asked the Minister for Education if a breakdown of occupations of fathers or the principal bread-winner is available in respect of students attending universities; and, if not, if he intends to have such an analysis made available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - University Students.
5.
The collection and classification of these statistics is being developed by the Higher Education Authority and the colleges. A detailed study of this aspect of student statistics has not yet, however, been completed.
Can the Minister indicate when such statistics will be available? Has he any broad indication as to the breakdown of the occupations of the principal bread-winners of the students?
As I said, the Higher Education Authority are working on the study and collecting the information from the universities. I am interested in this aspect of higher education. I cannot give any details at the moment but I know some studies have been made over the years in many countries. In particular, a very substantial one was made some years ago, called the Poignant Report, for the European countries and a second edition covered the EEC countries, Sweden, Russia and the United States. It gave the breakdown of the various avocations of the parents of people who go on to third level education. Except for the United States the story did not seem to be a very good one for the lower income groups and they were ahead of the USSR. I hope the study will be available soon and I am sure the information will be revealing.
Can we take it the study will be published and made available to the public?
I think the Deputy can take that for granted.
Many Government reports are not published.
I will not be tempted to make any remark.