Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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991. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that less than 5% of adults with Down's syndrome secure meaningful employment due to barriers in accessing further education; the measures he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32965/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Ensuring that further education and training (FET) is inclusive and accessible for all, including for people with Down Syndrome, is a key priority of my Department.

Earlier this year, myself and Minister Harris launched the second FET Strategy: Future FET: Transforming Learning, which covers the period 2020-2024. Fostering Inclusion is one of the three core pillars around which this strategy is built. The FET sector is committed to increasing levels of inclusion through the provision of high quality, more accessible and flexible education and training programmes and supports suited to the identified needs of individuals, with the aim of enabling every citizen to participate fully in society.

Addressing the education and training needs of people with a disability, including those with Down Syndrome, will be a primary focus of this Strategy. Over the period of this Strategy, SOLAS commits to expanding on the approach of the fund for students with disabilities which currently only covers PLC provision. This work will be driven through reform of the funding system and the roll-out of good practice guidelines, including those in relation to universal design for learning.

The Specialist Training Provider programme is also being reviewed at present and recomemndations arising will be implemented. This includes measures to increase inclusion of people with disabilities in mainstream FET rather than separate dedicated provision.

The strategic aims of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017–2021 and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015 –2024 are embedded with the SOLAS / Education Training Board strategic funding arrangements. This ensures a whole of system approach leading to better outcomes and a requirement on the 16 ETBs to implement measures to increase access and inclusion.

This year over €900 million will be invested in the FET sector. Over 200,000 people start FET courses each year. I would encourage people considering availing of opportunities in the FET sector to contact their local Education and Training Board Adult Education Guidance Service to avail of information and guidance on education and training options and relevant supports that are available to potential learners.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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992. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is developing a strategy for re-engagement of learners unable to participate in further and higher education during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32968/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Since the beginning of the Covid-19 public health emergency, my Department has been working with the key stakeholders across further and higher education to put in place systems to support continuity of teaching and learning in further and higher education.

As part of its overall engagement structures on Covid planning, my Department established the Mitigating Educational Disadvantage (Working Group. The key purpose of the Group is to scope out main issues impacting on learning and engagement by disadvantaged students across all aspects of further and higher education arising from the Covid-19 public health emergency. The advice of this Group has been important in guiding interventions to support students and institutions in sustaining learning.

€8million in funding is being provided in 2020 to enable SOLAS establish a Mitigating Educational Disadvantage Fund in the further education and training sector. The fund is designed to increase the capacity of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and community education providers to tackle any fall off in participation by and certification of disadvantaged learners, particularly those on literacy and basic skills programmes at levels 1-3 of the National Framework of Qualifications. The fund places a strong focus on community education as a tool to continue to support and engage with these learners. The fund is also investing in building the digital infrastructure of ETBs and community education providers and the capacity of educators to ensure that online learning can be delivered in a way that meets the complex needs of all FET learners.

With regard to supports for postgraduate students I have announced an increase in the fee grant from €2,000 to €3,500. This increase will allay some of the costs for postgraduate study and will give greater certainty for students in terms of supports. I have also decided to increase the fee income threshold to €54,240 from €31,500. These changes will take effect from September 2021.

I have secured an additional €1.5 million to increase the 1916 Bursary Fund (also known as the PATH 2 programme) to €5 million per annum, providing an additional 200 places which will allow the fund to support up to 1,000 of the most disadvantaged students to access higher education. The allocation will also provide for the development of a centralised application system for the bursary scheme.

The Government has also allocated €50 million to provide once-off assistance to third level students in recognition of the challenging circumstances of the Covid-19 public health emergency. The details of this package are currently being worked through and a proposal will shortly be brought back to Government.

A fund for student devices worth €15 million was provided for further and higher education to deal with the impacts of the Covid-19 public health emergency on learners. Funding of €10 million has been 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.

There is also ongoing work between my Department and other Departments to resolve the connectivity issues that present for students and learners, particularly those in remote locations.

The mental health of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the Covid-19 public health emergency, and the increased mental stress and pressure resulting from it. In this regard earlier this year, I secured an additional funding of €3m to underpin wellbeing and mental health and student services in our higher education institutions (HEIs). This is in addition to the €2m that was allocated in Budget 2020. This overall funding of €5m comes at a time of great urgency in relation to student support and will enable institutions to enhance their student facing services. I understand that many institutions are already in the process of increasing their counselling service capacity and more to follow over the coming weeks. The increased capacity/resourcing of counselling services will allow for the development of active outreach to students, and deliver more support and training to campus staff to identify, support and refer students in difficulty.