Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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782. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to parliamentary Question Nos. 1313 and 1314 of 21 April 2021, if the total planned Exchequer programme B and National Training Fund, NTF, funding of the higher education sector for 2021 is in the order of €1.98 billion; if not, the total planned expenditure once Covid-19 related expenditure is removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22222/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following the revised estimates for 2021, and as previously advised, exclusive of further education (programme A) and research allocations (programme C) total planned exchequer (programme B) and NTF funding of the HE sector for 2021 is in the order of €1.98billion.

Within this allocation funding the following items are included in response to COVID 19 impacts:

- 20million for expected additional demand on student grant scheme

- €7m for Springboard+ and €12m for HEA apprenticeships under the NTF.

The details as outlined above reflect the current position.

In terms of ongoing COVID impacts, the provision of higher education funding is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy for Government. My Department and the HEA will continue to work with sector stakeholders to monitor the impact on HE provision and liaise with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as required.