Vol. 524 No. 5
501 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the mature student take-up of third level options in universities, institutes of technology and post-leaving certificate courses in the most recent year for which data are available; and the estimated cost of achieving the 15% target by 2005. [23083/00]
Students aged at least 23 years on 1 January of their year of entry to third level education are defined as mature students. While the total number of mature students currently in universities and institutes of technology is not readily available, a number of estimates have been made. The final report of the commission on the points system, published in December 1999, states that the most recent figures then available suggested that about 5% of those entering full-time undergraduate higher education courses were mature students. Statistical information from the Higher Education Authority for the 1998-99 academic year indicates that mature students account for almost 6.3% of all new entrants to full-time undergraduate programmes in the Higher Education Authority sector. In the 1998-99 academic year out of a total enrolment of 23,823 on post-leaving certificate courses, 5,457 students were aged 23 years or over.
The commission on the points system recommended that by 2005, each institution should set aside a quota of at least 15% of places for students entering at age 23 years or over. It also highlighted a need for greater opportunities for students to return to third level education on a part-time basis. The points commission did not cost this recommendation.
The report of the review committee on post-secondary education and training identified the need to increase provision for mature students and recommended the provision of an additional stock of up to 10,000 places for mature students to be built up over a period of years, primarily but not exclusively by increased part-time provision and other flexible options such as distance learning. It estimated that the recurrent cost of an additional 10,000 flexible places would be £30 million per year when all places are on stream. This estimate assumes the maintenance of the existing ratio of full-time to part-time places and the application of an average weighting of 0.5 to the part-time element. The report also estimated a capital cost of nearly £60 million.
There is a lack of information about the demand from mature students which was highlighted by both the points commission and the review committee on post-secondary education. My Department has requested the Higher Education Authority to undertake market research to establish the level and range of demand from mature students. The authority has also been requested to bring forward proposals in relation to the provision of mature student places.
I have recently established an action group on access to third level education to advise on the development of a co-ordinated framework to promote access by mature and disadvantaged students and students with disabilities to third level education. The group will provide a report on its findings and recommendations to me within three months of commencing its work.
The group will make recommendations in relation to the barriers to participation by mature students in higher education and will have specific regard to the commitment in the PPF that colleges will aim to provide that by 2005, 15% of their intake each year will comprise students aged 23 years or over.
