Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)

The Reach fund was established with a clear purpose to assist ETBs and community education providers in supporting educationally disadvantaged learners, particularly those at NFQ levels 1 to 3, and to help to bridge the digital divide that many rural learners face. It was designed to tackle inequality, promote access and give everyone, regardless of their background, the chance to learn, participate and connect.

The reality on the ground, however, is that this year's drastic reduction in funding is having the opposite effect. Across north Cork, classes that have run for years - community singing, yoga, mindfulness, knitting, crochet and art - are being scrapped because they are deemed non-accredited. I take real issue with that because while these classes may not result in a QQI certification, the outcomes are extraordinary nonetheless. These courses build confidence, community spirit and mental well-being. They combat isolation, particularly among older people, carers and those who are struggling with mental health.

I will take the Millstreet FET centre in my home town of Millstreet as an example. It serves one of the smallest catchment areas in north Cork, yet in the 2024-25 term it had 189 registered learners and submitted more QQI folders than some larger centres. It has become in every sense a community hub, even if it is not officially that. In Millstreet the Singing for the Brain programme has been one of the most powerful community initiatives we have seen. The group performs at nursing homes, hospitals and local concerts. Their music lifts spirits not just for participants but for entire communities. Cork County Council even recorded a short documentary clip because of the success of its project.

Yet today these tutors, who have given so much to their communities, are having to cut their hours or eliminate them entirely because their work is being dismissed as a hobby. The new approach that prioritises QQI accreditation courses at the expense of community-based ones undermines the very ethos of lifelong learning. Not every learner wants or is ready for a certificate. Many simply need connection, purpose and belonging, and that is what the community education provides. I appreciate that the budget constraints are a reality, but we cannot measure the value of community education in accredited hours or test results. When someone who has been isolated for years finds their confidence in a singing group or when an older learner uses a tablet for the first time through a local Reach project, that is success.

I ask the Government to re-examine the criteria under the Reach funding that is allocated for 2025 and to protect the non-accredited community education programmes, especially in rural areas. Millstreet and other small towns like it cannot be expected to compete with larger urban centres under a one-size-fits-all funding model. Community education is not a luxury; it is the foundation of inclusion, resilience and well-being in rural Ireland. I hope the Minister of State can agree that programmes which bring people together, improve mental health and create community connections are worth every cent, even if they do not come with a certificate at the end.