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The Minister of Higher Education, Simon Harris, announced an additional 800 places for higher education.
The places will be financed by the state and are in addition to the 1,250 additional places announced last week by the Minister of Education Norma Foley.
The development anticipates the CAO’s release of college openings for Leaving Cert students on Friday.
Speaking at the Dáil, Minister Harris said that this year has been like no other and that students were unable to take their Leaving Cert exams.
“At every twist and turn, everyone in this House and across society has wanted to see a system that is as fair as possible in place to protect the integrity of the certificate of completion and ensure that we can have a path for as many people as possible to go from school to college. “
Mr. Harris said he was able to announce the additional 800 places following the commitment with the Higher Education Authority and all institutions.
The Higher Education Department said the additional places brings the total of additional college places this year to 6,360, which is just over a 10% increase from last year.
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh told Dáil that it was a shame it was left at such a late stage to announce the additional places.
She added that the students had had months of anxiety and contacted her about it in June.
“We must never allow this to happen again,” he added.
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