Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 1

Written Answers - Disadvantaged Status.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

309 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the special access programs for entry to third level education; if the criteria on which such a programme is based is the area of residence of the student rather than merely the school that the student attends; if so, the details of these programs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5175/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Most third level 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.

These programmes involve assistance to students to meet the points requirements for courses, enabling them to obtain a third level place through the standard CAO entry procedure, and through special entry arrangements which involve more flexible entry criteria and various supports for students entering by this method. The Higher Education Authority has for a number of years provided dedicated funding to the universities and other Higher Education Authority designated institutions to support new developments in areas of strategic importance in higher education.

One particular priority area is that of broadening access to the universities and Higher Education Authority institutions for students from traditionally under-represented groups. These include students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and travellers. In 2002, the Higher Education Authority provided over €6 million to support institutions in initiatives aimed at providing for such broadened access. Likewise in the institutes of technology sector, actions to improve participation by the targeted groups are undertaken by all institutes. These actions include pre-course and on-course support systems for students from disadvantaged areas.

The report of the action group on access to third level education sets out a co-ordinated framework of actions required to improve equity of access to third-level. The group considered that a single co-ordinating body was essential in order to realise the framework. Accordingly, a key recommendation of the group was that a national office for equity of access to higher education be established to ensure the effective implementation of many of the recommendations in the report. As the Deputy will be aware, I have now given approval for the establishment of the national office within the Higher Education Authority. I anticipate that the office will facilitate the aim of increasing third level access by the three target groups, in partnership with my Department, the third level institutions and other stakeholders and agencies.

In relation to the special access programmes referred to specifically by the Deputy, my Department grant aids a number of special projects, as follows, which are designed to improve access to third level for second level pupils in particular schools in disadvantaged areas. All of these projects, with the exception of No. 6, are long-established; No. 1, Ballymun initiative for third level education – annual grant €50,800; No. 2, Clondalkin higher education access project – annual grant €63,500; No. 3, Tallaght higher education access project – annual grant €50,800; No. 4. Trinity access project –€36,830; No. 5, Limerick community based education initiative – with links to University of Limerick – annual grant €25,500; No. 6, the Wexford outreach access project of the Carlow Institute of Technology has been approved, on a pilot basis – 2003 grant €55,000; and No. 7, Blanchardstown third level access project – annual grant €50,000.

The objective of the projects is to improve access to third level for pupils in selected disadvantaged schools who have the potential to benefit from third level education. The projects consist of intensive interaction with the pupils through extra tuition, scholarships, mentoring and other incentives to assist them in going on to higher education.