Third-level access officers working in the area of disadvantage have said cuts by the Department of Education last week could seriously impede their attempts to make colleges more open to poorer students.
The access officers last year set up a mini-CAO for disadvantaged students. This system allows students from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain places on certain courses, even though they do not necessarily have the points.
Several hundred disadvantaged students have gained places through this system this year. However, the access officers are concerned the €36 million of cuts could scupper attempts to expand the scheme.
Mr Peter Brown, access officer in DIT, said he was very concerned about any cuts in the funding for access initiatives. "The new system has proved very successful in reaching out to disadvantaged school-leavers. It would be a shame if budgets were cut at this sensitive time."
The funding for the scheme, known as the Higher Education Direct Application Scheme, comes through the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The HEA's money comes from the Department of Education.
Mr Brown said access officers had battled for many years for greater resources, and while the Government had been generous in some respects, there was concern over the latest news.
School managers have also raised concerns about spending cuts. Mr George O'Callaghan, of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), said several schools had contacted his organisation to complain that refurbishment work on their premises had been cancelled.
The JMB said it was also seriously concerned about the proposed cutbacks in teacher recruitment. Mr O'Callahgan said: "The pupil-teacher ratio is already too high at 18:1. Cuts in funding for the school retention initiative will affect the most vulnerable students in disadvantaged areas.
"The Back to Education Imitative has been heralded as a major development and many schools are seeking to expand their role into further education to help the marginalised. This positive development is now under threat."
The cuts, first disclosed in The Irish Times, have drawn criticism on the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, from all quarters of the education community. Various education interests are hoping next week to be given details on what the Department plans.