A CO Dublin student was denied a place in Trinity’s medical school, even though he secured the required CAO points after appealing his Leaving Cert results.
The Department of Education say it regrets “the inconvenience caused” to David Joyce and his mother Charlotte. But the department insists it is not possible to change the current arrangements where Leaving Cert appeals are published several weeks after college places are filled.
David Joyce secured 570 points in his provisional Leaving Cert last August, just outside the points requirement for medicine in Trinity. After successfully appealing grades in two subjects, his revised Leaving Cert result released in October was 590 points, well inside the points threshold for his chosen course in Trinity. But by this time, TCD was unable to award him a place in the course and it offered to defer his place for one year.
As a result, David Joyce accepted a place in medicine at UCD. Two weeks later, TCD said it could accommodate him. By this time he had begun his UCD course and accepted student accommodation at Belfield. He is now continuing his studies at UCD.
Last night, Mrs Joyce expressed her dismay with the department’s response. “This is not about my son; it is about the principle of State agencies taking responsibilities for their mistakes – instead of shifting the blame to students.”
The department says current arrangements are the “best that can be done in the context of the time constraints and the scale of exams involved”.
Last year, the closing date for the Leaving Cert appeal process was September 13th. Appeal results were issued on October 8th.
Mrs Joyce said she does not understand the long delay in issuing appeals. She stressed that she had no argument with TCD, which had a genuine difficulty in finding a place for her son.