Jim Higgins
Question:172 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education the number of mature students attending each of the universities, the Dublin Institute of Technology and regional technical colleges.
Written Answers. - Mature Student Statistics.
With regard to the Dublin Institute of Technology and the regional technical colleges the information requested is not currently available but it will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.
The information for the universities is as follows:
|
UCD |
1,044 |
|
UCC |
588 |
|
UCG |
341 |
|
St. Patrick's Maynooth |
182 |
|
TCD |
1,248 |
|
Dublin City University |
283 |
|
University of Limerick |
274 |
|
Total |
3,960 |
As the Deputy will also be aware in the context of the provision of additional places under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress there are initiatives for increasing participation in third-level education by mature students through improvements in the higher education grants scheme. An allocation of third-level places will be made for mature students from disadvantaged areas as an extension of the existing provision for mature students together with support or access programmes where necessary. In addition, the targeting of places for the disadvantaged would be further strengthened through linkages between specific second-level schools and third-level institutions, the appointment and designation of an appropriate member of the staff of the institution to oversee the linkages, the joint monitoring of performances of the pupils particularly during the senior cycle and consideration of initiatives from other institutions such as the National College of Industrial Relations.
The higher education grants scheme will be re-examined in the context of (i) assessing income eligibility of mature students who are not dependent on their parents, on the basis of their own and, if married, that of their spouses' incomes and (ii) mature students who secure a place in a third-level institution as satisfying the academic requirements.