Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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391. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be introduced to reduce the costs of further and higher education for students and their families, taking into account increased costs of living over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36897/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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392. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason those in a certain programme at a higher level institute (details supplied) were previously funded for two years but those starting in September 2025 will only have one year. [36918/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The programmes in question are supported under the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Strand 4 Phase 2 pilot initiative.  

Phase 2 is a three-year pathfinding pilot with the dual objectives of supporting an enhancement of course provision for students with intellectual disabilities and informing future policy considerations for students with intellectual disabilities. Over €11 million has been allocated to 11 institutions to implement and evaluate pilot initiatives.

The conditions of funding for PATH 4 Phase 2 are clearly set out in the Call of Proposals, which was published and shared with HEIs in June of 2023. It includes the following clauses:

• Funding under PATH 4 Phase 2 is for a maximum of three years and all funding must be spent by 30 September 2026.
• HEIs awarded funds under Phase 2 will be expected to commence work towards additional provision in Semester 2 of 2023/24 academic year and project implementation fully in place for the 2024/25 academic year.

Upon conclusion of the Pathfinding Phase an evaluation of the pilot will be completed.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.