Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
149. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to follow up on previous landmark reports on access to and participation in higher education such as the 2001 Report of the Action Group on Access to Higher Education in terms of assessing current participation rates in higher education across all geographic areas and socio-economic backgrounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51212/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMonitoring of access and participation in higher education is ongoing by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) as part of work on the current National Access Plan (2008-2013). Every year, 'Equal Access' data on the socio-economic background of entrants to higher education is gathered by each higher education institution as part of the student registration process.
The HEA are also progressing work on a new study of participation in higher education, including further analysis of participation by students from different social backgrounds. The outcome of this study will advise a review of performance on the targets for access for 2013 and the development of a new national access plan and targets from 2014.
