HEA figures: Sharp economic divide in accessing college education

There are ‘low-income’ areas in Cork city, Limerick city, Kerry, and Waterford with little or no students enrolled in higher education, though the statistics do not take into account further education courses, apprenticeships, or the jobs market.

There are more than twice as many students from affluent areas going to college as those from ‘disadvantaged’ areas according to new figures published today which highlight the continuing sharp income divide in higher education.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) data highlights the disparity between students' socio-economic circumstances and their college courses and also shows children from wealthier postcodes are still more likely to study courses that lead to higher earnings.