Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
309. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will modify the formal education and training support payment for survivors of institutional abuse such that unaffordable up-front payments are no longer required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53112/26]
View answerEducation support payments are available for eligible survivors in accordance with a scheme established under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025. As is required by the Act, this scheme is being implemented in accordance with criteria which were published in March of this year.
Two types of support payment are available under the scheme – a standard “informal” payment of €600 to support applicants’ self-development and wellbeing and a separate “formal” payment ranging from €500 to €2,000 for those applicants who wish to pursue more formal education and training leading to a recognised award.
With regard to the €600 payment, applicants are free to use this as they wish to further their own self-development and wellbeing and are not required to specify how they intend to use this payment.
To avail of a formal education support payment, applicants are required to provide information on the course concerned, including the course provider, the relevant award and whether the course is full-time or part-time. This information is required to determine whether the course falls within the terms of the scheme and the payment which would apply.
It should be noted that the applicable support payment is not related to the cost of the course concerned. It depends only on the level of the award to which the course leads and whether the course is full-time or part-time. Once received, applicants can then utilise the support payment as they see fit to support their learning.
Before a payment can be made, and in addition to the information set out above, applicants must also provide confirmation that they have registered for the course and that the applicable fee, if any, has been paid. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible to provide significant funding to applicants before they have enrolled on the course.
However, once approved, my Department can issue those payments very quickly, with payments typically issuing within one week of approval. I would also note that my Department is implementing the scheme as flexibly as possible. In that regard, where an applicant has paid an appropriate deposit, or is paying a course fee over a period of time, this is regarded as sufficient confirmation.
