45126-Invest. Qual-No111

Ireland’s Long Run Social Development and VulnerabilityFIGURE 2.3Qualification Level of School LeaversSource: McCoy, S. and Williams, J. (2001) 1999 Annual School Leavers Survey,Draft.In addition to the growth in participation and retention at secondlevel there has been a rapid growth in the numbers of peopleentering third level education. The number of full-time third levelstudents increased by 27 per cent between 1985 and 1990, by 47 percent between 1990 and 1995, and by 23 per cent between 1995 and2000 (Figure 2.4). By 1999, the total annual intake of full-timestudents into third level was equivalent to 56 per cent of thepopulation aged 17, up from 28 per cent in 1985. During the sixyears of exceptionally rapid economic growth, 1995 to 2000, asteady 5 per cent per annum growth rate was maintained in theaggregate number of third level students (full-time and part-time),with the proportion studying part-time rising from 18 to 20 per cent.This expansion in enrolment was facilitated by the diversification ofhigher education institutions which had begun in the 1970s andfeatured the expansion of the existing technical colleges in Dublinand Limerick, the development of a network of Regional TechnicalColleges (RTCs) (subsequently, all were redesignated as Institutesof Technology) and the establishment of two National Institutes of75