Budget 2021 : €50 million fund

Budget 2021: 

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins TD have today announced a series of new measures as part of Budget 2021.

The package includes:

• A €50 million fund to provide financial assistance to full time third level students in recognition of the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on this group;
• €120 million to reskill and upskill people affected by the pandemic;
• Supporting a green recovery by rolling out a new retrofitting training scheme and a new climate action upskilling scheme.
• 50,000 further education and training places in 2020/2021;
• Extension of the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme;
• Nearly €30 million will be invested in research to support researchers, build capacity, support Covid research, and strengthen north-south research links;
• Enhanced SUSI grant supports for post-grads and increased support for the PATH access initiative to increase participation in Higher Education from the most economically disadvantaged students.
• A review of SUSI to guide the future strategic direction of the scheme;
• Funding will be provided to sustain additional places in higher education and further increase Springboard places;
• Infrastructure investments to expand student places, upgrade existing infrastructure, modernise apprenticeship provision and progress the digital agenda;
• €15 million is being provided for minor capital works and equipment for higher education institutions.