Published on Tuesday7thFebruary2017

Minister Bruton launches Ireland’s Education Fund

20170207SocialInnovation

Social Innovation Fund Ireland, CEO, Deirdre Mortell and Education Minister Richard Bruton

Social Innovation Fund Ireland, a charity created by the Government to find and back the best social innovations in Ireland and provide them with the support they need to maximise their impact, is today making a final call for submissions to its new Education Fund, which is endorsed by the Department of Education and Skills. The closing date for applications is 24th February 2017.

The initiative aims to improve educational attainment and access to higher education for students affected by mental health issues, disability, or poverty and disadvantage. Successful applicants could, for example, have innovative programmes that include student-centred learning opportunities, blended learning, 21st century skills - digital and other skills, or programmes that provide intensive personalised supports to students to enable them to succeed educationally. 

According to the Department of Education and Skills’ Action Plan for Education, the retention rate for secondary school students from deprived areas is 82.7%, which is below the national norm of 90.2%. Currently, the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds progressing to Quality and Qualification Ireland (QQI) level six courses is remarkably low. Post-leaving certificate, the number of travellers in higher education is just 35. Only approximately 6% of students in higher education have disabilities.

Education Minister Richard Bruton said:

The Education Fund, from Social Innovation Fund Ireland aims to support innovative solutions that improve educational attainment and access to higher level institutions. Our Action Plan for Education, which aims to make the Irish education and training system the best in Europe within a decade, sets ambitious targets in this area, and this Fund will help us to achieve them. My Department is very supportive of this initiative, and we hope that individuals and groups with solutions to this social issue will submit applications to enable students across Ireland to access all educational channels.

The Education Fund is accepting applications from schools, charities, higher education institutions and other not-for-profit organisations that intervene at QQI levels 3-6. For more information, visit -  www.socialinnovation.ie/our-programmes/education-fund