State bursaries for top students

TOP Leaving Cert performers from disadvantaged backgrounds are to be offered new Government scholarships as an incentive to continue into third-level education.

Up to 16 individual scholarships will be provided initially in 2007, Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced yesterday.

The scholarships have been named in honour of the late Donogh O’Malley who was responsible, 40 years ago, for revolutionising educational participation in Ireland through the introduction of free post-primary education.