AONTAS Welcomes Opportunity for Community Education Groups and Learners to Access Second Mitigating against Educational Disadvantage Fund

AONTAS advocated for this fund in 2020 and again in 2021, as evidenced by the CEN Census 2020 research, the COVID-19 Community Education Support fund for 2020/2021 and the Pre-Budget submission 2021. AONTAS CEO Niamh O’Reilly recently published an update and reflection of AONTAS’ advocacy for a fairer distribution of funding for community education during COVID-19. Please click here to read this reflection.

Below, we direct AONTAS members to helpful links and updates on how they may access the MAED Fund.

About the MAEDF

The Mitigating against Educational Disadvantage Fund is now open for applications. The fund was launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD and is administered by SOLAS. Funding applications should be submitted to your local Education and Training Board. Click here for information on how to contact your local ETB. The deadlines to submit MAEDF funding applications vary between Education and Training Boards. AONTAS has made a note of some deadlines below.*

Categories eligible for funding are:

• Digital Technologies
• Learner Assistance Fund
• Outreach, Engagement and Mentoring Fund
• COVID-19 Recovery Exceptional Circumstances Fund

AONTAS’ MAEDF Workshop Webinar

To view the recording from the webinar please click here.

*Education and Training Boards – Deadlines to apply to the MAEDF

Please refer back to this page for regular updates. AONTAS will add dates as they become available.

• Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board

Friday, 10th September 2021

http://cavanmonaghan.etb.ie/latest-news/e10-million-in-funding-has-been-made-available-nationally-for-2021-mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund/ 

• City of Dublin Education and Training Board 

5pm on Friday, 10th September 2021

http://cityofdublin.etb.ie/latest-news/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund-maedf-2021/ 

• Cork Education and Training Board

3pm on Friday, 17^th September 2021

https://www.corketb.ie/about-cork-etb/further-education-training-f-e-t/ 

• Donegal Education and Training Board

Thursday, 16^th September 2021

https://www.donegaletb.ie/2021/08/09/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund-2021/ 

• Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board

Close of business on Monday, 13^th September

https://www.ddletb.ie/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund-maedf-2021-call-for-applications/ 

• Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board

12.00 midday on Monday, 13^th September 2021

https://gretb.ie/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund-2021/ 

• Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board

Thursday, 16^th September 2021

http://kildarewicklow.etb.ie/latest-news/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund-2021-call-for-applications/ 

• Kilkenny & Carlow Education and Training Board 

4pm on Monday, 13^th September 2021

• Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board

Friday, 24^th September 2021

• Louth and Meath Education and Training Board

1pm on Tuesday, 7^th September 2021

https://www.lmetb.ie/maedf

• Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board

5pm on Friday, 10^th September 

• Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board

5pm on Friday, 17^th September 2021

https://msletb.ie/news/maedf/

• Tipperary Education and Training Board

Friday, 17^th September 2021 

• Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board

Friday, 17^th September 2021

http://waterfordwexford.etb.ie/latest-news/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-funding-maedf-process-has-been-announced/

To access frequently asked questions, helpful tips, and possible items for spending, please click here.

AONTAS members are reminded to contact AONTAS Head of Advocacy, Dearbháil Lawless at dlawless@aontas.com with any queries related to the MAEDF.