Vol. 459 No. 7
17 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education if she will give a breakdown in relation to the socio-economic background of new entrants into universities in 1995; and the effect, if any, the reduction of fees has had on equality of access. [18769/95]
The Higher Education Authority collects data annually from the university colleges on the socio-economic background of new entrants. However, information on the 1995 entrants will not be available to the Authority until the summer of 1996.
It is not possible at this stage to gauge the effects of the abolition of fees on equality of access to third level education. However, I consider that the abolition of undergraduate fees will have very important material and psychological effects in encouraging greater equality in access.
