Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to support Aontas in its efforts to build further on adult learning in third level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4561/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that it has been national policy since 2005 to target support for those mature students (defined as those aged 23 or over on 1 January of the year of their entry to higher education) who have not previously benefitted from higher education and who enter college to complete a full time course. Since 2011 the Higher Education Authority has incentivised higher education institutions to enrol mature students.

The number of mature entrants to higher education, as a percentage of full-time undergraduate new entrants, has risen from 2% in 1986 to 12% in 2014. The new National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education has targeted an increase to 16% of full-time undergraduate new entrants. In addition, and reflecting the increasing importance of part-time and flexible learning opportunities for mature students, a target of 24% of has been set for combined full-time and part-time/flexible participation of mature students in higher education.