A chara, – Aoiffe Lynch (September 20th) mistakenly asserts that the Higher Education Authority has responsibility for the administration of the higher education grants scheme and changes that have been introduced. We do not operate the scheme. It is administered by over 60 local authorities on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
The National Access Office that is part of the HEA plays a significant role in addressing policy issues concerning equity of access to higher education. We created www.studentfinance.ie, which outlines the various forms of student financial support available and which recently registered its one millionth hit. We are happy to receive views or suggestions on how we can encourage greater participation in higher education by all sectors in Irish society.
It should be noted that the percentage of the Leaving Certificate age cohort going now to higher education is at about 70 per cent compared to 20 per cent in 1980 and that we have made significant improvements in participation rates among those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, those with a disability and mature students.
– Is mise,
MALCOLM BYRNE, Head of Communications, Higher Education Authority, Shelbourne Road, Dublin 4.