Dr. Aedín Doris:

No. No one is saying this is the solution to access problems. I agree absolutely with the Senator. However, it does not damage access. What improves access are measures taken at first, second and preschool level. There is a huge amount of research on what prevents students from going to higher education. It is about the quality of primary and secondary schooling and the expectations there are of them. There are things we can do to change those expectations and to change the performance of some schools where expectations are not high and the supports are not in place.

There are things we can do, but they are earlier in the system. By the time students get to the point of having their CAO points and going to university, it is almost too late. There is a little bit that can be done at the edges and it is important to do it. I completely accept that there is a little bit that can be done and it is important that it is done, but the much bigger issues lie much earlier in the system. That is where the focus should be when it comes to access. The Senator is right that it does not improve access, but it is not designed to improve access.