Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the progress since 2007 in making universities here accessible to persons from disadvantaged areas and lower socio economic groups; the numbers and percentages of university students from such backgrounds in each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41378/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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While the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested, I can provide information on percentage participation rates in the various categories of students from 1998 and provide details of the new targets that have been set in the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2008-13. In 1998 the overall participation rate in higher education was 44%. By 2004 it had risen to 55%. The HEA estimates that in 2007 participation rose to 64% of the relevant age cohort. A target of 65% has been set by the National Access Plan for 2013 and a target of 72% by 2020. In 1998 mature students represented 5% of entrants to higher education; in 2006 this had increased to 13%. A target of 20% by 2013 has been set in the National Access Plan 2008-13. In 1998 just 23% of young people aged 17-19 from a socio-economic disadvantaged background entered higher education. By 2004 this had increased to 33%. A new target of 45% participation by 2020 has been set in the National Access Plan 2008-13.

A mid-term review of the Plan is currently underway and it is intended that this will be completed by the end of 2010.