Marshalled list of amendments

Monday 28 April 2025

Item 4: Order Paper 97/22-27 – Monday 28 April 2025

Motion: Reducing Barriers to all-Ireland Student Mobility

Proposed:

That this Assembly welcomes the progress made in providing equivalence in A-Level and Leaving Certificate admissions processes ahead of the 2025/26 academic year; recognises that the previous disparities in admissions created unfair obstacles for students here seeking to access higher education institutions across the island of Ireland; notes the confirmation from Universities Ireland that the Central Applications Office (CAO) process will be amended to provide greater parity, including the allocation of 25 bonus points for A-Level students completing maths and the recognition of a fourth AS-level in admissions calculations; further welcomes the increased levels of cooperation between UCAS and the CAO on delivering this and urges further cooperation on admission dates and clearing processes; acknowledges the benefit that increased cross-border student mobility brings in ensuring that students have additional options to upskill and find work across the island; commends the ongoing efforts to enhance cross-border student mobility; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that students receive clear guidance and support in navigating the revised admissions process.

Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Pat Sheehan
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Danny Baker

Amendment

Leave out all after ‘2025/26 academic year’ and insert:

‘recognises that there remain ongoing disparities in admissions that create unfair obstacles for students here seeking to access higher education institutions across the island of Ireland; notes the confirmation from Universities Ireland that the Central Applications office (CAO) process will be amended to provide greater parity, including the allocation of 25 bonus points for A-Level students completing maths and the recognition of a fourth AS-Level in admissions calculations; further welcomes the increased levels of cooperation between UCAS and the CAO on delivering this and urges further cooperation on admission dates and clearing processes; acknowledges the benefit that increased cross-border student mobility brings in ensuring that students have additional options to upskill and find work across the island; commends the ongoing efforts to enhance cross-border student mobility; calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that students receive clear guidance and support in navigating the revised admissions process; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to continue to work with her counterparts in the Irish Government to further close the gap in ongoing disparities.’

[Mr Nick Mathison]
[Mr David Honeyford]
[Mrs Michelle Guy]
[Ms Sian Mulholland]