Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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627. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure the continued access to third-level for all students seeking to avail of education at this level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51991/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Access to Further and Higher Education continues to be a national priority for the Government and my Department.

The fourth National Access Plan for Higher Education 2022-2028 was launched at the end of August and sets out our ambition for an inclusive, diverse higher education sector over the 7 year period.

This Plan sets a high level of ambition for the higher education system in supporting access, participation and success among students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, students with disabilities and students from the Irish Traveller & Roma communities.

The Plan aims to support inclusion and diversity in our student body, address the wider struggles and challenges for students, and deliver sustainable progress. It recognises the needs of vulnerable learners, the most marginalised and those with special and additional needs.

Delivery of the Plan is supported by the PATH programme, which provides a range of supports to priority groups including bursaries under the 1916 scholarship scheme and support for people from target groups in accessing initial teacher education. The programme also supports clusters of higher education institutions in attracting under-represented students. PATH will receive an additional dedicated investment of €35 million over the course of the plan. This year, funding will support new measures to strengthen Universal Design for students in higher education, including those with autism, and to enhance opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities in higher education.

We will provide an additional 50 Bursaries of €5,000 each under the 1916 Bursary Fund,which supports the most socio-economically disadvantaged students from National Access Plan priority groups. We will allow 1916 Bursary holders retain their bursary if they wish to progress to Graduate Entry Medicine. We will provide an additional €700,000 to enhance engagement between Higher Education Institutions with priority groups and create linkages with DEIS post-primary schools. This is also aimed at ensuring there are links with schools and to enhance a focus on Further Education to Higher Education transitions particularly for mature students.

We are also considering the appointment of a PATH co-ordinator (for a three-year pilot basis) in the FET sector to support FE – HE transitions for priority groups with a particular focus on students from the Traveller and Roma communities. Finally, we will establish PATH 5, a three-year pilot of €450,000 per year, to support access, participation and success for students from the Traveller and Roma communities.

Since the establishment of my Department I have made improvements in the financial supports available to students under the Student Grant Scheme managed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). It assists circa 70,000 students annually to access third level education. I have continued this improvement in Budget 2023, to enable wider access by introducing a range of measures which will put more money in student’s pockets and support participation in and access to tertiary education.

These measures include increases to the student maintenance grant rates from January 2023 and a one off additional maintenance payments before Christmas, reductions to student contribution fees for apprentices, undergraduates and postgraduates. I also increased the allocation to the Student Assistance Fund, which helps so many students who continue to struggle financially, by €8 million.

These financial supports sit alongside a dedicated Fund for Students with Disabilities, which aims to ensure that students can participate fully in education, or on an equal basis with their peers.

Details of these and other student financial supports are available at www.studentfinance.ie and I would encourage students to contact their Access Office in the third level institution attended for details of any further supports.

Work is continuing through the Funding the Future Implementation structures to consider the potential to support students avail of more flexible learning opportunities

In addition, fostering Inclusion is one of the three core pillars around which the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-2024 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, including those in traditionally less well represented groups. FET provision is largely free or heavily subsidised, and a number of financial supports may be available to learners to facilitate the participation of individuals who would not otherwise be in a position to take up training. I would encourage people to make an appointment with their local Adult Education Guidance Service (AEGS), available in each Education and Training Boards (ETB) across the country free of charge, to discuss what supports may be available to them.

Apprenticeships are employer led demand-driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employer base in a sector.

One of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is "Apprenticeship for All" by ensuring that the profile of the apprenticeship population will more closely reflect the profile of the general population. The Plan promotes general access, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship by suggested targeted supports to encourage participation from under-represented groups including those with disabilities, women and those from ethnic minorities.