Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - Third Level Participation.

Michael Finucane

Question:

151 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education and Science the initiatives, if any, he plans to put in place to expand third level participation by persons from a disadvantaged background. [3163/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Question Nos. 149 and 151 together.

The Higher Education Authority has commissioned Professor Patrick Clancy to undertake national surveys of entrants to higher education. Surveys have been undertaken on the cohort entering full-time higher education in 1980, 1986 and 1992 and I understand that Professor Clancy is currently working on a fourth national survey based on the entry cohort in 1998. I understand that this survey should be available in late Spring 2000. In his third survey, Access to College: Patterns of Continuity and Change, Professor Clancy examines the participation rates of different social groups, based on the students' fathers socio-economic grouping.

The higher professional, employers and managers, salaried employees, lower professional and farmers categories were highly-represented. While the intermediate non-manual grouping was marginally under-represented, the other non-manual, skilled manual, other agricultural, semi-skilled manual and unskilled manual were significantly under-represented.

As the Deputies will appreciate the factors underlying the disparity in participation at third level demand a holistic approach to promote equality across the education system. There is a range of initiatives spanning the first and second level systems in recognition of the fact that 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.

In relation to initiatives focusing on the transition from second to third level and on the third level sector, many colleges have developed initiatives to promote disadvantaged access, through targeted funding provided to the universities by the Higher Education Authority and funding from within the overall financial allocations to the Institutes of Technology. These initiatives involve links with second level schools and local communities and examples of these activities include supervised study programmes, summer schools, study skills programmes and mentoring.

There are two aspects to these programmes, one involving assistance to students to meet the points requirements for courses, enabling them to obtain a third level 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 are put in place for students entering by this method.

The Higher Education Authority has commissioned Dr. Bob Osborne of the University of Ulster to undertake an evaluation of the socio-economic access initiatives funded by the authority. It has also commissioned Professor Malcolm Skilbeck to advise on international issues and strategies in relation to access and equity in higher education. I understand that these studies will be completed in late spring 2000.

Finally, as the Deputies will be aware, the report of the Commission on the Points System has made a number of recommendations in relation to disadvantaged students. This report is currently being considered by my officials and planning for an implementation strategy is under way.