Students in western counties ‘most likely to go to college’

STUDENTS in western counties are most likely to go to university or an institute of technology, ESRI research has found.

Their report for the Higher Education Authority shows the highest admission rate for college was among young people in Sligo, 70.5% of whom began college in 2004. The next highest admission rates are in Galway (67.4%), Kerry (67%), Mayo (66.8%) and Leitrim (64.2%).

Although Donegal seems at first glance to have an admission rate of 46.3%, it rises to more than 60% when numbers entering Northern Irish colleges are added. The same is true of Monaghan, which had 57.6% participation if colleges on either side of the Border are included, compared to 44% otherwise.