Mid Term Review of National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2008-2013

 The difficulties in the Irish economy form the main backdrop to implementation of the
National Access Plan since publication in July 2008. The ongoing social and economic
challenges we currently face have been well-documented, and although other developed
countries throughout the world are facing similar challenges, our circumstances as a small
island with an open economy, along with the consequences of imprudent lending and
speculation practices in the majority of our main banks have made the road to recovery
particularly challenging.

http://www.hea.ie/en/Publications#2011