The overall number of school leavers going on to third level has increased dramatically, according to a major new ESRI survey.
But the survey shows school-leavers from some affluent south Dublin suburbs are up to seven times more likely to go to third level than their counterparts in areas like Ballyfermot.
The survey reveals how the universities, in particular, continue to be dominated by children whose parents are senior managers, professionals or farmers.
By contrast, there is a decline in the number of third-level students from homes which are headed by non-manual workers - like clerical officers, prison officers and taxi drivers.
Overall, some 55 per cent of 17- 19-year-olds entered college in 2004, an increase of some 11 per cent since 1998. The most dramatic increase is among the children of skilled manual workers who have almost doubled their participation in higher education to over 50 per cent. Almost 10 per cent of those going to college are now mature students.
At 71 per cent, Sligo is the county with the highest rate of admission to higher education and there has been a 13 per cent increase in the rate of admission for Dublin.
When entrants to higher education institutions in Northern Ireland are included, the national figure for participation in higher education reaches 56 per cent; and rises further to close to 60 per cent when entrants to colleges in Britain are added.
Western counties all enjoy high rates of admission to higher education with Sligo followed by Galway (67.4 per cent), Kerry (67 per cent) and Mayo (66.8 per cent). When account is taken of enrolments to Northern Ireland colleges, the admission rate for Donegal goes from 46.3 to 60.2 per cent while Monaghan's rate goes up from 44.5 to 57.6 per cent.
In the case of Dublin, there has been significant progress with eight postal districts having a rate above the national average compared to six in 1998. But there are also stark contrasts between the rate in places like Rathfarnham, Dundrum and Clonskeagh at 86.5 per cent and Dublin 10 (Ballyfermot) at 11.7 per cent. The report Who Went to College in 2004? was compiled by Philip O'Connell and Selina McCoy of the ESRI and David Clancy, of Fitzpatrick Associates, for the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Commenting on the study, the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said: "The significant improvement in participation among the lower socio-economic groups is especially welcome. Of course there is still much scope for further progress in addressing the disparities that continue to exist."
Labour's Jan O'Sullivan said the report indicated how the current grants system is failing many families. "The report shows a steady rise in participation among all socio-economic groups except PAYE families that are likely to fall just above the income limit for grants."
HEA chairman Michael Kelly said participation has gone from 20 per cent in 1980 to nearly three times that figure in 2004.
