Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1528. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the supports or scholarships that his Department provides regarding further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45283/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As I informed the Dail earlier this year, I am pleased to be putting in place, starting in the coming academic year, an annual scholarship named in memory of the late Shane O'Farrell in his alma mater, UCD, which will support a law student to pursue a full time master's degree.

My Department provides other supports for further and higher education through several avenues, which are outlined below.

The Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 provides a developmental framework to address key ongoing challenges, as well as new and emerging issues, in the youth justice area. The Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice (REPPP) is a key strategic partnership between my Department and the University of Limerick School of Law that supports the Strategy through research collaboration.

Each year, my Department funds REPPP to provide bursaries for 16 Youth Justice Workers from Youth Diversion Projects to undertake the MA in Human Rights in Criminal Justice in the University of Limerick.

The KickStart Scholarship Fund has operated since 2022 to support people with a criminal justice history and socio-economic disadvantage to access higher and further education. This Fund is supported through the Dormant Accounts Fund and administered through Maynooth University Access Programme with the support of my Department, the Irish Prison Service along with Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology and the Technological University of the Shannon. Eight scholarships are awarded annually.

My Department is also committed to enhancing the capacity and capability of its staff. There are two main avenues for staff in my Department to pursue their professional development through further and higher education – the Education Support Scheme and the Barrister-at-Law degree programme.

Under the Education Support Scheme, support is provided for staff pursuing recognised academic or professional qualifications relevant to their work primarily in their own time. This Scheme has been a cornerstone of professional development across the Civil Service for many years.

My Department also provides support for up to two staff to pursue the Barrister-at-Law degree in their own time. The skills and knowledge acquired in this degree are particularly relevant to the work of my Department.