Proposals should get green light

New proposals aimed at encouraging some of the most vulnerable in society to go into third-level education deserve to get the green light from the Government.

Spelled out in a confidential blueprint currently being circulated by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), and seen by the Irish Examiner, the proposals are based on offering the country's 21 universities and institutes of technology a financial carrot amounting to one third extra for every student registered for educating those under-represented groups.

The fact that this initiative is being floated by the HEA bears out the view that relatively few students with disabilities, or from disadvantaged social, economic or cultural backgrounds, are reaching third level.