Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 5

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Richard Bruton

Question:

114 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Estimates make additional provisions to support third level access by disadvantaged students; the existing supports and conditions under which these supports are made available; and the new provisions which he is providing. [27131/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 122 together.

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 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. In particular, it will meet the specific needs of students with disabilities in terms of equipment and support services; provide financial support to disadvantaged students by way of additional support to the existing maintenance grants scheme; develop outreach initiatives currently undertaken by a number of third level institutions which involve links with second level schools and community groups and are designed to both assist students to meet the points requirements for the standard CAO entry procedures and to provide complementary special entry arrangements; and expand the provision of particular services, such as counselling and mentoring services, to meet the needs of non-traditional students.

In the current year, total funding of £3.4 million is provided under this measure, principally for: my Department's special fund for students with disabilities; my Department's student assistance-access fund; funding for access officers and seed funding for access schemes within the institute of technology sector; and assistance to the Northside Partnership's higher education support scheme.

At present, the vast bulk of funding benefits individual students and the institutes of technology for specific access measures.

In relation to students with disabilities, I have increased the provision for the special fund for students with disabilities from £700,000 to £1 million this year. The special fund was introduced in 1994 and operates under the aegis of my Department to provide funding to students with disabilities attending courses in third level institutions and, since 1998, in post leaving certificate centres. The purpose of the special fund is to provide students with serious physical and-or sensory disabilities with grant assistance towards the cost of special equipment, special materials and technological aids, targeted transport services, personal assistants and sign language interpreters. The provision of £1 million for the academic year 2000-01 will enable an even greater number of students to benefit. Applications are normally forwarded to my Department by the disability officer or college officer with responsibility for that area.

I have also increased the provision for the student assistance/access fund. This 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 have allocated £1.828 million to this fund in 2000. This significant increase over the previous year's allocation of £1.296 million will enable greater support to be given to disadvantaged students immediately.

As regards the remaining period of the plan, on 14 September 2000, I announced the creation of an action group on access to third level edu cation to advise me on the development of a co-ordinated framework to promote access by students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and students with disabilities to third level education, building on the experience of current initiatives, and to make findings and recommendations accordingly.

The group will provide a report to me within three months, advising on the specific interventions which would be most effective in making further progress in achieving these objectives. I am awaiting the recommendations of the action group before determining the full allocation of funding under the third level access fund for the period 2001 onwards.

However, I have already announced the establishment of a millennium partnership fund for disadvantage with a provision of £1 million in 2001. This fund will be administered by my Department in conjunction with the area partnerships. It will build on the experience of the support scheme for students from disadvantaged families operated by the Dublin Northside Partnership which assists students to participate in higher education. The area partnerships will be invited to submit proposals.

Furthermore, as an indication of the Government's support in promoting equity in access and as an initial step, pending the findings of the action group, I have announced the introduction of a special maintenance grant payable to disadvantaged grant holders, targeted at those most in need. The full rates of the special maintenance grant entail increases over the standard rates as follows: 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.

The first instalment will be made to eligible students early in 2001.

I have indicated that I expect that up to 10,000 students will benefit from this measure. This is a tentative estimate and the actual number of students to benefit will depend on the outcome to the action group's work. The group's terms of reference specifically require that it advise me,inter alia, on the development of targeted interventions and actions and the identification and tracking of the target groups. It will not be possible to identify the target groups or to define eligibility criteria until then.