Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2023
202. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide annual funding for an inclusive dance course (details supplied) which accommodates people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26525/23]
View answerMy officials made enquiries with Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) in relation to your query.
Cork ETB have confirmed that they have been engaging with this inclusive dance company to discuss their programme and possible grant application. They are in the process of completing an application for Community Education Grant funding to support the sub level 6 accredited part of the programme, which is due to start later this year. To date no funding has been provided for this programme by Cork ETB.
The position with regard to UCC is that my Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions, including UCC. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies established under statute, the internal disbursement of this funding, along with its private funding streams, is a matter for the individual institution.
