Cian O'Callaghan
Question:161. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will be a feeder school for a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34406/20]
View answerSchool Catchment Areas
Questions (161)
Written answers
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. For school planning purposes the school referred to by the Deputy was established to serve the Belmayne/Clongriffin area of the Donaghmede_Howth_D13 school planning area.
New schools established since 2011 to meet demographic demand (including Belmayne ETSS) are required, in the first instance, to prioritise pupil applications from within the designated school planning area(s) which the school was established to serve. This does not preclude schools from enrolling pupils from outside of the school planning area where they have sufficient places, rather it reflects the need to accommodate in the first instance the demographic for which the school was established.
Aside from the obligation outlined above, the question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the Board of Management on behalf of the school Patron and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters.
Schools Health and Safety
Questions (162)
Bríd Smith
Question:162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the introduction of a no blame occupational injury scheme has been considered for teachers and workers in the education sector; if not, her plans for the introduction of a scheme in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34421/20]
View answerWritten answers
The provision of an occupational injury scheme for teachers and other staff in the education sector is the subject of two separate claims, being brought to the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC) and the ETB Industrial Relations (ETB IR) Forum respectively. Discussions are taking place under the auspices of the TCC and the ETB IR forum, to which the Department, management representatives and unions are all party.
As the proceedings of the TCC and ETB IR Forum are confidential, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment while the claims remain under consideration.
School Transport
Questions (163)
Kieran O'Donnell
Question:163. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34444/20]
View answerWritten answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms from and are attending their nearest Post Primary School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation. The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Bus Eireann has confirmed, that the child to whom the Deputy refers, is eligible for School Transport. However, payment for School Transport for the 2020/2021 school year was received on 8th September 2020 and as such is a late payment and no ticket has issued for transport for the current school year.
Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2020/2021 school year. In addition, payments or submission of medical card details for Post-Primary seats completed or made after 4th August 2020 will be only considered when 50% capacity, required by Covid19 public health guidelines, is achieved on each route.
In the event of not securing a ticket where no capacity exists, or on cancellation, a full refund will be issued.
State Examinations
Questions (164)
Catherine Murphy
Question:164. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the procedure for students that are sitting the higher Irish language leaving certificate exam in November 2020, in the context of the way in which grades will be awarded (details supplied). [34479/20]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
DEIS Scheme
Questions (165)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:165. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if junior DEIS 1 schools will benefit from a reduction in the pupil teacher ratio announced in budget 2021; the position regarding the planned full year allocation of €5 million in 2022 and allocation of same; the position regarding additional resources and staffing and the allocation of same to all DEIS band one schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34491/20]
View answerWritten answers
Under Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools who are already allocated a preferential staffing schedule of 20:1 for schools catering for junior classes only and 24:1 for schools catering for senior classes only. Most DEIS Urban Band 1 schools operate vertical schools with a ratio of 22:1.
As an initial step in addressing this, I have focused on a reduction in the Senior DEIS Urban Band 1 primary schools and therefore there will be a one point reduction in their staffing schedule from 24:1 to 23:1.
The total budget allocation of additional funding of €2million in 2021, with a full year allocation of €5million in 2022 provides for further supports to be allocated as part of the DEIS programme to those schools catering for the highest concentrations of educational disadvantage. My Department continues to support those schools most in need and I intend to engage with the relevant stakeholders as to how best to achieve this.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (166)
Brendan Smith
Question:166. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that Covid-19 testing systems for primary and post-primary schools are adequate to ensure that no delays occur in providing such necessary services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34511/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/
It is important to note that the response to confirmed cases or outbreaks of COVID-19 in the community or in a school is the responsibility of, and will be led and managed by, Public Health HSE. All decisions as to appropriate actions following a confirmed case or outbreak will be made by their teams in the context of a full Public Health Risk Assessment procedure.
The Public Health response to schools in the coming term will be further enhanced by the HSE through the increased resourcing of School Teams in each HSE area.
These multi-disciplinary teams are being led by public health professionals and will be supplemented by inspectors assigned for this work to the HSE from my Department in addition to other staff reassigned from within the health services.
My Department Inspectors will bring their expertise and knowledge of the working of schools to support these teams to communicate with schools. Public Health team members will take calls and phone schools following identification of a positive Covid-19 case, and having been trained in Public Health protocols undertake the schools’ component of the initial risk assessment. They may inform schools of any further actions as required under the direction of Public Health. Assigned inspectors and other team members will also respond to queries from the HSElive Principals line and take schools’ queries that come directly to the Department of Public Health.
