Adult learners in Tipperary facing financial squeeze

Adult learners in Tipperary are being forced to choose between heating their homes or staying in education, new research shows.

A nationwide survey by AONTAS, the national adult learning organisation of Ireland, also 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.

While 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 allowances for adult learners.

• An increase in social welfare payments for adult learners.

• A commitment to provide more information for the public on adult education courses and supports available.

Details of the survey, which involved 1,030 adult learners, were published at the launch of AONTAS’ campaign.

“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.”

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.

“It's a lot easier to do well in education if you live in a stable household or area, and not in poverty. It’s easier to be able to study and do well in school or a course.

“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.”

With figures from funding agency SOLAS showing that one in three adult learners are unemployed, Ms Lawless said 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,” she continued.

“Education is a risk for many people. But it should improve people’s circumstances, not create greater financial instability.

“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.

“More financial supports will have wider benefits for Irish society, including increasing social equality and building stronger communities.”

Research carried out by independent economic research organisation Indecon found that adult education in Ireland costs students just over €10,000 per academic year, and this excludes “hidden” costs like rent, bills, travel, food, and learning supplies.