Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the publication of the next national access plan; if there are plans to incorporate the introduction of a designated staff member for care leavers in higher education into the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51394/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Work on the development of the next National Access Plan (NAP) 2022 - 2026 is currently underway.

The consultation process, which closed on 18th June 2021, invited all interested parties to make their views known on this matter and other matters related to access to higher education particularly for groups who are underrepresented in the higher education population.  One-to-one stakeholder meetings around the specific target groups to be supported for the period of the next NAP are currently underway.  Colleagues in my Department are working closely with the HEA on the development of the new Plan with the intention of publishing the plan in the coming months.