My Department has worked with the HSE Department of Public Health to also ensure that testing is prioritised for those close contacts within the school community of confirmed COVID-19 cases. My Department will continue to work closely with all of the education partners and the public health system so that schools can continue to be supported in this very challenging time.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (167)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:167. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34181/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is available to people who lost their employment on or after 13 March 2020 as a direct consequence of Covid-19.
Where a person was not eligible to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment they may apply for a jobseekers payment. The Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme provides a social insurance contribution-based support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. It is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people who have less than 260 paid. Where a person does not qualify for Jobseekers Benefit or has used up their entitlement to it they may apply for the means tested Jobseeker’s Allowance.
In the correspondence raised by the Deputy, the individuals were not in employment during 2020 and their entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit has exhausted. The individuals concerned are advised to make an application for Jobseekers Allowance. There are no plans to provide for an extension of the period for which Jobseekers Benefit is payable in these circumstances.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Personal Public Service Numbers
Questions (168)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:168. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of applications by persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34195/20]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that my Department has allocated Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) to the individuals referred to by the Deputy. Letters issued to the solicitor concerned on 2nd November 2020 with details of the PPSNs.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (169)
Robert Troy
Question:169. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot use their homemaker credits. [34253/20]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on 28 September 2020. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on 02 November 2020 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.
This decision was based on the medical conditions for the scheme and not related to homemaker credits.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (170)
Willie O'Dea
Question:170. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reckon Covid-19 payments to the self-employed as credits for social welfare purposes; if so, when this will happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34358/20]
View answerWritten answers
A self-employed contributor has nine months following the end of the contribution year, or from the day in the contribution year in which he or she ceases to be such a contributor, to remit and pay his or her social insurance liability for that contribution year. Where the social insurance liability is paid in full in respect to a contribution year, 52 contributions weeks at the self-employed rate will be regarded as having been paid for that contribution year.
I made provision in the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, with the consent of my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and having considered certain matters specified in the Act including the potential impact of Covid-19 on the entitlements of employed and self-employed contributors, to allow me to prescribe by regulation the number of self-employment contributions to be attributed to a self-employed contributor in respect of any contribution week commencing on or after 13 March 2020.
As social insurance contributions in respect of the 2020 contribution year are not due to be paid by self-employed contributors until September 2021, any regulation necessary in this regard will be considered closer to that time.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Personal Public Service Numbers
Questions (171)
Michael Collins
Question:171. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a delay in applications for PPSN cards (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34391/20]
View answerWritten answers
The individual referred to by the Deputy provided a UK address to my Department when he applied for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) earlier this year.
I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy in May and a letter with details of his PPSN issued on 28th May to that UK address.
A letter with details of his PPSN was reissued to him at his new Irish address on 28 October 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (172)
Willie O'Dea
Question:172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when pandemic unemployment payment arrears will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34410/20]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned is in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March to early November approximately 806,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment. Consequently, there are as of November 1st over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due.
During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. These applications were processed as quickly as possible, with almost 59,000 people paid in the first week of the scheme, 283,000 people paid in the following week, and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, the Department is currently developing an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).
Given the complexity attached to the project, it will take some time yet to complete the necessary development work to review all cases and to determine to what extent, if any, arrears are due to individuals. I can assure the Deputy that this is a priority for the Department and it is hoped to make payments before the end of the year .
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (173)
John McGuinness
Question:173. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a living alone allowance will be approved and backdated for a person (details supplied). [34424/20]
View answerWritten answers
An application for an increase for living alone was received from the person concerned on 26 August 2020. The increase was awarded with effect from 28 August 2020 and the person was notified of this decision.
The deciding officer has reviewed the decision and has backdated the award by six months to 28 February 2020. A revised decision letter has issued to the person concerned, notifying the new award date, and the due payment arrears will be issued shortly.
If the person is not satisfied with this decision, they may appeal it by writing to the Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, Dublin 2, stating clearly their grounds for appeal.
Further backdating of this pension increase, beyond the six months granted, may be considered only where the delay in making the claim was due to incorrect information provided to the person concerned by an officer of my Department, or due to the person being so incapacitated that they was unable to make a claim, or appoint a person to act on their behalf.
If the person concerned wishes to provide additional information in this regard, they should write to the Department of Social Protection, at College Road, Sligo.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Community Employment Schemes
Questions (174)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:174. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34477/20]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors who are employed by CE schemes.
CE sponsoring authorities are the legal employers of their CE supervisors, CE assistant supervisors and CE participants. There are no plans to change this status of CE supervisors. The Department’s role continues to be that of CE funder.
This issue was examined by a Community Sector High Level Forum, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A number of Departments, including my own Department, were represented on this group, as were the unions and Pobal.
