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Minister Harris announces funding of €50,000 to charities supporting education initiatives in disadvantaged areas

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today announced funding of €50,000 to charities driving further and higher education initiatives in disadvantaged areas.

 

Minister Harris revealed once off payments of €38,000 will be paid to Engage in Education in Limerick, and a further €6,000 will be paid to Accessing College Education (ACE) and Ballymun Initiative for Third Level Education (BITE) in Dublin at the beginning of 2023.

 

The once-off payments are in addition to funding allocated to the charities under the Special Disadvantaged Initiatives, which provides support to organisations that help people in disadvantaged areas learn about, and access, further and higher education.

 

Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “I am delighted to announce this additional funding today to assist those organisations who are working tirelessly to help those in disadvantaged areas to improve their lives through education.

 

“There are so many pathways out there for people to achieve their goals in life through education. Without the help of organisations such as Engage in Education, ACE and BITE, many people may not become of aware of the opportunities available to them.

 

“I want to thank everyone who works so hard to improve these people’ lives through education, and I hope the funding announced today will help them continue their vital work.”

 

Engage in Education is a local charity based in Limerick City which offers underrepresented communities a continuum of supports and interventions from primary to higher level education.

 

They support students and families that are living in the Southhill, Moyross, Ballinacurra Weston and St. Mary’s Park areas in Limerick City and have been in operation since 1991.

 

Engage in Education has supported over 400 students from disadvantaged areas complete third level education.

 

The Department has recommended that once-off funding of €38,000 be provided to Engage in Education to support the provision of programmes during 2023, in addition to their regular funding of €49,000.

 

 

BITE, based in Ballymun, Dublin, and which will receive an additional €6,000, helps locals access third level education through a range of supports, including tuition, homework, grants, applications, and college awareness events.

 

ACE, which will receive an additional €6,000, is a second level access programme which was developed to support students from three participating schools in West Tallaght (St Aidan's Community School, Mount Seskin Community College, Killinarden Community School) to complete their leaving cert and progress onto third level.

 

 

ENDS