Written Answers Nos. 293-307
293. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of vacancies in his Department for Brexit-related roles; the expected date for these roles to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38827/17]
View answerBrexit issues in my Department are the responsibility of the Department's Brexit/EU/North South Unit. There are currently no posts vacant in the Unit.
295. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the membership and role of all Brexit related stakeholder engagement groups working with his Department on Brexit issues; the number of times each stakeholder group has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38859/17]
View answerThe European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), for which my Department has responsibility, place a priority on stakeholder engagement through a variety of structures. A key feature of ESIF Programmes, including the cross-border PEACE and INTERREG programmes, is the Programme Monitoring Committees which are comprised not only of representatives of Government Departments and relevant public bodies, but also elected representatives and representatives of business, trade unions and civil society. A range of bodies also attend as observers. The Programme Monitoring Committees meet six monthly.
My Department is using these existing structures to engage with stakeholders in relation to the impact of Brexit on the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. The Programme Monitoring Committee for the INTERREG Programme met most recently on 6 September 2017, while the next meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee for the PEACE Programme is due to take place on 29 November 2017.
My Department also engages with stakeholders through other fora, including the All Island Civic Dialogue process and related groups.
296. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Brexit-related research currently being undertaken by his Department; the topics under consideration; the date this research commenced; the expected date for completion and publication in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38891/17]
View answerMy Department has responsibility for the EU-funded cross-border programmes, PEACE and INTERREG. The Department has been working with the Managing Authority for the two programmes - the Special EU Programmes Body, one of the North South bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement - on the implications of Brexit for the Programmes. Research undertaken or commissioned by the SEUPB and the issue of publication of such research is a matter for discussion with the Northern Ireland Department of Finance, which is the joint Sponsor Department for the SEUPB and the programmes, along with my Department. No decision on publication has been made yet.
297. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expenditure savings that are earmarked for his Department for 2018 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2018. [38907/17]
View answerThe Mid-Year Expenditure Report sets out the pre-Budget expenditure ceiling for my Ministerial Vote Group of €943 million for current expenditure and €176 million for capital expenditure. This represents the spending baseline for examination of my Department's budgetary priorities for 2018.
As outlined in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report, the increases planned in expenditure for the delivery of public services are set at sustainable levels in order to ensure that the resources allocated are affordable both now and in the future. Consequently, it is important that there is an ongoing focus on the totality of Departmental spending and not just the incremental increase each year.
This was the context for this year's Spending Review which will support the consideration of existing expenditure alongside budgetary proposals during the Budget Estimates process. Where any savings are identified during the Estimates process they can be used to meet any emerging expenditure pressures without impacting on the available fiscal space. Work is ongoing in this regard in the context of the preparation of the Estimates for 2018 which will be announced at Budget-time.
301. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties, particularly in rural areas, caused by the review of domestic travel and subsistence rates effective payable to members of education and training boards and statutory committees and that the new regime is creating difficulties in attracting suitable members from the community sector because they find themselves out of pocket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37257/17]
View answer302. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated annual savings from the review of domestic travel and subsistence rates payable to members of education and training boards and statutory committees introduced on 1 April 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37258/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.
Travel & Subsistence arrangements for ETB Board and Committee members have been aligned with public sector norms in accordance with revised Department of Public Expenditure and Reform arrangements. This was the main driver of the revisions in the ETB sector as distinct from a requirement to achieve further savings.
These revised T&S arrangements took effect from 1 April 2017. The revised arrangements were also put in place across the public sector, including in the local authority sector, to which the ETBs have been traditionally linked. The T&S arrangements are outlined in Department Circular 0039/2017.
The Deputy will appreciate that it is not desirable to deviate from public sector norms in relation to travel and subsistence arrangements. However, my Department has indicated that it will be happy to receive feedback in due course on any effects arising from the changes after they have had time to bed in.
As each ETB is responsible for the payment of Travel & Subsistence to its members, my Department is not in a position to give an estimation regarding annual savings, if any, arising from the review of domestic travel and subsistence rates. The Deputy might also wish to note that some of the revised rates are higher than those applying heretofore.
303. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the decision by University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology to withdraw staffing and funding from the Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster, IMERC, in Ringaskiddy, County Cork, (details supplied); and the future of the research facility, in view of this withdrawal. [38528/17]
View answer429. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the decision by University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology to withdraw staffing and funding from the Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster, IMERC, in Ringaskiddy, County Cork, (details supplied); and the future of the research facility, in view of this withdrawal. [38531/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 429 together.
