Written Answers. - Third Level Education.
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:
327
Mr. Gogarty
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the way in which he can justify the persistent delay in the notification of funding for foundation courses; and the reasons for this delay in view of the fact that major planning needs to be carried out in order to run such courses, which hope to begin in three months time.
[18878/03]
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 over-riding 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 question, 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. As it has not been the practice of the Department to approve the provision of foundation year courses, the question of withdrawal does not arise. Questions have been 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.
The Higher Education Authority has for a number of years provided dedicated funding to the universities through its targeted initiatives programme and other Higher Education Authority designated institutions to support new developments in areas of strategic importance in higher education. One particular priority area is that of broadening access to the universities and Higher Education Authority institutions for students from traditionally under-represented groups. These include students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and Travellers. In 2002 the Higher Education Authority provided over €6 million to support institutions in initiatives aimed at providing for such broadened access.
The foundation course for higher education – young adults in Trinity College is one development which has been funded by the Higher Education Authority under its targeted initiatives. In this regard, €127,000 was provided by the Higher Education Authority in 2002. This was part of an overall total of €706,000 provided to support access measures there. The Higher Education Authority recently invited the universities and other Higher Education Authority designated institutions to submit proposals for the targeted initiatives scheme this year. Submissions are due from the institutions over the course of the summer and decisions regarding allocations for 2003 for all access programmes in the university sector will be taken by the Higher Education Authority in due course.
Question No. 328 answered with Question No. 326.
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:
329
Mr. Gogarty
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his attention has been drawn to recommendations 2.9 and 2.12 made by the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education; and the way in which his Department plans to implement these recommendations.
[18880/03]
The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education sets out a co-ordinated framework of actions required to improve equity of access to third level education. The group considered that a single co-ordinating body was essential in order to realise the framework. Accordingly, a key recommendation of the group was that a national office for equity of access to higher education be established to ensure the effective implementation of many of the recommendations in the report.
I have given approval for the establishment of the national office for equity of access to higher education, within the Higher Education Authority. My Department is engaged in discussions with the Higher Education Authority with a view to bringing the office into operation in time for the 2003-04 academic year. I anticipate that the office will facilitate the aim of increasing third level access by the three target groups – mature students, students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with disabilities – in partnership with my Department, the third level institutions and other stakeholders and agencies.
Under the terms of my Department's higher education grants schemes, an approved course means, inter alia, a full-time undergraduate course of not less that two years duration pursued in an approved third level institution. A one-year foundation course is not an approved course for the purpose of considering eligibility under the schemes or the free fees initiative. I have no plans at present to extend the scope of the maintenance grant schemes or the free fees initiative to access courses or to allow for students in receipt of the special rate of maintenance grant to repeat a single year. However, I will keep the recommendations under review.
Decisions on the awards which are acceptable for entry to higher education programmes are the responsibility, in the first instance, of higher education institutions. The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is in the process of establishing an outline national framework of qualifications and has established its policy and procedures on access, transfer and progression. Providers whose programmes are validated by the Further Education and Training Awards Council or the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or with authority delegated by either of the two councils to make awards themselves, are obliged to implement the procedures for access, transfer and progression established by the NQAI. This group of providers includes institutes of technology, other than the Dublin Institute of Technology, as well as FÁS, Teagasc, CERT and vocational education committees. In addition, the Dublin Institute of Technology is obliged to implement the procedures. The universities, while not obliged to implement the procedures, must consider them.
The NQAI, by exercising its statutory functions and by setting procedures to be implemented by other stakeholders, will contribute to the realisation of many aspects of its composite vision for the provision of access, transfer and progression. I welcome the fact that the authority has identified a number of operational principles which will underlie its policies in relation to access, transfer and progression, and the associated procedures that will activate and implement those policies. I am committed to progressing the recommendations in the report of the action group on access to third level education and to ensuring that the issue of equity of access to third level education remains a priority during my tenure of office as Minister for Education and Science. In this context, the Deputy will be aware that when the current Government first came into office in 1997, spending on third level access measures totalled €508,000. In 2002, this had risen to €23.98 million which represents, by any standards, a quantum leap in committed resources. The 2003 provision is €26 million.
The Deputy will also be aware that on 25 May 2003 I announced a new package of measures worth €42 million in a full year to further address and ameliorate the problems facing students from low to moderate income households in accessing further education. This package combines substantial improvements in the level and coverage of the maintenance grant for those on low to moderate incomes, with increases in the level of top-up grant for those who are most disadvantaged. The key elements of the package are an increase of 15% in grant levels, including maintenance grants for eligible PLC students, by 15%; the extension of the thresholds and an increase in the gradations as follows: €0 to €32,000 for full grant; €32,000 to €34,000 for 75% grant; €34,000 to €36,000 for half grant; and €36,000 to €38,000 for 25% grant; an increase in the amount of the top-up grant to the maximum personal rate of unemployment assistance, which will benefit eligible grant holders pursuing PLC courses; and the extension of the threshold for the €670 student service charge from €36,897 to €40,000.
This substantial package of measures will provide the opportunity, in an unprecedented manner, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their full potential in the education system.
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:
330
Mr. Gogarty
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the reason foundation course students cannot receive funding from hardship funds.
[18881/03]
Financial support is available to students in approved third level institutions through my Department's student assistance fund, previously known as the hardship fund. The objective of the fund is to assist students who might, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. However, the criteria for the fund confines eligibility to students participating on courses of not less than one-year duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. It has not been the practice of my Department to approve the provision of foundation year courses. In 2001-02 some colleges supported foundation level courses from access funds owing to a misinterpretation or lack of clarity in the guidelines issued. This matter was clarified early in 2003 when my Department became aware of the situation. Foundation level courses have never been approved for direct funding by my Department through its third level access programmes.
Questions Nos. 331 and 332 answered with Question No. 249.
