asked the Minister for Education his views on the variation between the number of children per thousand population attending university from each county in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - University Student Numbers.
18.
I am of course concerned about any matter affecting access to third level education by our young people. However, the factors affecting participation in third level education are many and varied. They include social and attitudinal elements, questions of individual ability, opportunities for employment in an area as well as financial considerations. Consequently, comparisons of participation rates on a county basis are not necessarily significant when taken on their own. Certainly, proximity to a third level institution is a factor affecting participation but even there the correlation is not consistent as Dublin is below the national average while my own county of Mayo is among the highest.
Our third level institutions are well dispersed throughout the country. Further regional technical colleges are planned for Thurles, Castlebar, Tallaght, Dún Laoghaire and Blanchardstown. The higher level of maintenance grants, which were further improved this year, payable under the Higher Education and the European Social Fund grants schemes to students who must live away from home, helps to defray the additional costs involved for students from rural areas.
Would the Minister of State not accept that distance from a third level institution is a major factor in children not having access to third level education even in counties such as Cavan and Monaghan where the numbers remaining for leaving certificate are very high? Would the Minister of State not accept, when he talks about his own county of Mayo, that Mayo and Clare are the only two counties above the national average where there is no third level institution?
I accept, Deputy, that distance from a third level institution is a factor but, when you consider that Dublin has a very wide variety of third level institutions, it is below the national average. The national participation rate in 1980 was 20 per cent. Carlow, for instance, had a rate of 29 per cent which was the highest in the country and Dublin had an average of 17 per cent. I do accept that distance from a third level institution is a factor.
Could I ask the Minister of State if the Government have any plans to do something to improve the situation, particularly as regards the distance young people have to travel for third level education?
The improved grant schemes both from the Higher Education and the European Social Funds do help to defray the cost on those who have to travel. Planning is going ahead for further RTCs in Castlebar, Thurles, Tallaght, Dún Laoghaire and Blanchardstown to help disperse the third level institutions even more favourably throughout the country.
Would the Minister of State consider one for Monaghan?