I am aware of the decision by University College Cork (UCC) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) relating to the Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster (IMERC). However, neither my Department, nor the Higher Education Authority, were involved in the review or in the decisions by UCC and CIT.
IMERC was established in 2011 by UCC, CIT and the Irish Naval Service, to derive added value for Ireland and the Cork Harbour region in particular, from complementary strengths that each of the partners had developed. CIT had established the National Maritime College at Ringaskiddy; UCC had developed a broad suite of teaching and research programmes in Marine Energy and Biology; while the Naval Service, in collaboration with both academic institutions, had evolved a strategy to foster innovation in support of the economy.
IMERC was designed to facilitate collaboration among the partners to exploit opportunities for commercialisation of their outputs and services, to create jobs and to support marketing of the joint initiatives. Its incubation centre was established to accommodate start-up companies.
In March 2016 UCC and CIT commissioned an independent review of IMERC which reported in May 2016. Following the review, I understand that UCC and CIT subsequently decided to continue, but to segregate the different roles of IMERC:
- to refine and enhance the original Memorandum of Agreement to support collaboration in teaching and research, the fundamental missions of UCC and CIT, and;
to engage with the local authority, the body already charged with economic development in Cork Harbour, on the role in exploiting the inward investment activities with continuing support from UCC, CIT and INS;
The IMERC Start-Up Incubation Facility, the ‘Entrepreneurship’, is now being managed jointly by UCC and CIT through existing structures, and the UCC staff members involved in IMERC are working in UCC.
304. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the new system for English language schools which cater for students outside the European Union has been put in place; if not, when it is expected to be activated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36801/17]
View answerIn line with the Government decision of 19 May 2015 a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education have been implemented.
These reforms include the introduction of a restricted list of education programmes considered to justify the granting of permission to non-EEA students to live and work in Ireland (known as the Interim List of Eligible Programmes – the ILEP).
As part of this process all providers of English language training wishing to recruit non-EEA students are required to apply to the Department of Justice and Equality for inclusion on the ILEP. Further details are available at the following: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Interim%20List%20of%20Eligible%20Programmes%20-%20ILEP.
The ILEP process is an interim measure until the introduction of the International Education Mark (IEM) for the provision of education to international learners, which will provide a full quality framework in the future.
Legislative amendments are necessary to facilitate the introduction of the IEM. These amendments are contained in the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill. I published the General Scheme of this Bill on 15th May 2017, following approval by Government.
On 18th July 2017 the Joint Committee on Education and Skills determined that the Bill did not require pre-legislative scrutiny. The Bill has now been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for the appointment of a legislative drafter.
It is anticipated that the Bill will be enacted in 2018, and this will enable the introduction of the IEM.
305. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the disparity whereby funding for third level universities is at 60% and for institutes of technology is at 40%, in view of the fact that student figures are showing that 40% attend universities whereas 60% attend institutes of technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36795/17]
View answerThe Higher Education Authority (HEA) is responsible for gathering statistics on student numbers and according to the student numbers recorded by the HEA in respect of the 2016/17 academic year, there was 131,268 students attending universities and other colleges while 86,975 students attended Institutes of Technology (IoTs). This represents 60% for universities and colleges and 40% for IoTs. The numbers include undergraduate, postgraduate, full-time and part-time students.
In relation to the allocation of funding, the HEA has a Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which allocates core funding to all HEA funded institutions (universities/specialist colleges/institutes of technology). The RGAM takes account of undergraduate and postgraduate provision in each institution weighted by the type of course being provided. This approach takes account of the fact that it is more costly to deliver courses in certain disciplines. For example, a largely lecture-based arts or business programme would generally be weighted at 1, a programme which involves some practical or fieldwork would be weighted at 1.3 and lab-based provision is weighted at 1.7.
The HEA has recently undertaken a review of the RGAM which was led by an independent expert panel along with an Advisory Group that included representation from relevant stakeholders. The report, which is currently at final draft stage, will make recommendations on the most appropriate funding model for the future.
306. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the use of a courier service by the Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36808/17]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the statutory professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for the Teaching Council in which I have no role. In carrying out its functions, the Council is expected to adhere to public policy requirements on the efficient use of resources and in relation to procurement. The issue should be taken up directly with the Council.
307. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made on the transfer of lands from a primary school (details supplied) to a GAA club to facilitate club and pitch development. [36874/17]
View answerThe matter referred to by the Deputy which followed a request from the GAA club is being considered by my Department.
My Department has been in recent correspondence with South Dublin County Council and intends to meet with the school authorities shortly with a view to facilitating arrangements.
