Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. I have been consistent in my position that we need to develop an education system that is more flexible and agile than the one we inherited. We need to recognise that learners come to education at different stages of their life and career and need access in a way that works for them. For many that will be part-time learning, some in person and some online. Increasingly we will have students in work as opposed to people straight out of school.

One of the overriding priorities in the budget has been reducing child poverty. Of course, child poverty can be reduced in a number of ways and income support is probably the quickest short-term way. However, to really break intergenerational poverty, access to education has the greatest power to transform lives, lift people out of poverty and break down the cycles of intergenerational poverty.

The fees associated with part-time programmes can be a real barrier to higher education access and I wanted to expand supports to part-time students in the budget. Therefore, I was very pleased to announce, as part of the tertiary education package from September 2024, a part-time fee grant scheme to provide support for eligible students who are undertaking undergraduate part-time programmes leading to a major award, whether in-person, blended or online. This scheme will mean fees for these courses will be abolished for eligible students whose household earnings are less than €55,924. The support and added flexibility will benefit many but particularly low-income families. The scheme will be administered through SUSI. The fees represent too big a barrier for too many people. The scheme will be developed in detail by my Department in the weeks ahead. The Department will engage in further discussions with key stakeholders and will outline the full details of the new scheme and how to apply early next year.

The Atlantic Technological University in the Deputy's constituency has been a leader in part-time education for many years. It has offered part-time courses to students. The scheme will mean that more students, including more students from diverse backgrounds, can access those part-time courses from September.

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