Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 5

Written Answers. - Third Level Participation.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

126 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the recent Higher Education Authority report which pointed to the ongoing low participation rates at third level of students from areas of disadvantage; the measures he will take on foot of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21490/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the, as yet unpublished, Higher Education Authority report on the 1997-98 academic year, which provides statistical data on the socio-economic background of full-time students in the university sector.

The data in this report relate only to those third level institutions under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority and not to the third level sector as a whole.

Yesterday, I was pleased to formally launch Professor Pat Clancy's report on the social background of higher education entrants at the Higher Education Authority forum on equity in higher education. His report relates to new entrants to higher education in autumn 1998 and provides a comprehensive profile on the social background of entrants to the entire third level sector.

His report shows that there has been a significant improvement in the proportion of persons coming from the two lowest socio-economic groups entering higher education as follows: in 1980, only 3% of persons coming from the unskilled manual workers group entered higher education. This increased to 12% in 1992 and 22% in 1998. In 1980, only 9% of persons coming from the semi-skilled manual workers group entered higher education. This has increased to 19% in 1992 and 23% in 1998.

The report finds that the highest proportionate increase has occurred for those social groups which had very low participation rates in 1980 but that there are still six of the 11 social groups where less that 40% of the relevant population enter higher education.

The need to target resources at those most in need is well recognised and underpins our approach to tackling disadvantage. In this regard there is provision within the national development plan for a third level access fund totalling £95 million over the period of the plan, aimed at tackling under-representation by the three target groups – students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and students with disabilities. The objective of this measure is to facilitate and improve access to the labour market for the beneficiaries while improving their long-term employability through enhancing their educational qualifications.

I have increased the provision for the student assistance-access fund from £1.296 million in 1999 to £1.8 million in 2000. The objectives of the fund are to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. The fund is administered by the third level institutions and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college to complete their studies.

I recently announced the setting up of an action group on access to third level education under the programme for prosperity and fairness with the aim of tackling under-representation of disadvantaged students in third level education. This action group will advise me on the development of a co-ordinated framework to promote participation at third level by students in three disadvantaged groups, students with disabilities, students from disadvantaged backgrounds and mature, second chance students. I have asked the group to provide a report to me within three months.

As an indication of the Government's support in promoting equity in access and as a purely initial step pending the findings of the action group, I announced the introduction of a special maintenance grant payable to disadvantaged grant holders targeted at those most in need. The full rate of the special maintenance grant will increase from £1,775 to £2,000 for students residing more than 15 miles from college; and from £710 to £1,000 for students resident within 15 miles of college.