Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1261. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated annual cost of a targeted fund to fully finance third-level education for 100 persons experiencing homelessness including those living in temporary accommodation such as hostels, direct provision centres and domestic abuse refuges. [39755/21]
View answerMy Department is committed to the continued roll-out of supports for students and targeted initiatives to support delivery of the vision and targets within the National Access Plan. The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP) 2015-2021 identifies the target groups that are currently under-represented in higher education. These include entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education, students with disabilities, mature entrants, members of the Irish Traveller community, students entering on the basis of further education aware and part time flexible learners. The NAP also indicated subgroups that require support including lone parents, teen parents and ethnic minorities. My Department funds a range of supports including targeted measures to meet the needs of disadvantaged, vulnerable and students under-represented in Higher Education. It is not possible to estimate annual cost of a targeted fund to fully finance third-level education for students experiencing homelessness as the individual needs of students are different, depending on their particular circumstances. Students in the groups can apply and may already qualify for the range of supports that are already available including a student support scheme for persons in the protection process or at the leave to remain stage.
The scheme provides supports to qualifying students which are similar to those available in the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI to eligible applicants who are in the protection system and who are either:
- asylum applicants
- subsidiary protection applicants
- leave to remain applicants
Work on the development of the next National Access Plan (NAP) 2022 – 2026 is currently underway following a consultation process where all interested parties were invited to make their views known on matters related to access to higher education particularly for groups who are under represented or at risk of not participating in the higher education population. In the context of the development of the new plan, consideration will be given to priority groups that may need prioritisation. My Department will work with the HEA on the finalisation in the coming months on the new Plan. It is my intention to publish the new NAP at the end of 2021. My Department will continue to keep existing provision and initiatives under review. We want to develop a better understanding of what works best within the different models, and to look at how we can assist people to access and progress through higher and further education and training. Thus ensuring that we grow prosperity across communities and build social cohesion, while also recognising the different needs of learners and enabling each and every one of them to develop to their full potential.
