Written Answers. - Access to Education.
Seán Crowe
Question:
210
Mr. Crowe
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the progress which has been made towards the implementation of recommendation numbers seven and eight of the report of the action group on access to third level education that the targets for increased participation at third level by students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds be fixed at 22% for 2003, at 27% for 2006, and at 27% and 33% respectively for the unskilled social class; the discussions which have taken place around the issue; and when or if he expects the recommendations to be implemented.
[17040/03]
Seán Crowe
Question:
211
Mr. Crowe
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the progress which has been made towards the implementation of recommendation number nine of the report of the action group on access to third level education that local consortia of schools, the community sector and third level institutions be formed in communities or districts identified as having low rates of participation and that each consortia be invited to develop a plan appropriate to the particular community or district; the discussions which have taken place around the issue; and when he expects the recommendation to be implemented.
[17041/03]
Seán Crowe
Question:
212
Mr. Crowe
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the progress which has been made towards the implementation of recommendation number 11 of the report of the action group on access to third level education that the national office should encourage higher education institutions to set up new types of access courses, of varying content and duration, on a pilot basis; the discussions which have taken place around the issue; and when he expects the recommendation to be implemented.
[17042/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 212, inclusive, together.
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. I have given approval for the establishment of the national office for equity of access to higher education, within the Higher Education Authority. My Department is engaged in discussions with the Higher Education Authority with a view to bringing the national office into operation in time for the academic year 2003-04. I anticipate that the national office will facilitate the aim of increasing third level access by the three target groups – mature students, students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with disabilities – in partnership with my Department, the third level institutions and other stakeholders and agencies.
The action group has recommended the setting of targets for access to third level education, over the period of the national development plan, on students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and students with disability. A specific objective of the national office will be to monitor and evaluate the targets for the three target groups which have been set for 2003 and 2006, as recommended by the action group's report.
A new millennium partnership fund for disadvantage was introduced with effect from 2001. The fund provides assistance to partnership companies and community groups to develop their support schemes for students from disadvantaged families. Area Development Management Limited, ADM, under whose aegis the partnerships operate, administered the fund for the 2001-02 academic year. The total allocation for the 2001-02 academic year was €1.2 million, with 37 partnerships and community groups receiving allocations from the fund. For 2002-03, I increased the provision for the fund to €2 million. ADM Limited which is continuing to administer the fund, notified 50 area partnerships and community groups of their allocations in respect of the 2002-03 academic year. The experience to date suggests that the fund has acted as a catalyst for the development of a more co-ordinated approach at local level. Linkages have been made across a diverse range of groups and agencies representative of the community and voluntary sector, and the statutory providers.
I am committed to progressing the recommendations in the report of the action group on access to third level education and to ensuring that the issue of equity of access to third level education remains a priority during my tenure of office as Minister for Education and Science. In this context, the Deputy will be aware that when the current Government first came into office in 1997, spending on third level access measures totalled €508,000. In 2002, this had risen to €23.98 million which represents, by any standards, a quantum leap in committed resources. The 2003 provision is €26 million.
