Press release
Taoiseach and Minister O’Donovan announce expansion of third level courses for students with intellectual disabilities
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
• From September, eight courses will be rolled out for students with intellectual disabilities
• Three courses will commence from January 2025 including an additional course in TUS which has been approved
• All courses will be free
Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan have announced additional investment and the roll-out of courses for students with intellectual disabilities under the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH 4).
The courses, which will be available across the country, will be free of charge to students.
In addition to the ten courses already approved under PATH 4 Phase 2 funding, a new course at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) will be made available for students.
Speaking today, Taoiseach Simon Harris said:
“This is a particularly proud day for me. When I was Minister for Further and Higher Education, we announced the successful courses and today we confirm their start dates.
“As Taoiseach, I want to create an education system is equal for everyone. This announcement ensures a person with an intellectual disability is afforded the same opportunities as any of their peers.
“I want to thank the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, university leaders and Minister O’Donovan for their leadership in bringing these plans to fruition.
“Most of all, I want to thank the young men and women in the Trinity Centre for Intellectual Disabilities who inspired us to deliver this change across third level. Today is for them.”
Minister O’Donovan said:
“These students had achieved so much to get to Higher Level and are a credit to their families and communities for doing so. It was really important to me that we didn’t put any further challenges in their way, when they have faced and cleared so many hurdles to get to this point in their lives.
“These courses have been designed with the learner at heart. They can transform the lives of students and their families, helping them thrive, leading to further education and employment.
“The new course in TUS supports further opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities.
“Earlier this year, my Department announced the first 10 higher education institutions across the country who are providing courses funded under the PATH 4 programme.
“This extra investment of over €1 million brings the total investment in PATH 4 Phase 2 to over €11m over three years. I look forward to the feedback on these courses during this initial three-year pilot scheme.”
PATH is a dedicated fund which supports the delivery of equity of access objectives under the NAP and has been provided to increase participation by under-represented groups in higher education.
PATH 4 Phase 2 is the funding programme which has been made available by the Department for the provision of courses in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for students with intellectual disabilities.
Louise Callinan, Head of Access Policy at the Higher Education Authority, said:
“Improving opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to engage in higher education is a core commitment in the National Access Plan 2022-2028.
“The investment of over €11m in this pilot under PATH 4 Phase 2 will support the enhancement of provision for students with intellectual disabilities across 11 higher education institutions and will inform future policy.
“I would like to acknowledge the considerable ongoing work by the 11 higher education institutions to develop these programmes and to support meaningful pathways for students with intellectual disabilities.”
The courses that will be provided from September are at:
• Atlantic Technical University (ATU)
• Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT)
• Mary Immaculate College (MIC)
• South East Technological University (SETU)
• Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
• University College Cork (UCC)
• University of Galway (UG)
The courses that will be available from January will be at:
• Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT)
• Munster Technological University (MTU)
• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) (New course)
Notes for Editors
Photographs: Government Information Service
Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH)
PATH is a multi-stranded strategic funding programme, established in 2016, to support the implementation of National Access Plan objectives. Across 5 distinct strands, PATH provides funding to higher education institutions (HEIs) to deliver innovative measures to improve participation and retention of specific target groups in higher education.
PATH 4 is a key driver in delivering the relevant objectives and actions under the Inclusivity Goal of the current National Access Plan: A Strategic Action Plan for Equity of Access, Participation and Success in Higher Education 2022-2028. The Inclusivity goal aims to provide all students with an accessible, supportive, and inclusive higher education experience.
Over €15 million has been allocated towards PATH 4 to date to support the phased implementation of the strand as follows:
· Phase 1 (2022): Universal Design Fund - supported the embedding of Universal Design (UD) approaches and inclusive practices in HEIs which will benefit all students and in particular autistic students and enable the building of capacity in HEIs for greater participation by students with intellectual disabilities in higher education.
· Phase 1 (2024): Inclusive Environment Fund – supporting the implementation of inclusion measures aimed at fostering students’ sense of belonging within higher education, including the roll-out of sensory maps to support autistic learners and anti-racism measures.
· Phase 2 (2023-2025): Course provision for Students with Intellectual Disabilities - a three-year pathfinding pilot to support an enhancement of course provision for students with intellectual disabilities and to inform future policy considerations for students with intellectual disabilities.
PATH 4 Phase 2: Enhancement of Course Provision for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
On behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) managed a call for proposals to higher education institutions under the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund Strand 4 Phase 2 - Enhancement of Course Provision in Higher Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities.
All submitted proposals were assessed by an independent panel of external experts, and programmes across 11 higher education institutions were approved for funding.
Student supports are an essential part of course provision for students with disabilities. All course fees for the PATH 4 Phase 2 funded courses are waived. In recognition of the diverse range of needs of participants, all higher education institutions receiving funds under PATH 4 Phase 2 will provide a range of financial, pastoral, and educational supports, such as assistive technology, travel costs, occupational therapy, counselling, career services, peer buddy systems, and ISL interpreting.
Applications for the programmes should be made directly to the higher education institutions.