Vol. 415 No. 9
48 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education the plans he has, if any, to improve the participation rate in third-level education from counties such as Wexford, which was identified by the Clancy Report as having a rate of participation below the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The figures in the Clancy report referred to by the Deputy were in respect to rates of admission to third level education in 1986. Since then the overall admission rate has increased from 16,800 to about 26,000 for the current academic year which is an increase of almost 55 per cent. This current intake represents approximately 39 per cent of the relevant age group. As the additional student places planned by the Government come on stream this figure is likely to increase in the not too distant future to 45 per cent of the age group.
The significance of such an achievement can be seen from the fact that in 1980 and 1986 the proportion of the relevant age group entering third level education were 20 per cent and 25 per cent respectively. I am confident that these increases reflect higher participation rates in all counties in the interim including those counties with the lowest participation rates in 1986.
