Fewer poorer students at university

THE number of university students coming from the middle and upper classes has risen since the abolition of fees while fewer people from poorer backgrounds are attending college, official figures reveal.

The comparison of most recent analysis of the socio-economic background of new college entrants with figures from the mid-1990s show that the widening of access to third level through free fees never materialised.

The figures appear to vindicate Education Minister Noel Dempsey, who tried unsuccessfully to have the Government consider reintroducing third level fees for students from high income families. But while his department would not comment last night, opposition parties and student representatives said free fees was just one of a number of factors needed to increase numbers from disadvantaged backgrounds attending college.