As part of this process a detailed scoping exercise was carried out with input from the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) on the potential costs of providing Exchequer support for the establishment of such a pension scheme for employees across the Community and Voluntary sector in Ireland. This exercise estimated a potential cost to the State of between €188 million and €347 million per annum depending on the numbers involved. This excluded any provision for an immediate ex-gratia lump sum payment of pension as sought, which could entail a further Exchequer cost of up to €318 million.
In its findings, the High-level Group stated that while CE supervisors and assistant supervisors represented only a very small part of the wider community and voluntary sector, any explicit provision of State funding for such a scheme in respect of CE Supervisors could potentially give rise to claims for funding for employees of similar schemes in the broader sector. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform stated that it had to have regard to the full potential Exchequer exposure associated with setting such a precedent.
At this point, I wish to acknowledge the valuable service that CE supervisors provide in running CE schemes delivering local based community services while providing training and development opportunities to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market.
The current position is that officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are in ongoing communication on the matter.
The Deputy should note that funding of any potential pension provision for CE supervisors will ultimately be a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and will need to be considered in the wider economic and budgetary context in which any such scheme will need to operate.
Personal Public Service Numbers
Questions (175)
Johnny Mythen
Question:175. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the current waiting list of persons applying for PPS numbers; and if she will consider increasing the personnel involved in processing these applications. [34503/20]
View answerWritten answers
The SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity when they apply for a PPSN is a face-to-face process, carried out in PPSN Centres across the country.
At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, my Department temporarily postponed the SAFE registration process. This decision was taken to comply with HSE and WHO guidelines in respect of social distancing.
To help ensure that those who required a PPSN could get one, my Department introduced an email and postal service through which applications could be made.
My Department has received, and continues to receive, significant volumes of email and post in relation to PPSN applications from people living in and outside the State.
The Level 5 restrictions currently in place mean a full resumption of the PPSN allocation service in local offices is not possible at this time.
In the interim, additional resources are being assigned to deal with the applications on hands and I expect this will result in an improved service for PPSN applicants.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Refugee Resettlement Programme
Questions (176)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:176. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to resettle Syrian refugees currently located in Lebanon as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34206/20]
View answerWritten answers
In March this year, an Irish selection mission took place in Beirut, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The resettlement of refugees from Lebanon was interrupted earlier in the year by Covid-19 restrictions.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that plans are currently in train for the arrival later this month of 198 programme refugees interviewed and security cleared by Irish officials in March. A further 12 refugees from the March 2019 selection mission to Lebanon will arrive at the same time.
An additional 18 programme refugees in Jordan interviewed and security cleared in July 2019 will also be arriving in Ireland towards the end of November.
Appropriate quarantine arrangements in respect of the Covid-19 virus will be put in place for all arrivals.
Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Questions (177)
Thomas Pringle
Question:177. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the correspondence his Department has had with the Collaborative Forum on Mother and Baby Homes during 2020; the future plans for the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34375/20]
View answerWritten answers
I am conscious of the significant work undertaken by the Collaborative Forum to identify the priority concerns and needs of survivors and I commend the Forum for their efforts.
During 2020 my department has had a number of both email correspondence and phone calls with members of the Collaborative Forum on various issues. I have previously stated my commitment to establishing renewed engagement with survivors and their advocates,. As an important first step in meeting this commitment I have begun to engage personally with members of the Collaborative Forum and other stakeholders.
I am exploring the mechanisms to further the engagement and consultation with former residents, their families and advocates to ensure that they will be central to the formulation and delivery of a comprehensive State response to recent Report from the Commission of Investigation.
Equality Issues
Questions (178)
Thomas Pringle
Question:178. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on Ireland’s vote of the election of the committee overseeing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in December 2020; if the decision has been taken to ensure that Ireland’s votes will ensure that women, persons with diverse disability types and persons from low and middle-income countries are fairly represented [34381/20]
View answerWritten answers
Although my Department has no functional role in respect of Ireland's votes at the United Nations in the election of the Committee overseeing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I and my colleague the Minister of State for Disability of course take an interest in votes concerning the UNCRPD.
I understand that the Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Ireland’s vote will take particular account of the following criteria: the need to achieve an improved gender balance; equitable representation from the various geographic regions including low and middle income countries; and finally to ensuring that the Committee includes members who bring expert and preferably their own “living experience” across diverse areas of disability.
