Increased level of disabled college entrants

Progress in representation of disadvantaged and disabled students at college has exceeded targets.

Higher Education Authority (HEA) statistics show that 3,347, or 11%, of new full-time entrants to third-level colleges in 2014 are categorised as having a disability. This was up from 2,166 who were being assisted by a fund for students with disabilities three years earlier, and slightly above the target of 3,200 for this academic year.

The data published in a HEA systems performance report today also indicates the proportion of first-year students from socio-economically disadvantaged homes has risen significantly over the 20% figure in 2011-12. Their numbers grew from 8,240 to 10,875 in 2014-15 or 26% of all new entrants.