Financial Support

These programmes allow students to avail of full-time training courses. Those in receipt of a social welfare payment can continue to receive payments while on their course. In some instances, students may also be entitled to travel and meal allowances (some conditions may apply).

*There are a small number of specialised courses that may have associated costs.

While attending Phase 2, apprentices receive a training allowance and may be entitled to either an accommodation or travel allowance. Information on off-the-job training payments and allowances for craft apprentices is available on the national Generation Apprenticeship website: www.apprenticeship.ie

PLC courses are subject to a registration fee of €100.00.  The registration fee will cover the cost of books, exams and photocopying.

The following categories of participants are exempt from paying the €50 QQI exam fee:

• Full medical card holders in their own right and their dependent children

• Those who are eligible under the student grant scheme

• Those in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)

BTEI offers part-time courses to people aged 18 years and over with no formal second-level education.  

The courses are free to participants (or their dependents) who:

• have less than an upper-second-level education;

• are in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment or means-tested social welfare payment;

• are getting a Working Family Payment;

• have a medical card; or

• are in the workforce with low skill levels and need to upgrade their skills to advance their career.

In some cases, fees may still apply. For more information, contact Donegal ETB on (074) 9164199.

If you are unemployed, parenting alone or have a disability and are receiving certain payments from the Department of Social Protection, you may be able to take part in a second or third-level course and receive a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).  For more information, contact your local welfare office or visit www.welfare.ie

The Youthreach programme is free to early school leavers or those aged between 16 and 20 years old.  A training allowance will be paid to students: €45.00 per week for those aged 16 to 17 and €208 (with some exceptions) per week for those aged 18 and over.  Travel and meal allowances are also available. You can also work part-time while on Youthreach without it affecting your training allowance.

Students in receipt of a Department of Social Protection payment may be entitled to a fee waiver depending on the type of payment they are receiving.  Those in work may also be entitled to a fee waiver/reduction under Skills to Advance. Part-time evening classes may have some associated costs for those who are in employment.  For more information, contact Training Services on (074) 9120500.

SUSI is Ireland’s national awarding authority for higher and further education grants.  The total amount of grant that a student is entitled to will depend on a student’s reckonable income.  You can use the Eligibility Reckoner on the SUSI website to find out if you meet the criteria to receive a grant.

Eligibility normally depends on the following:

• You must be an Irish, EU/EEA or Swiss National, or have specific leave to remain in the State and you must be ordinarily resident in Ireland, EU/EEA or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years.

• You must be progressing in your education (increasing your level of education on the NFQ) and you must be attending an approved course in an approved institution.

• In some cases, you may be eligible for funding as a second-chance student where you have previously attended (but not completed) a course and have had a 5-year break in studies since leaving a course.

Student Finance is a Government website which provides a user-friendly source of information on financial support for further and higher education.  

For more information visit www.studentfinance.ie

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help with your childcare costs. You can apply online for the subsidy here using your MyGovID.

To determine the subsidy you may be eligible for, input your details into the Childcare Subsidy Calculator on the NCS website.

The subsidy will be paid directly to your childcare provider. Your provider will then subtract your subsidy from your childcare bill.

The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) is one of the main funding sources for students with disabilities. The fund ensures eligible students have the necessary help and equipment so that they can participate on an equal basis with other students. You may be entitled to support under the FSD even if you did not access college through the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE scheme).

Funding is allocated to Donegal ETB to support a student’s needs as decided by a needs assessment. Donegal ETB is responsible for managing the funding and has full discretion on how the FSD is allocated. You must register your disability with Donegal ETB. You will need to show medical verification of your disability (for example, a consultant’s report). We will then carry out a needs assessment to identify the appropriate supports required. You cannot apply directly to the FSD; applications are made on your behalf by Donegal ETB.

For more information, contact Donegal ETB at (074) 9120500.