Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether the abolition of tuition fees has been a positive factor in the significant increase in participation across all socio-economic groups in higher education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13509/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent national survey of new entrants to higher education was published in March 2006 and is based on a study of new entrants to higher education in 2004. The report shows that participation in higher education increased from 44% in 1998 to 54% in 2004. This finding reflects a trend of increasing participation in higher education throughout the 1990s and 1980s. For example, the participation rate was 36% in 1992; 25% in 1986; and 20% in 1980.

Like the previous HEA studies of participation in higher education, the 2004 study is a descriptive study of participation in higher education. It does not attempt to formulate recommendations for future policy or attribute findings to prior policy interventions. It is not possible to draw any definitive conclusions regarding the impact of free fees on participation levels on the basis of this study. For example, substantial increases in participation have been achieved in the lower socio-economic groups, where entrants would not have been liable for fee payments prior to the abolition of tuition fees on the basis that they would qualify for student support. In the same context, the level of progress in participation rates among the non-manual socio-economic group, who would have been expected to benefit much more significantly from the abolition of tuition fees, has been disappointing.

Broadening access to further and higher education is one of the Government's major policy priorities. As the Deputy will be aware the Government made a €42 million package available in 2003 which involved substantial increases in grant levels while extending the income thresholds and linking the amount of the "top-up" grant to the maximum personal rate of unemployment assistance. The impact of this initiative resulted in an increase in the number of grant-holders from 51,000 in 2002-03 to over 56,000 in 2003-04 and an increase in the number of "top-up" grant holders to over 11,500. The number of students now benefiting from the "top-up" grant is now over 12,500. This Government has also dramatically increased the funding for third level access initiatives from just €0.5 million in 1997 to nearly €38 million in 1997.

In this context, it is very welcome to note that participation in higher education increased significantly among the lower socio-economic groups between 1998 and 2004. The semi-skilled and unskilled socio-economic group increased their participation rate from 0.23% in 1998 to between 0.33% and 0.40% while the skilled manual group increased from 0.32% in 1998 to between 0.50% and 0.60%. These are significant improvements and show evidence of a trend of improved equity of access to higher education, although there remains obvious room for improvement.

As I have already mentioned, participation among the non-manual socio-economic group is an issue of concern having remained low between 1998 and 2004. Further research is required to better understand the reasons for low higher education participation among this group, and I am asking the Higher Education Authority to further examine the issues involved, including the impact of the free fees initiative on this group.

The very welcome overall increases in participation are part of a longer-term trend that reflects a number of factors including increased student demand for higher education. Individuals are increasingly recognising the benefits that arise from a higher education. These benefits come in the form of personal development and enhanced life opportunities.

The Government's commitment to enabling greater participation in higher education is evident from the doubling of funding for the sector since 1997, the major expansion of third level places which have grown by more than 30,000 over that time, the development of alternative pathways into higher education, improvements to the student support system, the introduction of the "top up" grant and the establishment of the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education in the HEA.

As the Deputy will be aware, we also placed a major priority on programmes aimed at encouraging more young people to finish school so that higher education can be an option for them. We will continue to prioritise this area going forward.