Ministers Lawless and Foley launch First-of-Its-Kind Education Partnership to Support Students with Care Experience

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, and the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley have launched a landmark initiative to support students with care experience in the education system.

A care-experienced student is someone who has lived in foster care, residential care or is in aftercare. Young people with care experience are among the most vulnerable young people in society and often transition to adulthood without the family support available to many of their peers.

Munster Technological University, University College Cork, Kerry ETB, Cork ETB, Tusla, and EPIC (Empowering People in Care) have now come together to help these students to navigate further and higher education systems.

The education partnership, which is the first of its kind in Ireland, will provide a coordinated ‘one stop shop’ information hub of pre-entry and post-entry supports for students with care experience. This includes career guidance and a named personal support advocate in each college.

Launching the Partnership at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality today, Minister Foley said:

“The children known to our care system are some of the most vulnerable young people in Ireland. This new education partnership represents a significant opportunity to improve the experiences and outcomes for our young people in care in further and higher education. I want to thank all the educational institutions, Tusla and EPIC for agreeing to align their services for the benefit of young people with care experience. This will deliver an improved service that recognises their strengths, listens to their voices, and supports them to reach their full potential.”

Minister Lawless also commented:

“Education has the power to transform a young person’s life, but only when the right supports are in place. This initiative strengthens the pathways into further and higher education by ensuring care‑experienced students can access clear information, personalised guidance, and coordinated assistance across institutions. By working in partnership with Tusla, ETBs, universities, and advocacy organisations, we are building a system that helps students not only enter education, but progress, succeed, and thrive throughout their learning journey.”

Speaking at the launch, care-experienced graduate of TU Dublin, Kai Brosnan, Kai Brosnan, said:

“As a former care-experienced student, I know first-hand the difference that timely, appropriate and well-coordinated support can make in one’s educational journey. Without the support I received, I wouldn’t have achieved all that I did in college, and even then, gaps remained.

That’s why initiatives like this matter. By strengthening and aligning the supports available, we can move beyond helping care experienced students simply navigate their studies and instead create conditions where they can truly thrive.”

Dr Patrick McGarty of the Care Aware Network added

“This novel initiative provides an integrated ‘one stop shop’ model which aims to ensure that students are supported and that they succeed at every stage in their education journey.”

The state currently provides care for around 5,000 children who cannot remain in the care of their parents. Almost 90 per cent of these children are in foster care, which provides a safe and stable environment and is the preferred option where possible.

Other types of care include children living with relatives (known as kinship care), care in residential facilities, care for separated children seeking asylum and special care for children who are very vulnerable with complex psychological and sociological profiles.

The education partnership is based on the needs and requirements identified from the lived experience of young people with care-experience. Munster Technological University, University College Cork, Kerry ETB, Cork ETB, Tusla, and EPIC have committed to a range of supports with the clear aim to reduce barriers, improve participation and enhance educational outcomes for care-experienced student.

This collaborative model represents a significant step towards a more joined-up and effective system, recognising education as a key protective factor and a vital pathway to improved life chances for young people with care experience.