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Community Grants

Kildare County Council Education Bursary Schemes

The Education Bursary Scheme for 2024 is now closed and will reopen in 2025.

For reference, see details of eligibility criteria and application requirements below. 

The full Education Bursary guidelines can be read here: Education Bursary Guidelines 2024.

The Bursaries available are as follows.

  • The William G Carroll Bursary for Community - This bursary is mainly for, but not exclusively for students undertaking courses in the area of Community Development.
  • The Kildare Education Bursary for people with disabilities- This bursary is for anyone living with a disability studying any third level course.
  • The Kildare County Council Memorial Bursary for DEIS school students- This bursary is for any third level student who previously attended a DEIS school.

Please see below qualification criteria and required documentation

  1. All applicants primary residence outside of the college year must be within County Kildare.
  2. First preference is given to students who will be undertaking a third level course on the island of Ireland.
  3. For the William G Carroll and Bursary for People with Disabilities PLC courses will only be considered if there is a budget remaining following the initial assessments. For the Bursary for DEIS School Students PLC courses will be considered at the initial assessment stage.
  4. Applicants will need to demonstrate significant barriers to attending third level education. For financial barriers we will require the following, proof of household income (Employment Detail Summary for parents and children where applicable), proof of social welfare allowances. Furthermore, we may require proof of rent/mortgage repayments if necessary, to verify any claims, however this will be asked for at a later date. For any barriers related to disability we will require proof of social welfare payments where applicable, a doctors/psychologists/specialists report to verify the claims that have been made.
  5. All applicants are required to provide one written academic reference, along with the contact details for a second referee (the second referee does not need to be academic). They will also need to submit any proof of status for SUSI grants, Higher Education Grants, Bank or Credit Union loans, or any other source of funding they have applied for, being in receipt of any of the previously mentioned funding sources will not disqualify or act as a barrier to apply for a bursary.
  6. Applicants will need to provide two written statements, the first statement will outline their chosen course, why they have decided to pursue this course, highlight their interest in this field of study and how this course will help them going forward. The second statement should outline the barriers they face, how it impedes them attending college or how it will make attendance more difficult.
  7. Applicants will need to provide a copy of their most recent exam results, while we understand the applications open before Leaving Certificate results are issued students may wish to start their applications before they’ve received their results, they will be able to attach their results at a later date.
  8. Applicants will need to include a copy of their bank or credit union statement, they may cover/blackout any financial information if they wish, however we will need to see the name, address, BIC, IBAN, Sort Code and Account Number. The statement must be in the name of the applicant and not a parent/guardian. We need this information so that should any applicant be successful we can pay the money directly into their account.
  9. Finally, any successful applicant will be required to submit proof of registration for the academic year with their third level institute in order to receive the payment.

Please note that there is no upper limit as to what can be awarded, however we do not ask applicants to include a requested amount. Furthermore, while we do our best to assist students, we have a small budget and as such students should not expect that a bursary will cover registration or accommodation fees for the year. Finally, due to the restricted budget we are not able to undertake an appeal process with this Bursary scheme and the decisions of the assessment panel are final.