Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
324. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he hopes to encourage participation in third and fourth-level education throughout the country regardless of socioeconomic background; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42827/20]
View answer334. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which discussions continue in respect of a fair and equitable third and fourth-level access to the education system given the difficulties of other jurisdictions with the administration of student loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42837/20]
View answer335. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure that all second-level school leavers have a reliable opportunity to access third-level education given the increasing requirements and competition in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42838/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 334 and 335 together.
The vision of National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 is that the student body entering, participating in, and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population. The plan set out five goals and more than thirty actions, developed following widespread consultation with stakeholders, with the aim of supporting increased access and participation in higher education by six main target groups:
1. Entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education;
2. First-time mature students;
3. Students with disabilities;
4. Part-time/flexible learners;
5. Further education and training award holders; and
6. Irish Travellers.
The plan also indicated subgroups that require support, including lone parents, teen parents and ethnic minorities.
A Progress Review of the National Access Plan published in December 2018 highlighted several key achievements e.g. increases in participation across a number of target groups, particularly students with disabilities and from socio-economically disadvantaged groups.
The objectives of the National Access Plan are supported by a range of interventions and programmes:
- Approximately €42 million within core State funding allocated to HEIs is in recognition of the additional costs of recruiting and retaining students from under-represented backgrounds. This enables all HEIs to have an access infrastructure in place that provides for the pre-entry and post-entry work required to support students from target groups in accessing and successfully completing higher education.
- Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) which comprises dedicated funding to support access to higher education and consists of three strands focussed on increasing the participation of under-represented groups in higher education. Current funding envelope of over €30m from 2016-2022
- PATH 1 – Initial funding of €2.7m over three years to support equity of access to teacher education programmes. Continuation of PATH 1 funding for a further three years announced at the start of 2020.
- PATH 2 (1916 Bursary) – Commenced in 2017/18 academic year and consists of 200 bursaries a year for the most socio-economically disadvantaged students from National Access Plan target groups; bursaries worth €5,000 per year. Additional bursaries were announced as part of Budget 2021.
- PATH 3 - Supports institutional capacity in developing regional and community partnership strategies for increasing access to higher education by target groups. Initial funding package of €7.5m over three years
- Student Assistance Fund - annual funding of €9.1m including ring-fenced funding €1m for part-time students. In recent years, ring-fenced funding has also been provided for students on Professional Master of Education (PME) courses.
- Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) – €9.6m in funding every year covering both higher and further education sectors. The purpose of the Fund for Students with Disabilities is to provide funding to higher and further education institutions to assist them in offering supports and services to eligible students with disabilities so that they can access, fully participate in and successfully complete their chosen course of study. Since 2018 it covers part-time students as well.
- HEAR and DARE schemes - The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) supports students who have a socio-economic disadvantage to enter higher education on reduced points. Latest data shows that of approximately 4,000 eligible HEAR applicants in 2019, there were just over 2,500 acceptances of a HEAR place. The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. Latest data shows that of about 4,000 eligible DARE applicants in 2019, there were just over 2,600 acceptances of a DARE place.
- A study commissioned by the HEA on the challenges facing mature students in participating in higher education is approaching completion (focussing on trends, challenges and barriers, review of funding supports and guidance systems, recommendations). The report is due to be published in Q1 2021.
As part of the response to COVID-19, a number of policy interventions have also occurred to support the goals of the National Access Plan and in particular to support disadvantaged students who are more likely to be significantly impacted by COVID-19 and associated restrictions:
- €15 million in support of disadvantaged students in higher and further education in accessing ICT devices
- €8.1m to double the 2020/21 SAF allocation
- €1.9m in the form of a once-off COVID-19 contingency fund to enable HEIs deliver local COVID-19 responses to support disadvantaged students
- €300,000 for targeted supports to address the implications of COVID-19 on Traveller participation in higher education (Dormant Accounts Funding)
In relation to socio-economically disadvantaged students specifically, the HEA has recently published data analysing the socio-economic profile of our higher education population on the basis of Deprivation Index Scores. This dataset will be of significant benefit to higher education institutions in further developing their access and outreach activities and will also aide in the development of the next National Access Plan in terms of setting our ambitions for the future and measuring progress. Consultation on this new Plan will commence in 2021.
There is currently no national student loan scheme in place in Ireland, as there is in other countries, and so the potential difficulties of administering such a scheme have no impact on access to higher education. Where financial support is provided to students to assist them in accessing higher education it is provided in the form of grants, bursaries or other supports not requiring repayment from the student.
The main financial support available to students hoping to access further or higher education is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level e.g. progressing to postgraduate study. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. The aim of the student maintenance grant is to make a contribution towards the cost of going to college and to assist students with their living costs while in college.
