asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure greater participation by Dublin students in third level education, in view of the Clancy report which showed Dublin to be at the bottom of the league of all 26 counties in the numbers entering third level; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Third Level Education Participation.
2.
As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 368 on 24 October 1989, arrangements are proceeding on the basis of construction commencing on the proposed regional technical college for Tallaght before the end of December this year. In addition, I am giving the fullest consideration to the requirements of the greater Dublin area in making decisions on projects to be assisted from the European Structural Fund arising from the National Development Plan 1989-1993.
May I ask the Minister what other steps she is taking and if is she aware that Dublin is 26th of all the counties in third level education and that 62 per cent of Dublin students are without grants? This is the highest number of students without grant assistance. Would the Minister agree that this is an area which she should address, particularly in view of the statistics from UCD which show that 564 sons and daughters of farmers, only 37 offspring of unskilled workers and only 72 from skilled workers were in receipt of grants in UCD?
I again appeal for brevity.
Surely the building of colleges will not assist Dublin which already has three universities, the Dublin Institute of Tecnology, etc. The additional college in Tallaght will be of immense value but surely without further assistance to the disadvantaged areas, particularly Dublin, extra pupils will not take up these places. Can the Minister say if she has any intention of increasing the level of grants or ensuring that the Dublin students get their fair share of grants?
There are two sectors, namely the HEA and the third level VEC colleges sectors. I know the Deputy is aware of that but I want to separate, for answering purposes, the two areas. Under the HEA sector the statistics quoted by Deputy Mac Giolla are correct. The Clancy report indicated the clear need for the allocation of further places to Dublin students. It was one of the issues which led me to the conclusion that Tallaght had to begin the planning for it. As and from September 1989, with a contribution of European money and national money, over 90 per cent of the students in all the VEC colleges throughout the country — including the DIT in Dublin — are in receipt of grant aid, fees and maintenance to a greater or lesser degree. That is a great advance for students. It will not remove the anomalies; it will go part of the way but it is not enough. The enhancement of the VEC colleges is one of the priorities under the ERDF funding. That enhancement, refurbishment and additional places will allow for an increased input of students to the VEC colleges sector. Also the HEA had a committee meeting with the Secretary of my Department. They are looking at ways in which extra places can be allocated within the existing colleges.
Is the Minister aware that the Clancy report also said that initiatives will be required at first and second levels where social group inequalities first manifest themselves and that Dublin has the lowest retention rate to leaving certificate level?
Yes.
In view of the cuts in the Estimates, how does the Minister intend to redress this problem at first and second levels?
There is an increase at primary level of well over 3 per cent and an increase at post-primary level of 4 per cent.
A Deputy
That is only because of inflation.
There is a reduction in second level of almost 2 per cent.
It is not strictly in the question, but I will reply. The Deputy is correct. The underlying trend of disadvantage must be caught early or the addressing of it later is not the answer. In pursuit of that, I announced three measures yesterday, first, the clearing of the anomalies in existing disadvantaged schools to the tune of 95 teachers, second, the additional remedial posts and third, the setting up of the psychological primary schools service in pilot projects in two areas, one of which is in west County Dublin and one in a rural area.
That means nothing.
It certainly is a start.