One year into the Programme for Government

Ireland’s success has always been powered by its people. In an ever‑changing world, ensuring that people have the skills for the future, that education remains accessible, that pathways and course places continue to expand, and that investment in research, discovery, science and innovation is sustained has never been more important. Over the past year, this work has been pursued with renewed urgency and ambition under Minister James Lawless, who is driving Ireland’s skills and knowledge economy forward with a clear focus on the future. 

One year into the Programme for Government, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has delivered substantial progress across research, further and higher education, skills and infrastructure. Key developments over the past year include lowering costs for students, increasing capacity in high‑demand courses, strengthening apprenticeship pathways, and securing record levels of investment in research and educational infrastructure to support learners and communities nationwide. 

Key Achievements include:

Making Education More Affordable

• A permanent reduction of €500 in the Student Contribution fee, the first permanent reduction since free fees were introduced in 1995
• Budget 2026 will expand SUSI eligibility and increase maintenance supports.

Expanding Places in High-Demand Courses

• Around 320 extra places added in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, physiotherapy, and veterinary medicine.
• 19 new tertiary degree programmes approved for 2025/26.

Investing in Infrastructure

• €4.55bn secured under the National Development Plan to strengthen research, innovation and education facilities nationwide.
• Following the President signing of the National Training Fund (Amendment) Act 2025 into law on 23rd December 2025, Minister Lawless signed the National Training Fund (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Commencement Order) 2026 on 13th January, making the Act effective from 19th January.  This amendment to the National Training Fund Act facilities the unlocking of the National Training Fund surplus package of €1.5 billion, comprising €885 million in current funding and €650 million is capital funding. It is a significant investment in the future of our workforce and our country by underpinning the development of human capital and the delivery of national economic, social and regional development objectives. 

Driving World-class Research

• Ireland joined CERN and signed the European Quantum Pact.
• €1bn milestone reached in Horizon Europe funding.
• €750m INSPIRE Research Infrastructure Programme launched.
• Last week, I announced a major expansion of Tyndall National Institute, with an investment of over €100 million, which will advance our ambition to lead globally in semiconductor research, innovation and advanced manufacturing.

Boosting Skills and apprenticeships

• Highest ever increase investment in core funding since the establishment of DFHERIS of €79m in Budget 2026 bringing the total core investment to over €410 million.
• Apprentice numbers up 5% to more than 31,000 across 78 programmes.
• Ireland’s first All-Island Apprenticeship launched jointly with Northern Ireland.

Delivering Student Accommodation and Campus Capacity

• €67m secured for new student accommodation at UCD.
• Six PPP buildings operational and five under construction, creating space for 8,500 additional students.

Improving Inclusion and access

• 193 students are enrolled on PATH 4 Phase 2 funded programmes for students with intellectual disabilities
• The Student Assistance Fund has increased to €19.3m for the 25/26 academic year
• Additional funding of €1m for student mental health and wellbeing in HEIs, bringing yearly funding to €6m
• Increased funding of €3m has been provided for the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) which provides support to 22,000 students with disabilities in further and higher education.

Supporting Balanced Regional Development 

• Targeted Enhancement Fund of (up to €65.8m over 3 years) for Technological Sector and Specialist Colleges.
• Professorship grades announced for Technological Universities, the first 50 roles for Ireland’s five TUs.

Progress on Course Places

• The number of tertiary programmes doubled from 19 in 2024 to 38 in 2025, with further expansion planned.
• New tertiary degree programmes were approved for the 2025/26 academic year in occupational therapy, nursing, social care, and the creative arts.
• New and expanded programmes in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine commenced in 2025, with further programmes coming on stream in 2026.
• Around 320 additional places were added in high-demand health courses.
• Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme delivery continues, with six buildings operational and five under construction, providing capacity for 8,500 additional student places.
• 193 students are enrolled in Path 4 programmes for learners with intellectual disabilities.

Research & Science

• Ireland joined CERN as an Associate Member State and signed the European Quantum Pact.
• Ireland reached a €1bn milestone in Horizon Europe funding.
• €750m INSPIRE Research Infrastructure Investment Programme was launched.
• On the 13th January, 2026, Government approved a major expansion of Tyndall National Institute, marking a decisive step in advancing Ireland’s ambition to lead globally in semiconductor research, innovation and advanced manufacturing. 
• The Tyndall expansion is also the first major project to be delivered under Minister Lawless’ landmark research infrastructure and talent investment programme, INSPIRE. 
• The expansion programme will double the physical size and footprint of TNI, with the decision paving the way for a joint funding mechanism between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and University College Cork allowing the project to progress under the relevant capital development governance structures within UCC.  
• €63.84m was allocated to accelerate research commercialisation, with €23.6m provided under Frontiers for the Future and €23m to support early-career researchers.
• €5m was secured for an AI Factory Antenna, with procurement for the next national high-performance computing infrastructure to commence shortly.

