Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 749: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on the withdrawal and closure of third level access programmes by University College Dublin in Baldoyle and by Trinity College Dublin at Kilbarrack, Dublin 5; if the two universities are fulfilling key requirements for social inclusion which underpin State funding of both universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29029/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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UCD Adult Education operates Outreach Centres in County Dublin and County Wicklow. Courses delivered cover a range of disciplines and interests. A significant element of UCD's outreach activity is the provision of the Access to Arts and Human Sciences programme, which is at foundation certificate level. The other course which was provided by UCD in Baldoyle in 2007-8 was a short course in Literary Classics.

UCD reviewed its operations on the north side of Dublin following low participation in courses in the Baldoyle outreach centre. Following this review, UCD has secured a new northside location for its outreach activities. The university hopes that the new location will encourage greater participation in education in UCD by northside communities, including from members of the community in Baldoyle.

Trinity College Dublin established the Trinity Access Second Level Programme in 1993. The programme aims to increase the entry and participation rates at third level of under represented socio-economic groups through targeted and developmental outreach activities.

Greendale Community School, Dublin 5, had been a link school of the Trinity Access Programme until the closure of the school in the summer of 2007. Greendale students that have moved to other designated disadvantaged (DEIS) schools following closure of the school will have the opportunity to participate in activities offered by the partner higher education institution. All DEIS schools and a number of non-DEIS schools are linked with at least one higher education institution access programme and, in some cases, more than one (for example a university and an institute of technology).

My Department is managing a focused programme of investment for equity of access to higher education. Over the seven years of the National Development Plan (NDP) €13 billion will be invested under the Human Capital Priority to develop the capacity of the higher education sector to meet a number of key national objectives, including that of increasing the numbers of students participating in the sector.

My Department works closely with the National Access Office of the HEA to co-ordinate and develop national policy and implement funding measures to facilitate greater educational access and opportunity for groups who are under-represented in higher education — those who are disadvantaged socially, economically and culturally, mature students and students with a disability.

The recurrent grant to higher education institutions supports the core activities and services of all State-aided third level institutions, including the development of access programmes, the objective of which is to encourage and support the increased access and retention of young people and adults from disadvantaged schools and communities.

New targets along with the necessary steps to achieve these targets are outlined in the recently-published National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2008-2013.