Access 21 students attend Dáil debate and get tour of Seanad

A group of Tullamore Access 21 students bombarded the Dáil recently, not in protest, but to learn more about their national Government building. First of all the group watched some of the Dáil debate. 'It was great to see Pat Rabbitte,' said James McGlynn, from Geashill, but was disappointed there were so few politicians there on that day. The students also visited the Seanad and afterwards got a historic tour of the building. In the afternoon they went to Dublin Castle, to see the state apartments, the Chester Beatty Library and the Revenue Museum. 'The revenue exhibition is a place I would never have gone to on my own, but I loved it,' said Joanne Foynes from Clonaslee, who is planning to study at Maynooth. NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth and Athlone IT work together with St Mary"s Youth Centre in Tullamore since 2007 to provide the Access Course in Tullamore in order to meet the educational needs of the region. Access 21 gives the students a holistic approach to education, equipping them with the skills necessary to gain access to and successfully participate in undergraduate courses at either Athlone IT, NUI Galway or NUI Maynooth. 'It gives you confidence, that you know you can go to college,' said Mary Boland, Cloneygowan, who is planning to go study in AIT. Students have also visited the colleges in Athlone, Galway and Maynooth, which gave them an insight into third-level education. Part of the open day allowed them to sit in on lectures and let them feel what it is like to return to a third level learning environment. 'These college visits were one of the most important parts of the course,' said Breege Loftus, the Access 21 course co-ordinator. 'For some students this was the first time they had ever set foot in an institution, never mind sat in a lecture hall. On the visits they realised it was possible for them to enter third level and also now had something to aim towards. Even though some found it intimidating at first, they liked what they saw, lost their fears and enjoyed the environment. They went home with more confidence and now knew where they wanted to go. No price could be put on those visits.' Access 21 is aimed at school leavers who completed their Leaving Cert in 2008, or will complete it this year or next and meet the socio-economic and academic criteria as set down, and mature students who previously didn"t have the opportunity to enter third level due to social economic, geographical or other difficulties. An open night will be held on May 20 in St Mary"s Youth Centre, Harbour Street, Tullamore, at 8pm. For further information contact Breege Loftus 087 3292474.