Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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442. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the anticipated timeline for the stakeholder meetings taking place for the national access plan for 2022-2026. [58327/21]

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 is almost concluded, with a number of meetings planned up to mid-December. 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 Q1 of 2022.

I am committed to the continued roll-out of supports for students and targeted initiatives to support delivery of the vision and targets within the new National Access Plan 2022-2026.