Some 15 per cent of students in Trinity College Dublin are either from disadvantaged or disabled backgrounds or are mature students, the university said yesterday.
In 2004, TCD said it was planning to reserve 15 per cent of all places for students drawn from these "non-traditional" backgrounds.
It has met the target for the 2005-06 academic year, according to Patricia Callaghan, of the admissions office.
She said the college was not likely to introduce a higher target at the moment as it was involved in a major restructuring project.
Ms Callaghan was speaking as TCD hosted its annual summer school for students from disadvantaged schools.
Some 70 students from 20 schools are at the city centre campus this week, undertaking work on photography, drama, website design and creative writing.
They are also involved in a range of adventure activities, a language fair and a debating session.
About 75 per cent of students who attend the annual summer school eventually become students at the college, according to Cliona Hannon of Trinity Access Programme. The college is also hosting five students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the US this week.
Almost 40 schools in disadvantaged areas are involved in Trinity Access Programme, with 4,000 students visiting the campus every year to take part in various activities.
