Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to comment on two issues relating to third level education. If proof was needed that the abolition of third level education fees has not improved access to third level from the ranks of the disadvantaged, it has become available today with the publication of official figures from the Department of Education and Science which show that 2% of students who avail of third level grant support come from the ranks of semi-skilled and manual workers.

In terms of the socio-economic profile of the third level student population, another recent survey firmly supports today's figures. From September 2000 onwards, more than 7,000 disadvantaged students received top-up grants of about €1,555 each. I suggest this area should be given serious consideration as part of the current review of third level funding.

On a related matter, a recent report forecasts a dramatic decline in the third level student population in the next ten years. The cause of the decline will be demographic trends, rather than funding issues. For every 100 young people in the 16 to 19 age group in 2000, there will only be 81 in 2010 and 79 the following year. Incidentally, the Leader should note that the study forecasts that the midlands will be worst affected with the equivalent figure set to fall to 71 within a decade. I am not sure if she will be able to do anything about it, although we both did our bit in that regard long ago. The report points up the need for an urgent review of our order of priorities in allocating the third level budget.