Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
579. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has explored the creation of links between higher education institutions' access offices and Tusla aftercare services to ensure that students with care experience are linked in to on-campus supports to promote retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5015/24]
View answerAn inclusive higher education system is a national and European priority. Supporting Inclusion is one of the six strategic goals set out in my Department’s Statement of Strategy. I have stated that it is a priority of mine to deliver a more equitable higher education system.
At Higher Education level the new National Access Plan which was launched on 31st August 2022 aims to support inclusion and diversity in our student body, address the wider struggles and challenges for students, and deliver sustainable progress. It recognises the needs of vulnerable learners, the most marginalised and those with special and additional needs.The new plan identifies people with experience of homelessness, Migrants, refugees and those from ethnic minorities as well as those who have experience of the care system as some of the priority groups for action under the Plan. The two overarching ambitions of this Plan are:
that the higher education student body, at all levels and across all programmes, reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population, and
that our higher education institutions are inclusive, universally designed environments which support student success and outcomes, equity and diversity.
The NAP continues and builds on the vision of previous plans and ambitions for a more inclusive and diverse student population in higher education.The first overarching group – students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged – covers a number of different life situations that can lead to disadvantage, including students who have experience of the care system. Currently, there is no official data available to describe or track the educational attainment and progress of care-experienced young people, that is, those who have spent time in care during childhood.
In relation to the Deputy’s specific question, data on care-experienced young people’s entry to higher education is limited to the data published via the HEAR programme reporting since 2016 and this data only relates to those students who self-identify as care leavers in order to apply for the HEAR programme. A priority for this Plan will be to consider ways to collect more reliable data on higher education students who have experience of the care system. This will form part of the remit of a new Access Data Plan.
The measurement and successful delivery of the Plan is embedded in the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, where every designated institution is required to report annually to the HEA on the implementation of the NAP in its institution. Institutions’ reports were submitted in December 2023 to the HEA and the HEA Executive are currently reviewing these reports. In addition a mid-plan review of the NAP will be undertaken in 2025, which will be guided by the input received up to that date.
