Plan for third-level access in doubt over €500m cost

AN INVESTMENT of up to €500 million per year will be needed from the Government if it is to meet the target of more than seven in 10 Leaving Cert students going on to further education by 2020.

However, doubts have already emerged about the necessary money being available after a new access to higher education plan was launched by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe on the same day he ordered third-level institutions and VECs to slash their payroll costs by 3% as part of the Government’s cutbacks.

Improving the level of Leaving Certs going on to third level from the current 55% to 72% is necessary for Ireland to develop a competitive knowledge economy, according to the Higher Education Authority (HEA), which put together the plan aimed at improving participation rates in further education.