There's no excuse now. Don't listen to people who throw their arms up in the air, bemoaning the fact that they can't get a third-level education because they never sat their Leaving Certificate exams. They're wrong, you see. They just haven't checked out all of their options - a number of changes has been made to the system to make higher education more accessible.

Mature students can now go on to third level without sitting the Leaving Cert, which no longer stands as sole gatekeeper to third-level education.

In 1998, a new course that allows mature students a chance to compete for a third-level place without completing the traditional Leaving Cert course was launched.

This one-year NCEA (National Council for Education Awards) foundation certificate course provides access for an ever increasing number of mature students to institutes of technology. It will give mature students the qualifications to set off on third-level courses at the ITs. In some instances the qualification has also been accepted by the university sector.

The foundation certificate course, along with a new set of guidelines aimed at adults thinking about going back to school, was launched by Willie O'Dea, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, with responsibility for youth affairs, adult education and transport.

Those who successfully complete this year-long course or its modular, part-time, equivalent will be able to compete for a place in a non-university, higher education institution.

The course will provide open entry to national certificate courses, ab initio national diploma and degree courses.

In 1997 some 4,000 adults registered on NCEA-designated third-level courses, an increase of over 33 per cent on the previous year. "The success rate of adults in NCEA exams is much higher than school leavers," according to a spokesperson for the NCEA. "They have an 82 per cent success rate."

In 1990 about 1,000 adults or mature students went back to third level. Since then "it's building, building all the time. It's progressing every single year," the spokesperson says. "In our area, which is the academic area, we must ensure that there are no unnecessary walls, and that there are ladders attached to any wall that does exist." "The Leaving Cert is designed for people who are in second level. It doesn't always suit the requirements of adults. The foundation certificate is focused on the needs of adults."

As for the guidelines for the foundation certificate course, McGrath says: "The purpose is not to provide another document of regulations . . . It's written in layman's language. It's for the man [or woman] going home on the bus. It's written clearly so that he [or she] will be able to take it out, understand it and take the next step."

Mature students getting unemployment benefit will be paid a back-to-education allowance equivalent to the maximum standard rate of unemployment benefit.

Those getting a one-parent family payment, disability allowance or blind person's pension will be paid an allowance at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of social welfare payment.

An information guide for mature students on full-time third-level courses is available free of charge from the Department's Curriculum Development Unit, at Sundrive Road, Dublin 12.

This lists all colleges and details the proportion of places set aside for mature students this year. It also gives information on the selection procedures of each college.

For example, DCU reserves 5 to 10 per cent of places in all faculties for mature students.

In UCC, each faculty differs, with about 80 places set aside on the BA programme, 40 on the bachelor of social science and three each on the BA (music) and B Music.

In UL, places are awarded on merit in all faculties with no quotas. In TCD, about 10 per cent of places are set aside for mature students in arts, BESS (Business, Economic and Social Studies), engineering and systems science, health sciences, science and arts (two subject moderator ship).

Most colleges will consider you mature if you are at least 23 years of age on January 1st of the year of entry or reentry. Mature applicants should turn to page 8 of the CAO handbook which lists closing dates and application procedures.

It's important to remember that some colleges require that applications be made directly to them and others want them through the CAO. The colleges use the CAO as a matter of administrative convenience and it is the college which decides whether to offer a place or not; CAO has no function in that decision.

The success rate of adults in NCEA exams is much higher than school-leavers. They have an 82 per cent success rate, so there's no excuse. Third-level is a real option. It's a real route for you.