€200,000 has been allocated for the Laois Offaly Education Training Board (LOETB).
The funding has been announced to support educationally disadvantaged learners in accessing and participating in community education.
The funding can be used to assist learners with transport or education costs, funding on access to technology and devices, and expanding community access to Wi‐Fi and broadband resources.
The funding is part of €5.3 million of funding nationally for Education Training Boards (ETBs).
Sean Fleming, Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs, has welcomed the news.
“This year is the European Year of Skills and it is vital everybody has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to realise their potential,” Minister Fleming said.
“This is a unique funding stream that provides much-needed funding at a local level to tackle the barriers facing the most disadvantaged learners in Ireland.
“It will provide the social supports needed to develop skills for the long-term unemployed, young people and women wishing to return to work.
“Last year, there was an increase in learners from these groups and it is clear that projects by the ETBs have contributed to this uptake, as part of this funding stream.
“Since early 2023, Education and Training Boards have been engaging with Community Education providers in each region on 2023 funding.
“Many providers have issued calls for proposals and these are now being reviewed,” the Minister concluded.
Funding allocations for these proposals will be agreed by the end of June.
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