NDP

• €4.55bn was secured under the National Development Plan Review, including:
  1. €2.45bn for research and innovation, and
  2. €2.1bn for higher and further education infrastructure.

• Six buildings (Bundle 1) under the Higher Education Public Private Partnership (HE PPP) programme were completed and became operational by end Q2 2025, construction cost of c.€250 million ex VAT. The contracts for the five remaining projects, Bundle 2, were signed in June 2025 with construction commenced immediately, construction cost of c.€380 million ex VAT.  
• Progress continues under the FET College Major Capital Programme, with eight projects now at pre-tender stage and site acquisition advancing for remaining proposals.

Student Accommodation

• €67m has been secured to deliver 493 new student accommodation beds at University College Dublin.
• The Design Guide for State-Sponsored Student Accommodation was published in 2025, with a new Student Accommodation Strategy to be published shortly.
• The first completed project under the short-term activation plan was at Maynooth University, delivering 116 new on‑campus beds. These beds at Buckley House were officially opened on 8 September 2025, becoming the first operational accommodation delivered through the programme.
• The Student Accommodation Strategy 2025–2035, to be published in early 2026, will set out a clear national framework to deliver sustainable, affordable student housing over the next decade

Cost of Education

• The Budget also provided the largest-ever increase in the SUSI income threshold for the student contribution grant and increased the non-adjacent maintenance grant supports from September 2026 with a pro-rata maintenance grant increase in January 2026 for students this academic year. 
• Funding for the Student Assistance Fund increased to €19.3m for the 2025/26 academic year.
• Core funding for student mental health and wellbeing in the higher education sector will rise to €6m from 2026.
• The Fund for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education has increased to over €10.5m for 2026, the highest the fund has ever been. Minister Lawless also secured increased funding for the Fund for Students with Disabilities in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, increasing the allocation by €2 million. Included in this increase is funding to cover transport costs for students with intellectual disabilities on a range of FET courses.

National Training Fund

• Minister Lawless secured Government approval to bring the National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025 before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 7th October and the Bill successfully progressed through the Houses of the Oireachtas in November and December. The President signed the Bill into law on the 23rd December 2025. 
• This amendment will facilitate the unlocking of the National Training Fund (NTF) surplus package of €1.5 billion announced in Budget 2025. It is an investment in the future of our workforce and our country and underpins the development of human capital and the delivery of national economic, social and regional development objectives.
• The key objective of the amendment of the NTF Act is to ensure that the NTF surplus funding package of €1.5 billion can be allocated and spent as planned in line with the core objectives of the Act.
• Minister Lawless signed the National Training Fund (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Commencement Order) 2026 on 13th January and the Act took effect from 19th January.

TU Professorships

• On 16th December, Minister Lawless announced a landmark reform with the introduction of a full Professorship grade in Ireland’s Technological Universities for the first time.  
• This announcement followed Cabinet approval and with the confirmed support of the Minister for Public Expenditure. 
• This decision builds on the €65.8 million targeted enhancement fund announced earlier in December. The TEF will be the mechanism for delivering the first 50 professorial posts across the system.  
• This reform will give our Technological Universities and sector the academic leadership they need to thrive and compete internationally. 
• The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has worked closely with the TU sector since 2022 to progress this reform and officials will continue to engage with colleagues and consult with key stakeholders to ensure the successful introduction of this new grade. 

Apprenticeships

• Budget 2026 Budget delivered over €410 million investment in apprenticeships, more than double 2020 levels.
• Apprentice numbers increased by 5% from end 2024 to November 2025.
• €20.5m was announced to expand apprenticeships across higher education.

Budget 2026

• Budget 2026 provided permanent supports for students and families, including:
  1. Permanent reduction in student contribution fees.
  2. Expanded SUSI eligibility.
  3. Additional supports for students whose normal residence is more than 30km from their institution.
  4. Additional funding for student mental health and wellbeing and the Fund for Students with disabilities.