Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science, James Lawless, has announced the rollout of €1.46 million in targeted funding to advance educational access, equity, and student success across Ireland. The funding is being delivered through his Department as part of the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2026 and reflects the Government’s commitment to reducing educational disadvantage and expanding opportunities for under-represented learners.
The investment forms part of a wider €46.97 million allocation under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2026, which supports 56 measures across Government aimed at addressing economic, social, and educational inequality. Within this framework, the Department’s funding will focus on widening participation in apprenticeships and higher education, improving pathways to skills and employment, and supporting learners from the Traveller and Roma communities as well as young people transitioning from State care.
Minister Lawless highlighted that the funding will support practical, targeted interventions designed to remove real barriers to education and training. By investing in apprenticeships, accommodation supports, and access to industry-aligned degree programmes, the initiatives aim to ensure that further and higher education systems are inclusive and responsive to the needs of disadvantaged learners.
The measures supported include incentives to increase apprenticeship participation among members of the Traveller community, targeted accommodation bursaries for Traveller and Roma students and care leavers, and financial supports for learners enrolled in the P-TECH Digital and Business Skills tertiary degree programme. These supports are intended to ease financial pressures, improve retention, and enable learners to focus on their studies and long-term career development.
Students benefiting from the funding have described the supports as transformative, noting reduced financial stress, greater stability, and an improved ability to balance academic demands with personal wellbeing. Many highlighted how assistance with accommodation and living costs allowed them to reduce excessive work commitments and concentrate more fully on their education.
Minister Lawless noted that these initiatives align closely with the objectives of the National Access Plan and the Government’s broader skills agenda. He emphasised that Dormant Accounts funding plays a vital role in piloting and sustaining innovative supports that deliver meaningful, long-term impact, while also acknowledging the contribution of community organisations, education providers, employers, and fellow Ministers in ensuring the measures reach those who need them most.
