Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012
302. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to improve access for students from low income backgrounds to third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49965/12]
View answerIn 2008 the National Access Plan set an overall target of 65% participation in higher education by 2013 and a recent HEA estimate is that, including mature entrants, this target has been exceeded (69%). There has also been progress in increasing access specifically among young people aged 17 to-19 years of age. This has increased from 44% in 2004 to 50% according to the latest HEA estimates. This progress is due to better levels of retention and performance of students in second level, including those in schools being supported through the Department's DEIS programme.
Work supporting the return to education by mature students has included the development of new part-time and flexible learning options under the Springboard initiative. Overall 16% of higher education provision in 2011-12 was on a part-time basis, a significant improvement from the outset of the National Access Plan, when it was just 7%.
Support is also available through the Fund for Students with a Disability and the Student Assistance Fund. In 2011-12 the fund for students with disabilities provided funding for some 6,849 students. In 2010-11 over 8,301 students were supported from the Student Assistance Fund.
Access has also been advanced through the broadening of routes of admission that act as alternatives or supplement the leaving certificate. Since 2009, a Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) for those with a disability has operated successfully as part of the main CAO applications process.
There has also been increased access to higher education by students with further education awards and/or who are mature students. 15% of entrants in 2011 were mature students aged 23 years of age or older, compared to 12% in 2008.
