A new report on third-level education shows that access remains deeply unequal, with school leavers in some middle-class areas 10 times more likely to go to college than poorer areas.
The report, by UCD academic Prof Patrick Clancy, includes a detailed overview of college access in Dublin based on postal districts. This shows that while over three-quarters of students in the Foxrock area got into college, only seven per cent of students from Ballyfermot/Chapelizod did.
The report, sponsored by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), also shows that women outnumbered men at third level for the first time.
It found that 70 per cent of students in fee-paying schools got into college, but only 38 per cent of vocational school students reached this level.
Outside Dublin there were also wide disparities in the level of third-level access. For example, Galway had a 57 per cent participation rate, whereas midlands counties such as Offaly and Laois had rates below 40 per cent. Donegal had the lowest rate of participation in the Republic; but when figures for students travelling to Northern Ireland were added, its participation rate was more impressive.
Dr Clancy analysed students who entered third level in 1998 and who would have graduated several years later, depending on the length of their course.
The sharp differences in third-level entry in Dublin suburbs are likely to cause the most concern in education circles.
Dr Clancy said the most disturbing findings were that participation rates in Dublin 11 (Finglas/ Ballymun) and Dublin 22 (Clondalkin/Neilstown), already among the lowest in the State, fell three per cent since he did a similar exercise in 1992. He said these areas slipped back at a time when participation rates in Dublin generally were rising by six per cent.
Among the suburbs that were doing well in 1992, Rathfarnham/ Clonskeagh (68 per cent) slipped from the top spot to third position, behind Foxrock/Glencullen at number one (77 per cent) and Terenure/Rathmines in second place (70 per cent) . In fourth position was Ballsbridge/Donnybrook at 59 per cent.
Prof Clancy, who analysed CAO, Department of Education and college data for his report, says several areas have improved in the last few years, particularly the south inner city, where participation has risen from 11 per cent to 20 per cent.
The report found that the provision of third-level education increased by 404 per cent between 1968 and 1998. However the chairman of the HEA, Dr Don Thornhill, said there was a lot more to be done.
"Notwithstanding this remarkable increase in higher education participation to nearly 50 per cent of the appropriate Leaving Certificate age-cohort, the level of participation by some socio-economic groups is less than satisfactory," he said.
The Government and the HEA were addressing the issue. The HEA was funding a range of schemes aimed at disadvantaged school-leavers, mature students, and students with disabilities.
"The universities, institutes of technology and other higher education institutions are keenly aware of the importance of these areas of educational policy and I have every confidence that they will continue in their endeavours to bring about a fully inclusive higher-education system," he added.