The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education sets
out a coordinated framework of actions required to improve equity of access
to third-level. The Group considered that a single coordinating 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 National Office into operation in time for
the academic year 2003|04. I anticipate that the National 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 (NQAI) 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 (FETAC) or the Higher Education and Training Awards
Council (HETAC), 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 them,
must consider the procedures.
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 ofaccess, transfer
and progression and 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 costing €42m 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 as follows:-
Increasing grant levels, including maintenance grants for eligible PLC
students, by 15%;
· Extending the thresholds and increasing 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;
€36,000 to €38,000 for 25% grant.
Increasing the amount of the "Top-up" grant to the maximum
personal rate of Unemployment Assistance; This will benefit eligible grantholders
pursuing PLC
courses.
Extending the threshold for the €670 Student Service Charge from
€36,897 to €40,000.
I believe that 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.
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