Adult learners in Longford facing financial squeeze

A nationwide survey by AONTAS, the national adult learning organisation of Ireland found that 41% of adult learners who seek financial help are unhappy with the information they received regarding availability of additional supports for childcare, transport, and meals.

In a sample size of 1,030 adult learners, almost one third of respondents said they need greater financial support to remain in education to improve their quality of life, build knowledge, and boost their career opportunities.

With meal allowances for some adult learners currently as little as 80 cent per day, AONTAS are calling for Budget 2025 to include a 50% increase in meal allowances as well as an increase in social welfare payments for adult learners.

“How is anyone supposed to feed themselves on 80 cent a day?” AONTAS CEO Dearbháil Lawless said at the launch of the organisation’s ‘Holding You Back’ campaign. “You can’t even buy a cup of tea for that.”

AONTAS have also asked for a commitment from the government to provide more information for the public on adult education courses and available supports.

Dublin Oldschool creator, the playwright and actor, Emmet Kirwan, is backing the campaign.

“There are a lot of barriers - whether that’s class and being from a working-class background, or racial barriers and being from a refugee background,” said the playwright and actor, whose hit show returns to Dublin for a 10th anniversary run this week.

“When people are living in precarious situations, whether that’s housing, medical, or financial difficulties, it’s very hard to do well.

“It’s not that easy if you're living in emergency accommodation, for example, to study if you’re sharing a room with your whole family.”

Figures from funding agency SOLAS show that one in three adult learners are unemployed.

Speaking on said figures, Ms Lawless stated that social welfare should be benchmarked so that people’s basic needs are met to allow them to “enter and succeed in education, find a career, and improve their self-confidence, standard of living and general happiness levels”.

“People can’t engage in education unless their basic needs are met, including accommodation, food, and health."

Ms Lawless also outlined that education is a risk for many people in terms of the financial uncertainty and instability it creates despite many engaging in education to improve their circumstances in the first place.

“Some apprentices are sleeping in their vans because they can’t find anywhere affordable to live due to the housing crisis. People with families are being forced to choose between paying energy bills or course fees. This means a lot of people end up leaving their course."

Research carried out by independent economic research organisation Indecon found that adult education in Ireland costs students just over €10,000 per academic year.

However, this excludes 'hidden' costs like rent, bills, travel, food, and learning supplies.