Funding totalling €4.34 million has been allocated to NUI Galway and GMIT over the last week. The funding, as confirmed by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, comprises three categories to support students and staff at our local higher education institutions.

NUIG and GMIT have been allocated €1,757,000 and €1,067,000 respectively for capital works and equipment. This funding will help both institutions obtain equipment for areas including ICT, health and safety and energy-related upgrades.

For the first time funding has been provided to universities, as well as institutes of technology, under this scheme for capital works and equipment.

Online and blended learning has been expanded by many higher and further education institutions, including NUIG and GMIT, due to the challenges of Covid-19. To assist students with online learning, funding of €682,999 and €357,694 respectively has been allocated to NUIG and GMIT for the purchase of laptops and related IT equipment to ensure all students can access online lectures and other related aspects of their course.

In addition, a further €313,000 and €164,000 has been allocated for student support services at NUIG and GMIT. This funding will be used to recruit additional counsellors and psychologists and boost services to support students’ well-being and mental health. This investment is particularly important given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.