Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 697: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will clarify the status of the millennium partnership fund as administered by the Higher Education Authority; if the level of funding for this scheme has changed in recent budgets; if he is committed to supporting the continuation of the fund in view of the rise in unemployment and the need for people to re-enter education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22908/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Millennium Partnership Fund has been in operation since 2000. It forms part of the European Social Fund-aided package for education disadvantage. Funding for the scheme in 2001-02 was €1m. This increased to €2m in 2002-03. The allocation for 2008-9 academic year was €2.18m. This allocation was distributed among 56 Partnerships/community groups around the country.

An external review of the Fund was commissioned by the Higher Education Authority in 2005. The review concluded that while the fund has served an important function in supporting students from disadvantaged areas to attend further and higher education, it has significant potential to facilitate outreach and role modelling if further developed within a holistic strategy to combat educational disadvantage. The review recommended a more targeted approach, focusing the fund on a rigorously selected sample of groups with a strategic focus and good linkages with other stakeholders at community level. It also identified the potential for the impact of the Fund to be considerably enhanced through shifting the emphasis from retention to community-based access.

Following consultations with the various stakeholders, including local area partnerships, third level institutions and relevant government agencies, my Department, the National Access Office of the HEA and Pobal are currently engaged in discussions on the future direction of the Fund, with a view to developing a model for community-based access programmes. This work on the development of the re-oriented fund is continuing and discussions are ongoing.

It is not proposed that a replacement fund focused on financial support will be implemented following the re-orientation of the Millennium Partnership Fund to a community-based access focused fund. However, financial assistance will continue to be available for individual students including those currently unemployed who wish to re-enter education, under the maintenance grant schemes and the other access measures funded by my Department.

Information on financial supports to students across the country, including students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds is contained on the website www.studentfinance.ie. This website, a result of collaboration between my Department and the National Access Office, outlines the full range of financial supports available.