RONAN FENELON,
Sir, - I write in response to the letter from Cllr Malcolm Byrne (July 26th).
A challenge was made from within his own party to the new Education Minister, Noel Dempsey, to ensure "that no student is denied access to higher or further education because of financial difficulties". The Minister himself said, as he increased thresholds for third-level maintenance grants, that the Government was committed to "enhancing access to third-level education".
Is he, then, going to include the 8,000 or so students currently attending independent colleges?
Students of independent colleges normally attend the same courses (validated by HETAC) as students in institutes of technology, but have to pay fees and cannot even apply for maintenance grants.
We look forward to Mr Dempsey levelling the playing pitch and delivering on his commitment. It seems that there is a lot "more to do". - Yours, etc.,
RONAN FENELON, Director of Admissions, Griffith College, Dublin 8.