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 National Access Office administers the following funding programmes:
- Student Assistance Fund
- Fund for Students with Disabilities
- Millennium Partnership Fund
The Fund for Students with Disabilities and Student Assistance Fund are funded by the Irish Government and part-funded by the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013.
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.
HEA publishes new national plan for equity of access to higher education