Striking contrasts by post code in third-level take-up

Students in more affluent areas in the capital are progressing to college at a rate up to four time those of pupils in disadvantaged areas.

When broken down by postal district, the figures show striking differences.

The Dublin 6W/Terenure area recorded the highest number of school leavers going on to third level (94 per cent).

Other areas with high rates included Dublin 14/Dundrum (90 per cent), Dublin 6 (86 per cent) and Dublin 4 (85 per cent).

By contrast, only a minority of students went on to third level in disadvantaged areas like Dublin 17/Coolock (22 per cent), Dublin 10/Ballyfermot, (39 per cent), and Dublin 11/Finglas (43 per cent).

These figures reflect research conducted by the ESRI, which shows that 80 per cent of students from middle-class homes graduate to higher education.

The proportion heading to higher education from working-class homes is just 28 per cent, and this is reflected in lower progression rates in these areas.

Research shows many factors at play in determining whether a student is likely to progress to third level, including proximity to college, transport links, family income and socio-economic status.

On a county-by-county basis, Clare had the highest progression rates (92 per cent), followed by Sligo (89 per cent), Kerry (88 per cent) and Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon (all 84 per cent). Longford had the poorest progression (65 per cent), followed by N Tipperary (71 per cent), Carlow (72 per cent) and Cavan (73 per cent).

A much different picture emerges when college progression rates in counties and the capital are measured by access to high points courses. These are courses offered in one of the seven universities, teacher training colleges, the DIT or the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

On a county basis, Meath tops the lists of college progression rates to high points courses (49 per cent). It is followed by Galway (46 per cent) and Wicklow (45 per cent). A breakdown of Dublin by postal district shows more affluent areas tend to have strong grip on high points courses. This may be because students are more likely to attend a fee-paying school or take grinds.

Dublin 14 recorded the highest progression rate for high points course (76 per cent), followed by Dublin 6W (74 per cent) and Dublin 6 (73 per cent).

Again, the lowest progression rates for high points courses were in areas such as Dublin 17 (7 per cent), Dublin 10 (15 per cent) and Dublin 11 (25 per cent).

In some parts of the city, such as Dublin 1 – where Belvedere College is based – college progression rates are skewed upwards thanks to the presence of a fee-paying school. The fragmented transport links in Dublin means students in disadvantaged areas are more likely to attend their local IT rather than heading to university.

In 2013, for example, researchers at UCD found that some 60 per cent of college entrants came from within a 9km radius of the campus. The lack of transport links in west Dublin were found to pose an obstacle to access to UCD. Similarly, students on the northside who went on to university were more likely to attend Glasnevin-based Dublin City University than any of the southside universities. The figures also show how proximity to a university outside of Dublin appears to have have an influences on the numbers going to third level. In Co Limerick, despite pockets of urban disadvantage, some 78 per cent of school leavers went on to third level. It also recorded a relatively high rate of students going to high points courses (40 per cent).

This may well be linked to the well-developed third-level infrastructure in the area including the University of Limerick on the outskirts of the city, and Limerick IT.

By contrast, just a small minority of students headed to Dublin-based universities such as Trinity College Dublin. A similar pattern is recorded in Cork, with students much more likely to attend UCC or CIT.