1503. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measurable action he and the HEA will take to identify and support student carers, and to monitor their access, participation and outcomes, before the National Access Plan concludes in 2028. [64234/26]

The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2022-2028 (NAP) recognises that students experiencing socio-economic disadvantage may come from various backgrounds, and this includes students who are carers.

A core commitment in the NAP is the development of a second Access Data Plan that considers ways to collect more reliable data on student cohorts. In November 2025, the Second Data Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education technical report was published. The report highlights the challenges associated with identifying students who are carers, including the diversity of caring experiences, limitations in existing data sources, and the variability in caring responsibilities over time. Given these challenges, the second Access Data Plan recommends targeted supports as the most appropriate way of assisting students who are carers. These supports include the provision of clear information on part-time, flexible and alternative modes of study that can assist students with caring responsibilities to access, participate and succeed in higher education.

The Mid-term Progress Review of the NAP, published in May 2026, also recommends further work at national level to complement the efforts of higher education institutions (HEIs) in ensuring that high-quality, clear and accessible information is available centrally, including to students who are carers. The Review also recommends that HEIs prioritise the expansion of flexible models of delivery to support the participation and success of students identified in the National Access Plan.

In relation to financial support, the principal support provided by my Department is the student grant scheme, which makes available means-tested financial assistance to students in further and higher education. Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students on full-time courses who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.

The special rate of maintenance grant is the highest rate of maintenance grant available and is targeted at those students most in the need. One of the qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant is that the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Student Grant Scheme.

I can confirm that Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit are both eligible social welfare payments for the special rate of maintenance grant. In addition to Carer’s Allowance, the Carer’s Support Grant (where paid to recipients of the Carer’s Allowance and Domiciliary Care Allowance) and the Domiciliary Care Allowance are classified as “income disregards” and these payments are not included in calculating reckonable income.

Students who are carers are eligible for the 1916 Bursary and over the last two years 19 bursaries have been awarded to students who are carers.

I recognise the need to offer support for more flexible forms of learning and to this end a Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses has been introduced, the aim of which is to provide additional flexibility in respect of course provision to students who are socio-economically disadvantaged and who may not, due to their particular circumstances, be in a position to study full-time.

I am also committed to providing diverse and flexible education pathways that meet the needs of individuals, employers, and society. This includes expanding options for individuals to avail of learning outside of typical full-time degrees. Some of the initiatives to support this include Springboard+, Micro-credentials and tertiary programmes.

My Department will continue to monitor progress on the targets in the NAP and associated KPIs over the remainder of the Plan.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.