Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

A major ESRI report will be published today in regard to participation rates in higher education. According to media reports, the report will indicate that just one socioeconomic category experienced decreasing participation rates, namely, the children of low to middle income PAYE workers, who are clearly not doing as well under the current system as other groups. All other categories experienced increasing participation rates.

The Government promised in 1997 to reform the grants system and the assessment of grants. We are still waiting for the third level student support Bill. When will it be introduced? It is clear that some students are not going on to third level because the system mitigates against them. We need to have the legislation introduced so those students will not be unfairly treated.

See this speech in context