Sir, – Prof Matthew A Harmey is of course right that financial considerations are a major issue for young people from families with limited means who wish to access third-level education (April 18th).
Whether it is the major factor is open to debate. My own experience dealing with this issue for over a quarter of a century suggests that the question of prior educational attainment is equally significant. So I support the views of your second correspondent, Patrick Davey, who highlights the importance of primary and pre-school interventions (April 18th).
Progress on the access issue has been pitifully slow, despite many reports and promises of action.
The main reason is underinvestment in our education system and insufficient targeting towards those most in need. A secondary complicating factor is that the task of addressing the problem has been assigned to the Higher Education Authority, although it has no role in pre-school, primary or second-level education, which is where the solutions lie.
A new and more focused approach is long overdue. – Yours, etc,
Dr BRIAN FLEMING,
Palmerstown,
Dublin 20.