Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department plans to expand access to traditional third-level education in counties such as Offaly, which currently do not have a university or institute of technology campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25973/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and I are committed to improving access to higher education for students throughout the country. A range of initiatives support this ranging from targeted financial supports to institutional investment, all aimed at breaking down barriers and ensuring that students, regardless of background or location, can pursue their ambitions in higher education.

My Department is committed to the continued development of the five Technological Universities established under the TU Act (2018) as reflected in the Programme for Government. Technological Universities have a statutory responsibility to, amongst other things ensure balanced regional development.

As the Deputy has asked about County Offaly, I refer the Deputy to Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest (TUS) as the most local university for Offaly students. TUS was the third TU to be established in the state, and was the first cross-regional TU. Since its establishment, it has aided in higher education access, growing regional development and providing more opportunities to students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities serving as it does communities in counties including Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare. and Offaly.

The Technological University sector as a whole has completed its establishment phase. My Department remains committed to assisting the sector in its further development, and continues to support the sector via funding programmes such as the Technological Sector Advancement Fund and TU-RISE, to ensure expanded access to students in historically-underserved counties.

Speaking more broadly to the issue of expanding access, the Fourth National Access Plan (NAP), a Strategic Action Plan for Equity of Access, Participation and Success in Higher Education 2022-2028, was launched on 31 August 2022. This sets out our ambition to support inclusion and diversity in our student body, addresses the wider struggles and challenges for students, and delivers sustainable progress across the higher education sector.

As may be seen from the programmes listed above, my Department and I are committed to ensuring that learners all over the country, including in counties such as Offaly, are able to access third level education in a way that works for them, and we will continue to pursue work in this area.