ALMOST 50,000 educationally disadvantaged people in Limerick and nationwide will be supported in accessing community education after the announcement of over €5million by a Limerick minister.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan announced the fund at the Southill HUB, where he also launched the introduction of the new Community Education Framework.
The framework will outline principles in and an approach to making changes in how community education is provided in Ireland.
Announcing the €5m funding boost, of which €400,000 will be allocated to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board under the REACH Fund, Minister O’Donovan said the funding will help more people access community education.
“Community education includes both formal and informal learning, addressing learners’ personal development, building skills while offering educational options through simplified pathways, and further opportunities to progress to other areas of FET and beyond,” the Minister said.
The REACH Fund was “originally introduced in 2020 to support the most disadvantaged learners throughout the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, now provides important funds to assist ETBs and community education providers to increase their capacity and ensure that they can support the participation of disadvantaged learners within their communities,” the Minister explained.
LCETB CEO George O’Callahan said that “there is a huge vibrancy of community education provision in Limerick City and across the Limerick and Clare region”.
“Its delivery, in partnership with a network of community organisations, is making a real impact on the lives of those learners who participate, by responding to their needs.”
