Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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2004.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider reviewing the income threshold currently being applied to the higher education access route (HEAR); to details of annual funding made available to HEAR from 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35485/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association, on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). My Department has no remit for this scheme.

Under HEAR each institution determines its own admissions policy, the number of places to be reserved, the allocation of those places, and the review and appeals processes. Applications to the scheme are submitted to the Central Applications Office (CAO) who coordinate the scheme for participating institutions. The HEIs provide funding for their participation in the scheme. My Department does not fund the HEAR scheme.

Officials from my Department have made contact the IUA, and I am advised that the income threshold is currently being revised to align with the SUSI Band 1 income threshold. These changes will be considered this year and become operational for applications in the 2026 admissions cycle.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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2005.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the childcare supports that students undertaking further education training courses in Westmeath are eligible for.[35501/24]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Officials in my Department contacted Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB), in relation to this matter. LWETB has confirmed that there are currently no crèche services available through any of its Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. However, all learners are entitled to apply for the Affordable Childcare Scheme, which is funded by the National Childcare Scheme.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2006.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the funding that was allocated to the fund for students with disabilities in academic years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35505/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Please see the following link for the Funding allocated to the Fund for Students with a Disability (FSD) as requested by the Deputy.

It is important to note that the fund was administered on an academic years basis until 2019 when it changed to a calendar year. This was on foot of a recommendation from a review of the FSD in 2017.

The final allocation and recipient numbers for 2024 are not yet known.