Student Accommodation Assistance for Traveller, Roma & Care Experienced Students – Athlone

About the Fund

For the 2024/2025 academic year, funding is being provided by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through the Dormant Account Funds to assist students who are Traveller, Roma or Care Experienced with the cost of accommodation, when living independently while attending third level education.

To be considered for student accommodation assistance, applicants must be members of one or more of the following groups:

Traveller Community.
Roma Community.
Have experience of the care system between the ages of 16 and 18 and are in not receipt of an aftercare allowance. Students with care experience will also need to get this form signed by a local TUSLA drop-in centre (see FAQ for more information). The form requires manager approval so please request the document early to ensure you will have your documentation on time.

Eligible students must be registered on full-time or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (National Framework of Qualifications level 6-10). Please note International Students/non EU fee paying students are not eligible to apply for this fund.

Student Accommodation Assistance

For the 2024/2025 academic year, the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) will include an additional and specific ringfenced allocation of €600,000 which will be utilised to assist students from Traveller and Roma backgrounds and those with experience of the care system with the cost of accommodation, when living independently while attending third level education. The aim is to alleviate the cost of accommodation as a barrier to accessing and progressing through higher education.

This is a pilot scheme for the 2024/2025 academic year. Funding for subsequent years will be subject to the annual budgetary negotiations and approvals.

Below are some key questions but to access the full list of frequently asked questions please go to the main page (FAQs) . You need to read these before you make an application and before you submit documentation.

Frequently asked Questions

Who can apply for Student Accommodation Assistance?

To be eligible for the Student Accommodation Assistance students must be a member of one or more of the following groups:

Traveller Community
Roma Community
Have experience of the care system between the ages of 16-18 and are not eligible for an aftercare allowance.

In addition, students must also meet the eligibility criteria outlined in section 2.1 of the SAF Guidelines.

Students must be living independently for the purpose of attending third level education; this includes students renting away from home during the academic year and also those students with leases covering 12 months and beyond.
Students must not be in receipt of another accommodation support e.g., HAP.
Students can reside in on or off-campus student specific accommodation, private rental accommodation, house shares or ‘digs’ accommodation.

Both full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students who meet the above specified criteria are eligible for the student accommodation assistance. Mature and repeat students are also eligible.

Students will not be required to prove that they are socio-economically disadvantaged to be eligible for the student accommodation assistance. The purpose of this assistance is to address one of the wider challenges of accessing third level education for minority group students as set out in the NAP.

How do I apply for Student Accommodation Assistance?

Applications are made via this link

Please email access.midlands@tus.ie if you have any queries on this fund for the application process.

Does it matter what course I am on?

Eligible students must be registered on full-time or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (National Framework of Qualifications level 6-10) in Irish
universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges as outlined above.

What type of accommodation is the funding available for?

This funding is available for all types of accommodation, including but not limited to:
• HEI owned purpose-built student accommodation.
• Privately-owned purpose-built student accommodation.
• Private rented accommodation.
• Shared accommodation (privately rented).
• Digs accommodation.

What accommodation is excluded?
• Renting from family, including extended family.
• Renting from foster parents/former foster parents.

What do I need to provide?

Your lease agreement should be provided, which must include your rental fees per month.

For those who do not have a lease agreement, proof of rent payments should be provided for example by producing a bank statement showing these payments or producing a receipt of rent payment.

I have care-experience, how do I show I meet the eligibility criteria?

Your college can provide you with a form that you can bring to your local aftercare drop-in service clinic or to your local social worker to complete. This form can also be downloaded here.

Is the application process confidential?

The Student Accommodation Assistance is administered on a strictly confidential basis by your college.

Any information you provide as part of your application is protected under the data protection regulations of your college.

Am I guaranteed the Student Accommodation Assistance if I meet the eligibility criteria?

No, funding will depend on levels of demand. It is important to understand that it is your responsibility to pay any rental commitments in line with your lease agreement.

When will I hear if I have been successful?

All applications will be processed by the Access office, you will be notified in December if you have been unsuccessful/successful in your application.

You will be emailed to your student email account. If your application has been approved this email will state, the amount of your payment and the date that payment will be made.

If my application is successful, how much assistance will I get?

Support up to a maximum of €6,000 per student for the 2024/2025 academic year. Amounts will vary depending on the cost of the student’s accommodation.

For example,
• If a student is paying €4,000 in rental fees, they are entitled to no more than €4,000 in assistance.
• If a student is paying more than €6,000 in rental fees, they are entitled to no more than €6,000 in assistance.

If I am successful, how will the Student Accommodation Assistance be paid?

The funding will be paid into your bank account in two separate instalments. One payment will be made before the end of 2024 and the second will be paid in your
second semester in 2025.

Before payments are made, administrators will ensure that the student is attending their course on a regular basis. It is important to understand that it is your responsibility to pay any rental commitments in line with your lease agreement. The Student Accommodation Assistance will not be paid in advance.

When is the Student Accommodation application closing date?

The fund closes for applications on Friday 18th October 2024 at 5 pm.

Check with the access office or student support office in your college. It is important to apply as soon as you can.

Will I get the Student Accommodation Assistance for every year I am in college?

No, this is not guaranteed. This funding has only been agreed for the 2024/2025 academic year.