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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today announced his decision to continue supports for under-represented groups seeking to access higher education. This decision will see additional funding of €7.5m over the next three year period to support access.

The funding will be used to focus on National Access Plan target groups including: socio-economically disadvantaged students; lone parents; Irish Travellers; mature students; and students with disabilities.

Speaking today, Minister Harris said:

I am really delighted to be able to announce the continuation of the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH 3) and the additional funding of €7.5m.

This funding will be used to help people access and engage with higher education. It will enhance and promote positive learning experiences through meaningful engagement with prospective students and provide them with the necessary advice and supports they need to make what are potentially life changing decisions regarding their future engagement with higher education.

The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) is a dedicated fund, broken into three strands, committed to increasing participation by under-represented groups in higher education.

PATH 3 is intended to provide funding to higher education institutions to help facilitate the attraction and retention of undergraduate students from groups under-represented in higher education, with the support of regional and community partners

The three specific objectives of PATH 3 are:

• To develop strategies for increasing access to higher education in communities with low participation levels;
• To strengthen the linkages between higher education institutions and local communities; and
• To develop mentoring programmes and initiatives for students in second level by regional clusters in collaboration with second level schools, enterprise and community groups.

Minister Harris added: “

We have made significant changes in recent years to open up higher education to underrepresented groups however, we need to do more. The PATH programme has been the scaffold for many students seeking to access higher education. This funding envelope will provide certainty for stakeholders and will be the glue that links the existing National Access Plan with its replacement in 2022.