Access Funding
Institutional Funding
The new Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) introduced by the HEA provides baseline funding to support equity of access as part of the core grant. The National Office for equity of access to higher education will monitor the access expenditure under the new model.
Access to higher education has been supported since 1996 by the Strategic Initiative Funding Scheme (previously Targeted Initiative Scheme) of the Higher Education Authority. These funds have been used to develop an infrastructure of supports aimed at increasing participation in higher education among under-represented groups.
Student Funding
The National Access Office administers the following funding programmes:- Student Assistance Fund
- Fund for Students with Disabilities
- Millennium Partnership Fund
Fund for Students with Disabilities
This fund provides financial aid for additional supports and services for students with a disability. In 2006-07 this fund allocated almost €10 million to over students with a disability in further and higher education.
Student Assistance Fund
The Student Assistance Fund is a financial hardship fund allocated to students experiencing particular or unexpected hardship during their higher education course. Allocations to students can include rent, books, food/heat, medical emergencies etc. In 2006-07, over €6m was allocated to the participating institutions.
Millennium Partnership Fund
The Millennium Partnership Fund provides community-based funding to support the retention and participation of students from under-represented groups in further or higher education. Pobal administers the fund through local area partnerships on behalf of the National Office. Over €2 million is allocated annually under this fund to 60 partnerships and community groups.
www.studentfinance.ie
For all information on these funds and all funding available to students in higher education see www.studentfinance.ie Studentfinance.ie is a user friendly comprehensive website that will help students and their families navigate through financial support systems.
The Human Capital Investment Operational Programme (HCI OP)
The Human Capital Investment Operational Programme (HCI OP) 2007-2013 is a €1.360 billion plan that addresses Ireland’s labour market and human capital development needs for the period 2007-2013. It also sets out the broad financial management arrangements for the Programme.
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