College scholarship for former prisoners launched in Ireland

June 23, 2022

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A new university scholarship has been launched for former prisoners in Ireland.

The grant will help people with past criminal convictions avail of further education from four Irish colleges, including UCD, Maynooth, Dundalk Institute of Technology, and Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest Athlone Campus. The KickStart Scholarship has been funded by the Irish Probation Service and supported by the Irish Prison Service.

The programme aims to support those with criminal backgrounds who face financial challenges in accessing higher education. The application process for the scholarship is now open to new undergraduates who have either applied to begin Third Level education in September 2022 or are currently Third Level students in one of of the four colleges.

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Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee T.D said: “I am really pleased to be in a position to support this important new initiative which is about giving people a second chance and empowering those who want to change the course of their lives for the better.

“We know how powerful education can be in terms of unlocking potential, building confidence and breaking down barriers and this new initiative is about ensuring equality of opportunity for those who may have made mistakes in the past but want to build a better life.”

Director of Probation Services Mark Wilson said: “We are delighted to support this initiative in conjunction with Maynooth University and the wider MEND cluster. The Probation Service sees this scholarship as a fantastic opportunity to challenge stigmatisation and reduce barriers to higher education for people with convictions.”

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