Vol. 568 No. 1
89 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the approach his Department will take to broaden access to third level education, especially for those from areas of high educational disadvantage; when he expects new funding arrangements will be fully in place; and if funding allocated to this matter will continue to be allocated in future years. [15894/03]
90 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the main features of the support package for disadvantaged students in third level announced by him on 25 May 2003; the amount allocated for 2003; the way in which this will be spent; the way in which the money will be allocated and sourced for 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15849/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.
I was pleased to announce on 25 May 2003 a new package of measures costing €42 million in a full year and for which provision will be made in the Department's Estimates for 2003 and 2004 to further address and ameliorate the problems faced by students from low to moderate income households in accessing third level education.
As Deputies will be aware, this package combines substantial improvements in the level and coverage of the maintenance grant for those on low to moderate incomes, with increases in the level of top-up grant for those who are most disadvantaged. The package will increase grant levels by 15%, benefiting an estimated 56,000 students. It will extend the thresholds and increase the gradations as follows: €0 to €32,000 for the full grant; €32,000 to €34,000 for 75% grant; €34,000 to €36,000 for half grant; and €36,000 to €38,000 for 25% grant. An extra 5,000 students will qualify for a full maintenance grant. Overall, it is estimated that some 11,000 students will receive some benefit for the first time. Furthermore, the package will increase the top-up grant to the maximum personal rate of unemployment assistance. It is estimated that in excess of 7,500 students will benefit. It will extend the threshold for the €670 student service charge from €36,897 to €40,000. This will benefit some 4,000 students from households with moderate incomes.
This substantial package will provide the unprecedented opportunity to students from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their full potential in the education system. I recognise that third level access is only one part of the picture in addressing educational disadvantage and that success in third level education must be built on a solid foundation of general education that fosters self-esteem, a love of learning and experience of success in learning.
Early investment in measures to address disadvantage is critical to success. I am determined, therefore, to continue to invest substantially in primary and post-primary education, including learning supports, curricular reforms and teacher development. All of these investments are inter-related and contribute to addressing disadvantage and supporting access to a quality education system.
The package is in addition to the significant increase in funding for third level access over the past five years. Such funding has increased from a base of €508,000 in 1997 to €26 million this year. This, together with targeted funding by the Higher Education Authority – more than €6 million in 2002 – and funding to the institutes of technology, has enabled the implementation of many of the key recommendations in the report of the action group on access to third level education to be set in train. I am committed to progressing these recommendations further.
The promotion of quality in, and equitable access to, education, higher education in particular, has consistently been identified as one of my key policy priorities since taking office. If we are to break cycles of disadvantage, create opportunities and optimise our broader economic and social potential we must ensure the broadest possible level of participation in higher education. My overriding objective is to target those who are most in need and to do so at an appropriate level.
The Minister's answer is full of contradictions, particularly of what he has said over the past ten months on third level fees. When he first discussed the free fees initiative, which was introduced by the rainbow Government, he said it did not work—
A question please, Deputy.
I am trying to frame the question. The Minister said that the free fees initiative did not increase access. He also spoke about access in respect of pre-school, primary and second levels. Therefore, why has this initiative focused on post-leaving certificate students and on entry to third level?
The Minister stated that he has increased funding for programmes on disadvantage at primary and second levels, yet he stated that significant numbers of people from disadvantaged backgrounds are not making the breakthrough. Therefore, does he accept that the investment he has made over the past five years has failed to increase the number of people in third level education? If he accepts this, as he should, what does he intend to do about it? Does he have further initiatives in mind? The current initiatives have not worked sufficiently.
The Minister stated the money will be in place next year. Will this be an additional allocation from the Department of Finance or will it come from the existing education budget? Does he foresee further allocations to fund initiatives at pre-school, primary and second levels so people from disadvantaged backgrounds can make the breakthrough to third level?
I welcome the initiative the Minister announced to keep people in third level education. Is this enough? Will he admit that it is dealing with the problem only at post-leaving certificate level and not at an overall level?
I thank the Deputy for welcoming the package and for her questions. I made it very clear from the outset that the initiative to get more people from disadvantaged backgrounds into third level education was one small part of the effort I was making to end disadvantage at second level. More than €300 million has already been allocated towards various schemes at first and second levels. Since I became Minister for Education and Science, we have been looking at those schemes. I have said before that there are too many of them and that they are not focused enough. However, plenty of money is being spent.
The schemes are having an effect. The fact that 3,500 people availed of the top-up grant last year shows that more people from disadvantaged backgrounds are benefiting and getting through to leaving certificate and third level. We changed the top-up grant system last year and the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds availing of the grant rose from 3,500 to 7,000. The people at whom we are targeting the package in question, who are only now coming through the system, are getting a chance. They would not have benefited fully over the past ten years under the various schemes. They needed the extra help and assistance.
I have no doubt that the schemes in place, such as Breaking the Cycle, are working. They may not be working as effectively as they should and that is why we are re-examining them. The €42 million package will help those who have just come through the system or who have nearly come through it. It will have a profound effect on their attitude and the attitude of many people in aspiring to third level education for the first time. The package is additional and will be seen to be such in the Estimates next year.
I welcome the fact that the third level fees kite has finally been grounded by the Minister and I welcome the funding that has been made available. Obviously, this funding will be required in the future. Can I have assurance from the Minister that the money will not be made available at the expense of other areas funded by the educational budget, particularly the budget to address student disadvantage?
Will the student service charge of €670 remain at this level in the forthcoming year? Will the funding currently used for access programmes for third level continue to be made available in the manner that it has been this year? This funding needs to be increased.
People have expressed their concerns to me regarding access programmes aimed at children in primary school. In my university, the University of Limerick, I was discussing the access programmes that bring primary children to the campus. Will these programmes be continued and extended into the future?
Does the Minister intend to reform the assessment procedure for grants, which is clearly unfair to many students?
The €42 million package for a full year is an extra. It will not be taken from any of the many schemes we have put in place. In 1997, when the Opposition was in power, just over €500,000 was being paid out to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We handed out about €50 million to people who could afford to pay fees and did not target it at disadvantaged students.
The amount of €500,000 paid for disadvantaged students in 1997 has now increased to €26 million. Various other access programmes, student assistance funds, etc., will not be affected. This package of €42 million deals with the area of student support and is targeted at the less well-off. I do not intend to take any of the money from top-up grants, student assistance or anything else. It is a good package and will not affect the other areas we currently finance and fund. The present €380 million for student supports will be increased by the amount I said.
Will the student services charge stay the same?
There is no plan to increase the student services charge for this year. I indicated that at the outset of the year and in the Estimates.
Bearing in mind that 800 children do not get through primary school, that 19% of students in secondary school do not complete the leaving certificate and commitments in the programme for Government, what targets has the Minister set for the Department? How many children out of that 800 does he think will complete primary school? With what figure will the Minister be happy after five years in Government? By what percentage does the Minister hope to reduce the 19% who do not complete the leaving certificate by the time he is finished?
I intend to try and achieve the targets set out in the NAPS programme in regard to school retention.
