-
· €150 permanent cut to the student contribution fee.
-
€34 million package of enhanced student supports, including enhanced student contribution grant supports for households with two or more dependent students attending tertiary education simultaneously.
-
Expanded eligibility for SUSI - households earning up to €150,000 can benefit.
-
4.5% increase in all SUSI maintenance grants from January 2027 on a pro-rata basis, helping 54,000 students to benefit.
-
Increased SUSI special rate threshold in line with social welfare increases, ensuring students from low-income households continue to receive the highest level of support available.
-
Record €446 million investment in apprenticeships to expand capacity and strengthen the apprenticeship system.
-
€50 million investment in AI skills and workforce adaptation.
-
Over €30 million for healthcare education expansion to increase capacity in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine and health and social care professions, as well as disability-related disciplines.
-
Funding for 228 additional nursing and midwifery places annually helping expand domestic training capacity and meet growing workforce needs across the health service.
-
Funding over the next three years to support programmes that assist disabled learners in moving successfully from education into the workforce.
-
€925 Million Capital Investment Programme, including €405 Million for Education Infrastructure supporting the continued development of major projects across the tertiary sector.
-
Funding will also support Public Private Partnership commitments associated with the delivery of eleven higher education facilities across the technological university sector, covering approximately 70,000 square metres of new educational space, as well as the development of new and expanded facilities in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and veterinary education.
-
€2 million for a new Literacy in the Workplace initiative, providing flexible and accessible training to help workers strengthen literacy, numeracy, and digital skills so they can adapt to changing workplace demands, progress in their careers and participate in lifelong learning.
