Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. My priority is to offer accessible and inclusive further and higher education and training for all. Supporting inclusion is one of the three key pillars around which the new further education and training, FET, strategy is built and the core vision of the national access plan for equity of access to higher education is to ensure that the student body in higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and socioeconomic mix of Ireland's population.

A number of direct financial supports are in place across further and higher education to incentivise young people to continue to engage in education past school whatever their socioeconomic status. These include the payment of income support in place of social welfare in FET, the student grant scheme and the student assistance fund. In July, the Government announced an additional €168 million funding package for further and higher education, which includes €15 million allocated to technology devices for students, a doubling of the student assistance fund, €3 million extra funding for mental health services for students and more funding for students with disabilities. The July stimulus package offers a €200 million investment in training and education. Under this package the Government is making available 35,000 additional places in further and higher education, and introducing the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme to support employers to take on new apprentices.

I would encourage young learners to contact the free and confidential guidance services available through the education and training boards and the access offices and guidance services in higher education institutions to explore their options.

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