Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

573. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider expanding the remit of the mitigating against educational disadvantage fund to provide rent-related funding to support educationally disadvantaged learners in accessing and participating in third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50095/22]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the Reach fund (formerly the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund) is to assist Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to increase their capacity and that of community education providers to address the decline in participation of educationally disadvantaged learners, particularly those on literacy and basic skills programmes at levels 1 to 3 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

The fund places a strong focus on community education as a mechanism to continue to support and engage with disadvantaged learners. In addition, there is a focus on enabling the investment in building the digital infrastructure of community education providers, including providing devices and software, and increasing their capacity to deliver learning and to ensure that online learning/blended learning can be delivered in a way that meets the complex needs of learners.

The purpose of the Reach Fund was specifically designed to tackle inequalities and support access to community education. The Deputy will be aware of the increases in the maintenance grant rates and in the income thresholds under the student support schemes announced in Budget 2023 which will benefit PLC students in addition to the removal of the PLC levy with effect from the September 2022.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

574. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding has been provided under the mitigating against educational disadvantage fund to support educationally disadvantaged learners in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50096/22]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Reach Fund (formerly the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund) is funded by SOLAS and administered to local community education projects by the 16 local Education and Training Boards (ETBs) around the country. The aim of the Fund, which was introduced in 2020, is to support community education for adult learners who have the highest level of need, with a focus on building the digital infrastructure of community education providers to increase the capacity to deliver online learning.

The funding allocated to the Laois and Offaly ETB is set out in the following table.