Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 2

Written Answers. - Third Level Education.

Richard Bruton

Question:

151 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the concerns expressed at the recent conference on disadvantaged access organised by the Union of Students in Ireland on 4 March 1998 that the lack of educational opportunity for large numbers of Irish people is a blot on our affluent society. [7730/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I share the concerns expressed at the recent USI conference on disadvantaged access and expressed my commitment to broadening educational opportunities in my address to the conference. The findings of the recent ESRI school leavers survey indicate that a person's socio-economic status continues to exert a strong influence on educational participation at third level. As the Deputy will appreciate, the factors underlying this phenomenon go beyond our education system. Nevertheless, my Department has a range of measures in place to further the promotion of equality of access to higher education. The need for a holistic approach to promote equality rather than policies focused only on the third level sector and the transition from second to third level is well established. In this regard fuller participation in third level depends on measures to ensure access to and retention of students in full-time education at first and second levels.

The measures in place include the development of early start centres; the allocation of additional resources to schools in disadvantaged areas; the breaking the cycle initiative; the home school community liaison scheme; curricular reforms to allow students to make choices relevant to their abilities and aptitudes; support for junior and senior centres for travellers; the free book scheme, and alleviation of examination fees, for necessitous pupils; a new initiative focused on structured pilot projects in urban and rural disadvantaged areas which test models for the development of an integrated area based co-ordination of services to cater for young people between the ages of eight and 15 at risk of early school leaving; the development of second chance education and training options through Youthreach and VTOS.

In 1997 my Department provided £77,000 in direct financing for three access initiatives involving Dublin City University, University of Limerick and Trinity College to improve participation of pupils from disadvantaged areas at third level. The initiatives involve links between the colleges and local second level schools and incorporate supervised study facilities, extra tuition for pupils, information and advice for parents and pupils, including seminars, mentoring and support teaching in key subject areas. The experiences of these initiatives were considered in some detail at the recent USI conference.

In relation to measures specifically targeted at third level, the Higher Education Authority has provided £260,000 in 1996 and £475,000 in 1997 for initiatives in a number of colleges specifically relating to disadvantaged students. These initiatives involve links with second level schools and local communities. The programmes will assist some students to meet the points requirement for courses, enabling them to obtain a college place through the standard CAO entry procedure. The other aspect of the programmes is the special entry arrangements through which more flexible entry criteria are applied and various supports put in place for students entering by this method.

In the technological sector, the Dublin Institute of Technology has a comprehensive set of activities in which the college is interacting with different disadvantaged groups in Dublin city and there are a number of courses in place for mature students from disadvantaged backgrounds. A policy decision has been taken by the Dublin Institute of Technology authorities that direct entry should occur in relation to second level students from disadvantaged backgrounds who do not meet the normal admission criteria.

I introduced the new national certificate in technology course, which was developed by a joint education-industry task force and targeted in particular at non-standard applicants, and which commenced in January 1998 in nine institutes of technology. This initiative is in line with the commitment in Partnership 2000 to give priority to a strategy to enable non-standard applicants to participate in third level education.

The Regional Technical College equality network project which arose out of the EU programme, New Opportunities for Women, is operational in six institutes of technology. Programmes under the project are specifically aimed at encouraging more participation by women in third level education, with specific focus at women who have been disadvantaged by a lack of educational opportunities. It is envisaged that there will be an expansion of the programmes under this project to include those colleges not already participating in the scheme. Dublin Institute of Technology and Waterford Institute of Technology offer specific courses for second chance education for mature and disadvantaged women.

There is a pilot scheme which enables holders of NCVA Level 2 awards to progress to designated certificate and diploma courses in the institutes of technology, which is an important development in establishing alternative progression pathways for students to higher levels of education and training.

In January 1998 I announced that the Government had given approval for the creation of a new third level institution in Blanchardstown to serve the west of Dublin. Membership of the board, which will be announced shortly, will be charged with completing strategic planning for the institution and making arrangements for the commencement of courses. The new institution, to be called the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, will meet two very important needs, namely, to increase participation in third level education in west Dublin, an area with one of the lowest participation rates in the country; and to help meet the skills requirements of expanding industries.