asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the anticipated need for student places at first, second and third level education in the light of the census returns and if departmental estimates have been revised upwards.
Written Answers. - Student Places Need.
382.
The information given in the preliminary census data does not have serious implications for the statistical data in relation to student places at first, second and third levels as already calculated. The relevant statistics for this purpose are collected on an institutional basis, that is, from schools, colleges and so on and accordingly are not, for the most part, subject to automatic adjustment arising from the publication of the census figures. The only statistics which would be affected directly are the age participation coefficients which are published in the annual statistical report. A revision of these ratios will need to await the publication by the Central Statistics Office of the estimates of population classified by age.
I may add that a review of the anticipated need for student places at the different levels of education will be contained in the White Paper which is in course of preparation in my Department.