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JP McManus 66.5 Million Investment in Third Level Education
JP McManus 66.5 Million Investment in Third Level Education; Pictured at the event in the Dunraven Arms were, Rachel Lavin, Kilrane Co. Wexford, 2010 Scholarship recipient, JP McManus, Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton T.D. and Dylan Carroll, Parteen Co. Clare, 2012 scholarship recipient. Picture: Alan Place.
JP McManus 66.5 Million Investment in Third Level Education
JP McManus today, Friday 5th May, announced a further €32 million investment in Third Level Education Scholarships for eligible students throughout Ireland, North and South. He was joined by the Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton T.D. and former All-Ireland Scholarship recipients to make the announcement in Adare, Co Limerick.
JP McManus originally contributed €32 million in 2008 to the All Ireland Scholarships. The additional investment announced today will extend the scheme for a further 10 years, benefiting in total over 2,400 students. Ultimately, he will have contributed €66.5 million to Third Level Education, the largest amount by an individual in the state; consisting of €64 million to the All Ireland Scholarships and €2.5 million to the CBS Sexton Street Scholarships.
2017 marks the tenth anniversary of the All Ireland Scholarships Programme, which was established in 2008 to provide 125 Third Level Education Scholarships annually throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. The initiative is the first of its kind and over the past ten years, 1,246 students will have benefitted since its inception. The All Ireland Scholarships are administered by the Department of Education & Skills and the Department for the Economy with support from the Department of Education in Northern Ireland.
The scholarships are set at €6,750 per annum in Ireland and stg£5,500 in Northern Ireland and will continue for the duration of the undergraduate programmes chosen by the scholarship winners. They are awarded to top performing Leaving Certificate students attending non-fee paying schools and who are exempted from paying the Leaving Cert Examination Fee and in NI who attend grant aided post-primary schools or Further Education Colleges and are in receipt of the Educational Maintenance Allowance.
In announcing the continuation of the Programme for a further ten years JP Mc Manus said: “Barriers to participation in higher education for students can be complex and varied. Such barriers rob high achieving Leaving Certificate students the opportunity to access third level education. I hope that the decision of my wife Noreen and our family to fund a further ten-year extension of the “All Ireland Scholarships” programme will help many students over the coming ten years to overcome those obstacles and build a better Ireland throughout the entire island.”
He added; “We greatly appreciate the support we receive from the Department of Education & Skills and Department of Education in Northern Ireland, both of which, invest considerable time and effort into administering these awards.”
Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton T.D. said; “Higher education is a central part of our plan as a Government to support a strong economy and deliver a fair society. Education has a unique capacity to break down the cycles of disadvantage. My goal is that every child will have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of their circumstances.
J.P. McManus has shown great commitment to providing educational opportunities to students who may not otherwise realise their full potential. The all-island scholarship scheme supports and complements the Government’s objective to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups going to the third level. My Department will invest €450million in 2017 to improve access at third level. The all-island scholarship scheme is an excellent example of how philanthropy and Government policy can be mutually supportive in breaking down the cycle of educational disadvantage.”
“I would like to thank JP and Noreen McManus for their commitment to the Scholarships. They have provided €66.5 million in funding, to ensure that such a large number of students benefit from this scheme each year.
“I would also like to thank the trustees for their work in overseeing the scheme and wish this year’s recipients every success for the future. I am sure that the success you have already achieved at second level will only be furthered at third level with the aid of these scholarships.”
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