Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Denis Naughten

Question:

256 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of participants at university, institutes of technology and PLC from disadvantaged backgrounds; the percentage as a total of the students in each type of institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18341/03]

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

My Department does not have figures available in relation to the number of participants from disadvantaged backgrounds as a percentage of the total number of students in the university, institute of technology and post leaving certificate sectors. In regard to the higher education sector, the most comprehensive figures derive from a series of surveys commissioned by the Higher Education Authority and undertaken by Professor Patrick Clancy. Surveys have been undertaken on new entrants entering full-time higher education in 1980, 1986, 1992 and 1998. The most recent report entitled College Entry in Focus: A Fourth National Survey of Access to Higher Education, is based on a national survey of all first enrolments of undergraduates in their first year of study as full-time higher education students in 43 higher education colleges in autumn 1998. The study is based primarily on an analysis of personal demographic and educational data, which were abstracted from individual student record forms. Being the fourth in a series of national surveys carried out at six-year intervals, this study facilitates an analysis of changes in the pattern of participation over a period of 18 years.

The following tables from the latest Clancy report show the estimated proportion of age cohort entering full-time higher education by father's socio-economic group and the rates of admission to higher education in Dublin by postal district.

Table 25

Estimated proportion of age cohort entering full-time higher education by father's socio-economic group in 1980, 1986, 1992 and 1998

Socio-Economic Groups	1998(Revised)	1992	1986	1980
Farmers	.72	.53	.42	.30
Other Agricultural Occupations	.34	.24	.12	.06
Higher Professional	.97*	.85	.72	.59
Lower Professional	.47	.42	.47	.33
Employees and Managers	.81	.67	.45	.42
Salaried Employees	.53	.48	.58	.59
Intermediate Non-Manual Workers	.32	.27	.28	.22
Other Non-Manual Workers	.31	.26	.11	.09
Skilled Manual Workers	.32	.28	.13	.09
Semi-Skilled Manual Workers	.23	.19	.11	.09
Unskilled Manual Workers	.21	.12	.04	.03
Total	.44	.36	.25	.20

*Clancy indicates that this figure is an overestimate but concludes that the higher professional group has reached the saturation level and there is unlikely to be any scope for additional increases in take-up for this group.

Table 46

Rates of admission to higher education in Dublin by postal districts

Postal Districts	Higher EducationEntrants	Size of AgeCohort	Rate ofAdmission
1 North Inner City	17	205	.089
3 (Clontarf-Marino)	190	376	.544
5 (Raheny-Harmonstown)	268	752	.383
7 (Cabra-Arran Quay)	110	597	.198
9 (Whitehall-Beaumont)	261	701	.401
11 (Finglas-Ballymun)	161	1222	.142
13 (Howth-Sutton)	337	911	.398
15 (Castleknock-Blanchardstown)	472	1253	.405
17 (Priorswood-Darndale)	35	448	.084
2 South Inner City	21	116	.195
4 (Ballsbridge-Donnybrook)	156	283	.593
6 (Rathmines-Terenure)	481	735	.704
8 (Kilmainham-Inchicore)	72	366	.212
10 (Ballyfermot-Chapelizod)	25	377	.071
12 (Crumlin-Kimmage)	170	917	.199
14 (Rathfarnham-Clonskeagh)	351	552	.684
16 (Ballyboden-Ballinteer)	590	1144	.555
18 (Foxrock-Glencullen)	336	469	.771
20 (Palmerstown)	73	445	.173
22 (Clondalkin-Neilstown)	142	1204	.127
24 (Tallaght-Firhouse)	426	1755	.261
Dublin County***	1883	4046	.501
Dublin City and County	*7,188	**18,876	.377

*The total number of entrants includes 541 students whose precise address was unknown. In calculating admission rates these have been redistributed between the districts on a pro-rata basis.

**The totals add up to 18,884 because of rounding errors.

***Although this may be subject to some margin of error a separate analysis of the three counties, Dublin Fingal, Dublin South and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, suggests that the admission rates were: Dublin South – 74%: Dublin Fingal – 49%: and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown – 47%.