Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
175. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria necessary for receipt of the 1916 bursary fund; if these criteria are uniformly applied across higher education institutions; the person or body which decides which students receive funding; if there is oversight regarding these decisions from an authority separate to the higher education institution offering the award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2483/19]
View answerThe 1916 Bursary Fund supports 600 students over the course of three academic years commencing in 2017/18. These Bursaries differ from existing bursaries in a number of respects, in that they are targeted at non-traditional entry and can support undergraduate study on either a full-time or part-time basis. The Fund provides financial support through bursaries to new entrants to higher education who are identified by regional clusters of HEIs as meeting the eligibility criteria for the Fund.
To be considered for a bursary students must be socio-economically disadvantanged and from one of the target groups identified in the National Access Plan. Target groups include entrants from under-represented socio-economic groups and communities; entrants with disabilities; first time mature entrants; members of the Irish Traveller community; students entering on the basis of a further education award; part-time flexible learners, Lone parents and ethnic minorities
The Guidelines for the 1916 Bursary Fund were drawn up by the Department of Education and Skills in partnership with the HEA to reflect the aim of the Fund to encourage participation and success in higher education by students from sections of society significantly underrepresented in higher education. The emphasis is on encouraging learners from disadvantaged groups and communities that may never previously have considered higher education as a possible option or had any opportunity to participate in higher education.
The 1916 Bursary Fund devolves the responsibility for identifying eligible students to the clusters of HEIs who are best placed to identify the target students. Clusters of HEIs are responsible for selecting the students to be awarded bursaries and are responsible for the implementation of the Bursary fund. As part of the student selection process the HEIs will be required to ensure that successful students meet the eligibility criteria as per the call for proposals, and as set out in section 2.4 of these guidelines. Selection processes should be fully documented, which include an appeals process. HEIs report to the HEA on the operation of the Fund. The Bursary Fund will be subject to a full review an overall evaluation in year 3.
