West Limerick Resources - "Committed to the Community"

Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantaged

West Limerick Resources received a letter from The higher Education Authority on 12^th July 2010 stating that the National Access Office and POBAL were informed by the Department of Education and Skills of the withdrawal of the Millennium Partnership Fund. This was announced as part of Budget 2010.  Therefore West Limerick Resources will no longer be administrating this fund.

 

Through the Millennium Partnership Fund, West Limerick Resources provided financial support to a selected number of college students each year. This fund, which was announced by the Minister for Education & Science in September 2000, aimed to "support students from disadvantaged areas with regard to retention and participation in further and higher level education courses."

The fund provided small-scale grants for students who are in need of additional assistance in completing Third Level Education and was designed to help cover expenses such as fees, books, travel, rent for students living away from home, or other necessary resources. 

Financial support however was just one element of the Millennium Partnership Fund.  West Limerick Resources also offered free advice to students on various aspects college life. Over the last two years we utilised a portion of our Millennium funding to provide support and guidance for students through the services of a qualified guidance counsellor who was available the students throughout their academic year.

With a limited pool of money in the fund, a fair assessment procedure is very important in deciding on grant allocations.  Priority is given to students in their first or second year that may be managing money and living away from home for the first time.  In order to be eligible for the fund students must:

• Be resident or have their family home located in the geographical area covered by West Limerick Resources
• Be an EU citizen, have official refugee status or have been granted humanitarian aid to remain in the state
• Be registered on a recognised further/third level course for the academic year 2009/2010
• Be in receipt of a local authority, County Council or VEC maintenance grant (Students not in receipt of this grant may be eligible in exceptional circumstances)
• Provide receipts for funding and official documentation to back-up their application.

The Millennium Partnership Fund 2009-2010 is funded by the Irish Government and part financed by the European Union under the National Development Plan 2007-2013.

Closing Date for 2009/2010 Academic Year is: 16th October 2009 (NOW CLOSED)

Late Applications will not be accepted