SOLAS Administration
Questions (179, 180)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:179. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the alternative delivery plans SOLAS has put in place to assist first-time applicants to safe pass, construction skills and quarrying skills certification courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34278/20]
View answerRuairí Ó Murchú
Question:180. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of first-time applicants waiting to undertake safe pass, construction skills certification scheme, quarrying skills certification scheme courses; the additional costs added to undertake these courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34279/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
Safe Pass courses are delivered by Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) and, as such, there is no central waiting list for first time applicants for Safe Pass training and assessment. The level of provision is responsive and demand-led. 3,131 persons have undertaken Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and Quarrying Skills Certification Scheme (QSCS) training and 34,034 Safe Pass cards have issued between the 11th June re-opening of the sector and 31st October 2020. 10,334 of these were new entrant Safe Pass cards. SOLAS has confirmed that there are no known delays for applicants on Safe Pass, CSCS or QSCS courses at the current time.
In respect of the price being charged for Safe Pass courses, course fees are determined by the ATOs who are independent commercial entities. The maximum number of participants that can attend a Safe Pass course was reduced from twenty to ten participants in line with SOLAS’ Standard Operational Pandemic Containment Guidelines to allow for the re-opening of the sector. There is also a €32 fee payable to SOLAS for the processing, manufacturing and distribution of Safe Pass cards which is unchanged and is generally included in the overall price for attending a course.
The continued delivery of certification schemes to support health and safety in the construction sector during the Covid-19 period is vital and SOLAS is actively examining alternative delivery methods for all applicants to identify a solution that is equitable with existing Safe Pass, CSCS and QSCS course delivery, in being accessible to all eligible workers, providing real time course participant supports and ensuring assessment integrity.
Further and Higher Education
Questions (181)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:181. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of applications submitted to date to higher education and further education and training institutions to undertake first aid responder training; the average waiting time to undertake this training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34280/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Higher Education sector does not provide short-term courses in first aid responder training.
There are a number of courses available within the Further Education and Training (FET) sector. Officials in my Department have contacted SOLAS , the Further Education and Training Authority, and they have confirmed that 1,835 learners started a first aid/first responder course delivered or funded by an Education and Training Board (ETB) throughout 2019. The information requested by the Deputy regarding the average waiting time to undertake training is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.
It should be noted that ETBs deliver a relatively small proportion of the overall volume of first aid training nationally.
Student Unions
Questions (182)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:182. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding engagement with student unions regarding refunds or potential tax rebates for private and or on-campus who have been unable to avail of student accommodation in the context of the pandemic; his position regarding providing tax credits for proven unnecessary college accommodation expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34492/20]
View answerWritten answers
I am conscious of the challenges faced by students in relation to student accommodation this year due to financial pressures and the blended learning format of the 2020/21 academic year. Throughout the last number of months my Department has been engaging with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. My Department, in consultation with these key stakeholders will continue to monitor the situation relating to student accommodation closely.
Refund or cancellation policies in student accommodation should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year. In the first instance students should engage with their accommodation provider to see if an arrangement can be reached in regard to a refund.
If this is not possible, under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 students have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
I have asked our higher education institutions, where they have accommodation, to try to show flexibility in terms of its use for the coming academic year, as well as flexibility with regard to cancellations and refunds. I would hope that that private providers will show the same flexibility, however it is not within my remit to issue instruction in relation to the private rental market.
I am very conscious of the impact of the pandemic has had on our students. To ensure the safety of our students and staff in further and higher education, the majority of college will be online for this semester and we will provide financial assistance through a once off €50 million fund. My officials and I are developing the process on how this once-off fund will operate for submission to Government prior to commencement. Further details will be available for student shortly.
Graduate Support Schemes
Questions (183)
Thomas Pringle
Question:183. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the graduate outcomes for young persons and students in County Donegal; his plans to enhance the opportunities for graduates in and from County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34379/20]
View answerWritten answers
The report of the Higher Education Authority’s Graduate Outcomes Survey: Class of 2018 provides the findings of the second iteration of a sector wide analysis of higher education graduate outcomes in Ireland. In a strengthening labour market, higher educational attainment levels have been linked with higher employment rates.
As outlined in the report, persons aged 25-64 with a third level qualification were more than twice as likely to be in employment (86%) when compared to those with no formal education/primary education (40%). Similarly, those with no formal or primary education were twice as likely to be unemployed (6%) when compared to those with a third-level qualification (3%).
