proposer of the motion stated, people should be free to study anywhere on the island. To support that, we need to remove barriers to people from the South who want to study in the North and vice versa. The review of A-level grade equivalences undertaken by the Irish Government is welcome. I understand that universities in the South have embraced it and are implementing the changes for applications for the coming academic year. The changes mean that A-level students from the North will no longer be required to achieve four top A-level grades to obtain maximum points; instead, those applicants will be considered for university places in the South with three A levels and one or two AS levels. That places students from across the island on a more equal footing with regard to the admissions points calculation system that operates in the South. The Economy Minister has engaged with the National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland on cross-border student mobility, and her officials have worked with the Secondary Students' Union, which represents sixth-form students across the North, to improve information and guidance on applying for higher education courses across Britain and Ireland on nidirect. The Economy Department's Careers Service publication titled 'A Guide to Career Entry Routes' has also been updated. That publication is available online and is distributed to all schools in the North. The Careers Service is also considering the publication of a bulletin specifically about applying to HE and how to work with the Department of Education and schools to ensure that that information is disseminated to teachers. In terms of financial support for students, from academic year 2024-25, postgraduate students from the North studying in the South have been able to access a tuition fee loan. Economy officials are actively working with the Student Loans Company to make a similar loan available to students from the North studying part-time undergraduate courses in the South. Those measures will help to alleviate some of the financial barriers to cross-border study. Regarding access to doctoral study in the North, following recent changes to the terms and conditions of the Department's postgraduate award scheme, PhD students from the South of Ireland will be eligible to receive the full stipend, as well as payment of tuition fees under the scheme. Previously, students from the South were eligible for fee support only. Minister Archibald recently had a very positive meeting with her counterpart in the South, James Lawless TD, to discuss how they can work together to address the various barriers to all-Ireland student mobility. While various improvements have been made to date, there is more to be done, which Members have highlighted and of which Minister Archibald is aware. In January, when Conor Murphy was Economy Minister, he met the CEO of UCAS. The increased cooperation between UCAS and the CAO to date is very encouraging. Officials will continue to facilitate that cooperation with a view to ensuring that that momentum is maintained and opening further discussions about admission dates and clearing processes. It is important that students of all ages be provided with clear guidance and support at the earliest possible opportunity to enable them to make informed choices and navigate the admissions processes. The Department of Education will have an important role in making sure that pupils have an awareness of a clear pathway of options and that their needs when applying for higher education courses across the island are met. In closing, I thank colleagues for joining me today to discuss this important issue. The Economy Ministers, North and South, will continue to work together to make sure that barriers to all-Ireland student mobility are addressed and that all students, North and South, have equal opportunity to access higher education institutions across the island.

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

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