Vol. 475 No. 5
55 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education the measures, if any, she has taken and intends to take to increase access to third-level education for students from a disadvantaged background; the extent to which she has implemented the measures outlined in chapter five of the White Paper on Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5182/97]
The fundamental policy objective of promoting equality of access to, participation in and benefit from higher education was outlined in the White Paper on Education, "Charting our Education Future". The White Paper recognises the need for a holistic approach to promote equality rather than policies focused only on the third level sector and on the transition from second to third level. In this regard, I have introduced a wide range of initiatives throughout our education system, such as the introduction of the Early Start Pre-School Programme, the introduction of the Breaking the Cycle initiative at first-level, targeting of resources at first and second level in disadvantaged areas, the provision of educational support services for first and second level students including psychological and guidance services, career guidance and remedial teachers, the continuing development of the home-school links programme at second-level, a major restructuring of the senior cycle curricula to adapt them to the needs of the wider spread of ability levels and backgrounds proceeding to senior cycle, and the introduction of alternative pathways for students to progress to post-second level education and training. As regards measures specifically targeted at third level, the White Paper identified a number of initiatives, namely:
