Gay Mitchell
Ceist:258 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the concerns of a person (details supplied). [16450/03]
Written Answers. - Access to Higher Education.
As the Deputy will be aware, the promotion of equality in, and access to higher education has been one of my key policy priorities since taking office. My overriding objective is to target those who are most in need and to do so at an appropriate level.
Foundation level courses, which are referred to in this PQ, have never been approved for funding under third level access programmes.
In 2001-02 some colleges supported foundation level courses from funds made available by my Department from its disadvantaged initiatives. This was owing to a misinterpretation or lack of clarity in the guidelines issued. This matter was clarified early in 2003 when the Department became aware of the situation. It has not been the practice of the Department to approve the provision of foundation year courses therefore the question of withdrawal does not arise.
There have been questions raised about the value of putting students from disadvantaged backgrounds through year long foundation courses for some time now. The Commission on the Points System was not convinced that such courses were appropriate for third level institutions and suggested they should be provided under further education schemes. Equally the action group on third level access commented on the need for appropriate validation of such courses and considered that they should not be a requirement for all access students.
My Department has increased the funding for third level access measures from €508,000 in 1997 to €26 million in the current year. This underlines my commitment to access for disadvantaged students to third level. In addition, the Department provides dedicated funding to the Higher Education Authority and the institutes of technology to broaden access for students from traditionally under-represented groups. In 2002, this amounted to some €6 million.