€3m extra to promote access to higher education

Additional funding of €3m has been announced for student support measures next year to encourage more participation in higher education.

The move is part of the National Access Plan for 2015 to 2019 which contains five key goals and more than 30 actions to assist under-represented groups participate in third level education.

It sets out a number of targets for specific categories of students, including 'disadvantaged' students, students with disabilities, mature students, and members of the Travelling community.

The Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan said the programme aimed to ensure the appropriate supports were in place to make third level a realistic option for all students.

"This is about access to higher education up to 2019 to increase the participation rates of people," she said.

The €3m breaks down like this:

• €1.5m for Student Assistance Fund;
• €500,000 for the Fund for Students with Disabilities
• €1m for other actions to promote access.