Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
331. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the European funds that contribute to higher and further education in Ireland; if any contribute towards improving access to further and or higher education opportunities for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35435/21]
View answerThe further and higher education sectors in Ireland are supported by a range of EU funds. The Horizon Programme plays a critical role supporting research and innovation in the sector, while the Erasmus Programme supports student and staff mobility as well as cross border cooperation projects. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has also supported the development of research and technological innovation in Ireland through the SFI Research Centres and Spokes Programme and developing stronger links between industry and higher education institutions.
The European Social Fund (ESF) Operational Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 supported a range of programmes in the further and higher education sector, including Youthreach and Community Training Centres; Adult Literacy; the Back to Education Initiative; ETB Training for the Unemployed and Third Level Access.
Details of EU funding in Ireland are available at www.eufunds.ie.
While people with disabilities are participating in the range of programmes supported by the ESF, the purpose of the Third Level Access Fund for Students with Disabilities is to assist higher education institutions in ensuring students with disabilities have the necessary assistance and equipment to enable them access, fully participate in and successfully complete their chosen course of study.
A Partnership Process Steering Group has been established to assist and advise the programming authorities throughout the development process for the Partnership Agreement and the various Cohesion Policy Programmes (including the ERDF and ESF+) for the 2021 – 2027 funding round. A Needs Analysis was conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants to provide the evidence base for the future ESF+ and ERDF programmes and a public consultation process was undertaken last year.
The European Commission highlighted the need to support and develop services to improve the employment situation of people with disabilities in its investment guidance on cohesion policy funding for Ireland in 2021-27. The needs analysis also advocates that ESF+ funding should be directed towards labour market programmes and training programmes aimed at improving employment access for this group. Work is ongoing on the draft Partnership Agreement and draft Operational Programmes with a view to Government Approval and formal submission to the Commission later in 2021.
