UP to 50 students each year from low income families in north Dublin will be able to attend university under a new access programme introduced by Dublin City University yesterday.
The scheme aims to increase the rate of third level participation of school leavers from a network of 14 schools in the Coolock Darndale, Finglas Cabra and Ballymun areas of the north city.
According to a report by the Northside Partnership, less than 7 per cent of college age students in Dublin 17 entered third level education in 1994, compared to 57 per cent in Dublin 14.
Under the DCU scheme, up to 50 places annually will be made available to school leavers from participating schools, with no requirement to apply through the CAO system.
Successful students will receive financial and academic support, including a grant of £1,000 per year.
The scheme also provides for an outreach programme in second level schools to promote the benefits of higher education.
DCU has appointed an access officer, Ms Aine Galvin, to co ordinate and develop its programmes for students from disadvantaged areas.
Mr Philip McHugh, principal of Colaiste Dhulaigh in Coolock, one of the schools in the programme, said he hoped the programme would "inspire students to aim that bit higher".
The Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, who introduced the programme, said that the poorer socio economic groups remained "significantly under represented" at third level.