Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
612. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the budgetary analysis being carried out to plan for long Covid-19 impacts in his Department and each State agency under the remit of his Department in tabular form. [4488/21]
View answerThe Department is closely monitoring the budgetary impacts of Covid-19, in close engagement with my Department’s agencies and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Government has already implemented a range of supports for students and for the further and higher education sector in recognition of the impacts of Covid-19. In July 2020 approved a comprehensive package of supports in the amount of €168m, including funding for the student assistance fund, mental health supports, digital devices for students and targeted support funding for the sector. A range of additional measures were included in Budget 2021 including €48m for a once-off Covid student assistance fund, enhanced funding for SUSI to meet additional demand in 2021 and a fund for ETBs and community education providers to mitigate educational disadvantage in 2020.
In addition to the voted allocations summarised above the July Jobs Stimulus package provided €100 million from the National Training Fund (NTF) to fund 35,000 places through a variety of measures in higher and further education and training. The investment is aimed at those that require it the most, whether that is to assist with seeking employment or to upskill in their current jobs.
Building on the July Jobs Stimulus, Budget 2021 will see a total investment of €118.5 million from the NTF to upskill and reskill people who have been affected by the impacts of the current pandemic and in areas of key skills priorities, particularly the climate agenda.
