Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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867. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the qualifying criteria that applies to students and the definition of disadvantage being used further to the announcement of a €15 million fund to help disadvantaged students with the cost of information technology equipment. [21971/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Once-Off COVID-19 Grant to support disadvantaged students in accessing ICT devices is part of the package of COVID-19 supports for higher and further education institutions funded by my Department.

This initiative addresses concerns regarding the digital divide in the context of the shift to online and blended models of learning, which were identified by a range of stakeholders in the context of the COVID-19 structures put in place to co-ordinate responses among the further and higher education sectors.

The devices will be distributed by the relevant Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Education and Training Boards (ETBs) via appropriate lending schemes. The education institutions are best placed to determine which individual students should be prioritised to receive a device on a needs basis and within the terms and conditions of the scheme.

In determining distribution of the devices, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are required to have regard to the target groups identified in the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 i.e.:

- Students disadvantaged by socio-economic barriers

- First-time mature students

- Students with disabilities

- Part-time/flexible learning students

- Students who hold further education qualifications

- Students who are members of the Traveller and Roma communities

HEIs and ETBs must be satisfied that students who receive a device under this grant have demonstrated a verifiable need for such a device e.g. they or their family do not have the means to purchase such a device themselves.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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868. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process for the way in which students in specialist training provision in the further education and training sector can access and apply for the fund further to the announcement of a €15 million fund to help disadvantaged students with the cost of information technology equipment; if he will further set out the process through which this funding is being distributed to universities, colleges and specialist training providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21972/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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A fund for student devices worth €15 million was part of a €168 million package for further and higher education sectors to deal with the impacts of Covid-19. Funding of €10 million has being provided to the higher education sector and €5m to the Further Education and Training sector.

The funding is being provided to eligible Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and ETBs (plus a number of other SOLAS-funded FET providers) in accordance with allocation models agreed with the HEA and SOLAS.

Since approval of the Once-Off Covid-19 Grant to support disadvantaged students in HE and FET sectors in accessing ICT devices (‘the Grant’), my Department has worked intensively with the HEA, SOLAS, ETBI and HEANet (the entity providing connectivity and associated ICT services to education and research bodies across Ireland) to design and deliver the Grant support. This funding has already allowed higher education institutions and further education institutions place a bulk order of 16,700 devices for students.

The specific arrangements for the distribution of the devices to disadvantaged students are a matter for each individual institution / ETB. However, under the terms of the Grant, devices must remain the property of the HEI/ETB, be offered to students under appropriate lending schemes, and also comply with certain conditions of sanction set down by the Office of Government Chief Information Officer in relation to security and appropriate usage.