Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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2577. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available to those students fleeing Palestine; if he will lay out plans to increase supports going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21052/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that within the Ireland Fellows Programme, delivered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, there is a specific strand - the Ireland-Palestine Scholarship Programme - which provides the opportunity for successful candidates to complete a one-year Master’s-level programme in Ireland. This currently supports 25 Palestinian students attending 15 Higher Education Institutions.

In common with other regions suffering conflict, students fleeing Palestine are eligible to participate in my Department's International Protection Student scheme. This scheme, which has been in place since 2015 has supported over 100 students. It is directed at three particular groups of students namely asylum applicants, subsidiary protection applicants and leave to remain applicants who have been in the protection system or at the leave to remain, but not deportation order, stage for at least three years and who have been resident in Ireland for three years and are pursuing an approved post Leaving Certificate, undergraduate or postgraduate programme.

In addition, as autonomous and independent bodies, our Higher Education Institutions have also put in place a number of scholarship programmes to support students from Palestine. This includes specific scholarships for Palestinian students in addition to Sanctuary Programmes and Scholars at Risk Programme. These programmes provide financial and other required supports to these students.