William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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3346. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons that the undergraduate psychology degree programme (PC414) at Carlow College is not currently included in the Free Fees Initiative and is not eligible for SUSI grants or funding, despite being equivalent to psychology degrees offered by other institutions that do qualify under both schemes; if he will consider the inclusion of this programme given the urgent national shortage of qualified psychologists across the education, healthcare and social care sectors, which continues to have wide-reaching impacts on service provision and public well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41664/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware Carlow College, St. Patrick’s is a private higher education institution.

Private higher education institutions, including Carlow College may be eligible to receive funding from the State for limited courses that are approved for funding under specific initiatives. These include the Free Fees Initiative, Apprenticeships and Springboard+. Under the respective arrangements, the State has agreed to provide funding for specific courses in line with specific agreements made between the relevant funding body and the private institution.

It is open to private institutions to develop and operate courses outside of those approved for State funding. The establishment of such courses does not give rise to the provision of State funding to support delivery or free fees funding.

In relation to the Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the position is that approved course eligibility is restricted to full-time undergraduate courses in public higher education institutions (HEIs) as well as a limited number of designated courses in private, not for profit institutions.

The extension of free fees funding to additional courses in private institutions only applies where a specific teaching and learning need has been identified by my Department, another Department or the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

It remains open to Carlow College to apply for funding through competitive call processes, such as Springboard+, to provide courses in response to national skill needs.