I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 39 together.
The 1995 White Paper on Education provided that the Higher Education Authority, in consultation with the third level institutions, would be asked to advise on the most appropriate and effective means of achieving an annual increase in participation of 500 students from lower socio-economic groups in third level education over the next five years. The White Paper further provided that each third level institution would be encouraged to develop links with designated second level schools.
Through some targeted funding provided to the universities by the Higher Education Authority and funding from within the overall financial allocations to the institutes of technology, the third level colleges have developed initiatives, as proposed in the White Paper, which involve links with second level schools and local communities. Examples of these activities include the Pathways Through Education project, supervised study programmes, summer schools, study skills programmes and mentoring.
The Higher Education Authority is currently compiling statistical information in relation to the initiatives under way to increase participation, and the authority has commissioned Dr. Bob Osborne of the University of Ulster to undertake an evaluation of these initiatives. The authority has also commissioned Professor Malcolm Skilbeck to consider, in an international context, trends and issues arising from efforts to improve equity in higher education and to identify strategies and procedures that show promise in meeting objectives of greater equity. This study will address the full range of equality issues, not just those pertaining to socio-economic disadvantage. In addition, I understand that the fourth national survey of entrants to higher education, being undertaken by Professor Patrick Clancy on behalf of the Higher Education Authority, is expected to be published in late spring 2000.
The work of the Commission on the Points System, which I established in October 1997, is also relevant in this regard. Its terms of reference include examining the effect of the existing system of entry to third level education on access to third level of students who have experienced significant educational disadvantage. I understand the commission's report is being finalised presently.
These various studies will facilitate a critical examination of the current arrangements. These arrangements will be complemented and strengthened by the £6.9 million funding initiative I announced to tackle educational disadvantage at third level. Of this funding, £3 million is being specifically allocated to promote access to third level among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including people with disabilities. My Department has had discussions with the access officers of the colleges, the Union of Students in Ireland, the Higher Education Authority and other interested bodies in relation to this funding and I hope to be in a position to finalise the arrangements for the funding in the near future.
A further sum of £1.5 million is being provided to address the issue of non-completion of courses in important parts of the third level system. My Department is currently engaged in discussions with institutes of technology with regard to the measures for which this funding will be used. In addition, in agreeing to an increase in the student services charge for this year it has been indicated to institutes of technology that £8 of this charge is to be specifically devoted to attrition-access initiatives in the institutes. The institutes have been requested to furnish the proposals for the attrition-access initiatives in this context at an early date.
The remaining £2.4 million of the funding initiative will permit the higher, non-adjacent rate of grant to be paid to all eligible mature students under the student support schemes with effect from the 1999-2000 academic year. I will stop there because the answer is sufficiently long as it is.