Within five years more than 15 per cent of the intake to third level will consist of mature students, the Minister of State for Adult Education, Mr Willie O'Dea, predicted yesterday.
He said this would happen as colleges were planning to provide more part-time and night courses for students over 23. Distance learning, where students use the Internet to get tuition, would also accelerate the process, Mr O'Dea said.
"The State recognises that it has a responsibility to provide third-level places for adults who did not have access to third level when they left school," he said.