The findings of this survey conducted with 2018 graduates nine months after graduating, show that for honours degree graduates from County Donegal,
- 77% were working or due to start a job (compared to 75% for all honours degree graduates )
- 15% were engaged in further study or training (compared to 19% for all honours degree graduates )
- 7% were unemployed and looking for work (compared to 4% for all honours degree graduates ) and;
- 1% were engaged in other activities (compared to 3% for all honours degree graduates )
The development and progression of technological universities (TUs), including a TU in the Connacht Ulster region, is an important part of the Government’s higher education policy as underscored in the Programme for Government 2020. In this context the Government’s objective for the establishment of a university serving the north-west is being advanced through the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA) TU development consortium composed of Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Galway Mayo IT and IT Sligo. CUA is working on plans to submit an application seeking an order for establishment as a technological university under the Technological Universities Act 2018. My Department understands that an application is to be submitted by CUA by the end of this year. The consortium has to date received €11.6 million to date, including €5.7 million under the new TU Transformation Fund allocations which I announced on 7 October, in Exchequer funding administered by the Higher Education Authority to assist in its TU development proposals.
Technological universities have a particular emphasis on regional development, research and technological skills. However, they are multi-faceted and deliver a range of disciplines and levels of qualifications including apprenticeship to meet regional and national skills needs. TUs also concentrate on teaching and learning excellence, lifelong learning and have a student centred focus at their heart. TUs aim to become catalysts for enterprise and regional development and to increase the profile of this form of Irish Higher Education Institute (HEI) nationally and internationally. The development of a TU serving the North West would be of major significance and impact to higher education and regional development in the region.
In 2020 as part of the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3 Innovation and Agility the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA) institutions of Galway Mayo IT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo were awarded €12.4m to progress a project entitled “Enabling Agile Responsiveness from Higher Education”. This project presents a vision for the future of higher education agility, development, delivery and assessment. It will provide highly flexible access to quality higher education through new technology enabled models.
The project consists of a set of inter-linked innovations underpinned by a series of demonstration sub-projects to:
1. build and prove lean systems necessary to respond rapidly and effectively to training and education needs of employers and individuals;
2. cost-effectively develop new flexible modes of Higher Education (HE) to engage younger and lifelong learners.
The outcomes of this project over the 5 year period seek to enhance the quality of and provide a closer link between enterprise in the regions and the higher education system.
In 2020 approximately 20 Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative courses were approved for Letterkenny IT. These courses are designed in collaboration with regional enterprise to provide opportunities in key skill need areas of the economy for those in employment and those seeking employment.
During the current Covid-19 crisis, the Regional Skills Fora Managers, including in the North West, have been working remotely acting as a first point of contact and co-ordination point for enterprise in relation to the Covid-19 supports available to businesses and employees. The Fora have also continued to meet and alert further and higher education providers to immediate enterprise requirements in their regions.
My Department will continue working with all stakeholders to address current skills needs and looking beyond the current world of work to prepare students to succeed in the existing and future labour market and avail of future job opportunities.
Student Support Schemes
Questions (184)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:184. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students that have received or been approved for financial support from the student support scheme for accommodation purposes can use this for expenses related to remote working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34415/20]
View answerWritten answers
The purpose of the student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.
The aim of the student maintenance grant scheme is to make a contribution towards the cost of going to college and to assist students with their living costs while in college. It is at the student’s discretion how the student grant is utilised.
As part of a package of COVID supports for the higher and further education sector approved by Government on 22 July 2020, my Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has allocated €15 million of capital funding for a once-off Covid-19 Grant to support disadvantaged students in accessing ICT devices. This grant is being made available to further and higher education institutions. The institutions are using the grant funding to purchase devices to support disadvantaged students who are encountering challenges in accessing devices for online and blended learning. The distribution of the devices will be via appropriate lending schemes, and the associated terms and conditions, will be a matter for each individual further or higher education provider.
Students should contact the access office of the institution they attend for further information.
Student Support Schemes
Questions (185)
Marian Harkin
Question:185. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the pandemic unemployment payment is not classed as a qualifying payment for SUSI grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34436/20]
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The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
The Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020 establishes the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment as a social insurance benefit scheme separate from other social protection statutory schemes including the Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Jobseeker Allowance and Jobseeker Benefit schemes.
For student grant purposes the Covid-19 payment has been treated as reckonable income for the SUSI means assessment process since it was introduced in March. This means that the Covid-19 payment is treated in a similar fashion to other Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection payments such as Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance, thus ensuring a consistency of approach and an equitable treatment of students and their families in the SUSI means assessment process.
For the 2020/21 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. However, if a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, they can apply to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision of the relevant Student Grant Scheme.
Under the change in circumstances provision, the income of all parties to the application can be assessed or reassessed on the current year (2020) and they may also be asked to provide evidence of the current year’s (2020) income. SUSI also requires confirmation that the change is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Following such a review, the applicant may fall within the thresholds to become eligible for grant assistance or be entitled to an increased rate of grant or the special rate of grant. The applicant can request a review by contacting the SUSI Support Desk at 0761 087 874 or emailing support@susi.ie.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.