Written Answers Nos. 557-581
557. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices working across the public sector; the percentage this has on the total number of registered apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8026/21]
View answer558. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices that have been employed across the public sector for each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8033/21]
View answer572. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and percentage of craft apprentices who have been temporarily laid-off at some stage throughout the pandemic; the current figures for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8403/21]
View answer573. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and percentage of craft apprentices have had their off-the-job training postponed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8406/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 557, 558, 572 and 573 together.
There were over 6,000 employers with 19,630 registered apprentices at the end of 2020, of these 313 (1.6%) were registered with 35 public sector employers. These apprentices were registered across 24 different apprenticeship programmes in areas as diverse as cybersecurity, accounting technician, recruitment, heavy vehicle mechanics and stonecutting and stonemasonry. This number grew to 769 apprentices i.e. almost 4% of the apprentice population when commercial semi-state organisations are included.
A breakdown of the number of apprentices that have been employed across the public sector for each year since 2011 is attached. The Government has committed to increasing the number of apprentices employed in the public sector and this will be addressed in the forthcoming Action Plan on Apprenticeship.
The information sought in relation to those apprentices who have been temporarily laid off throughout the pandemic is not collected in the format requested by the Deputy. However, there are currently 49 apprentices recorded as being redundant due to COVID-19 with another 111 recorded as being on temporary lay-off. It is important to note that not all employers inform SOLAS when they temporarily lay-off an apprentice.
As of February 2021 there are 6,928 apprentices from 5 craft programmes on waiting lists for off-the-job training. Over 1,800 of these have been waiting for more than one year. SOLAS and the HEA are working with the education and training providers to identify a route to a phased return to onsite activity in order to allow for some craft apprentices, including those who were close to assessment, to be prioritised for return to onsite activity and completion of practical course elements. This work will also include medium term solutions to addressing the existing backlogs for off-the-job training.
The Government has committed to the delivery of a new Action Plan for Apprenticeship within the coming weeks. The Action Plan will set out measures to widen employer engagement with apprenticeship in both the public and private sectors with the target of reaching 10,000 new apprentice registrations per annum by 2025.
559. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is an opportunity for Safepass courses to be run online during level 5 restrictions. [8072/21]
View answerUnder the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, craft and general construction workers, persons undertaking on-site security work and persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the Minister are required to hold a safety awareness registration card (Safe Pass card). In March 2020 the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation amended these regulations to extend the expiry dates of valid Safe Pass cards due to expire after the 1st March 2020 for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency period.
Provision of Safe Pass courses had been suspended for the second time in two years with the shutdown of the construction sector in January. Given the continuation of essential construction activity, SOLAS who administer the Safe Pass Programme have been advised that limited resumption of Safe Pass training may take place to meet the needs of new workers accessing critical projects. Training activity should be in accordance with the COVID safety arrangements developed by SOLAS and limited to the level absolutely necessary and time-critical. In addition the following requirements are to be met by SOLAS:-
1. ensure training is limited to workers engaged in essential construction work,
2. ensure training is limited to those not currently holding valid cards, and
3. approve the running of Safe Pass courses on a case by case basis based on 1 and 2 – training providers must inform SOLAS in advance of their plans to run a course and demonstrate the immediate requirement for the training.
SOLAS is continuing to work on the development of an alternative delivery model which 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.
560. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if international travel for foreign third level students is deemed essential travel. [8205/21]
View answerMy Department has informed the higher education sector that, at present, international travel for education purposes should only be facilitated for those international students for whom on-campus academic attendance is essential during semester 2, for example for necessary practical and clinical activities.
The higher education sector follows a protocol which was put in place prior to the commencement of the 2020/2021 academic year, outlining the procedures to be followed to facilitate the safe arrival and return of international students to higher education programmes. The over-riding goal of this protocol document is to support the protection of public health, including that of all students, staff and the wider community. In signing up to this protocol, higher education institutions committed to having the necessary arrangements in place to provide assurance to Government that the arrival of all international students into the country would be managed safely. Each HEI provides assurance that all of these measures have been carried out, by sending in a weekly compliance report to my Department. Under the protocol, incoming international students must comply with all current public health requirements put in place by the Irish authorities in respect of international travel.
561. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of international students arriving for study that have entered Ireland in each week since the beginning of the year in tabular form. [8206/21]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is being collated and this will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
562. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if courses of a facility (details supplied) will be included on the list of approved courses for tax relief on tuition fees; and the criteria for private colleges to be included on the approved list. [8220/21]
View answerThe Institution in question has not sought the inclusion of its programmes on the list of approved courses for tax relief on tuition fees at this time.
Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 set out the conditions for tax relief on tuition fees for higher education. For the purposes of inclusion on the list of approved courses as published by the Revenue Commissioners, an Institution must satisfy the definition of an 'approved college' and provide a programme which meets the definition of an 'approved course' as set out under the Act of 1997.
563. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with third level institutions to ensure that they are providing sufficient mental health supports to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8251/21]
View answer564. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has taken steps to ensure that all third level students have access to mental health supports in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8255/21]
View answer565. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether mental health facilities in third level education are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 563 to 565, inclusive, together.
The support and wellbeing of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it.
In 2020, I secured a comprehensive package of financial support in the amount of €168m for the Higher Education and Further Education and Training sector to mitigate against the direct financial impact of COVID-19 on our Universities, institutions, colleges and students in 2020. This package includes additional funding of €3m to underpin wellbeing and mental health and student services in our higher education institutions (HEIs), and is in addition to the €2m that was allocated in Budget 2020. This funding is enabling institutions to enhance their student facing services, such as by employing additional student Counsellors and Assistant Psychologists.
The HEA wrote to all HEIs in 2020 setting each institutions funding allocation towards student support and mental health and wellbeing and the conditions attaching to the funding, including a request that the HEIs distribute it in support of specific student facing areas such as the recruitment of additional Student Counsellors, and implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework, which I launched last year.
This Framework is Ireland’s first ever national approach to address student mental health and suicide prevention. The Framework delivers on a commitment to develop national guidelines for the higher education institutions (HEIs) in relation to suicide risk and critical incident response, thereby helping to address any gaps which might exist in the prevention of suicide in higher education. The Framework additionally recognises the many challenges students face, and sets out ways in which institutions can support and respond through working proactively to maximise mental health and wellbeing.
The Framework provides very clear guidance to higher education institutions regarding implementation of good practices in responding to student mental health difficulties. The HEA has partnered with the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention and Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland (PCHEI) in providing training in a specialist suicide assessment and management approach. Over 300 psychologists and counsellors across 26 higher education institutions are currently undertaking Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality training, a first in world at this scale across a sector. The CAMS approach is supported by over 70 studies and given the origins of its development was a university mental health setting, it fits well in a higher education context. This is further support for student counselling services to meet the complex and challenging needs that present on campuses at an increasing rate in the past number of years. This also addresses Goal 5 in the Department of Health’s Connecting for Life – Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020: "To ensure safe and high-quality services for people vulnerable to suicide." Together with the crisis text line 50808 that I launched in October 2020, I'm confident that capacity to respond to students experiencing high distress and mental health difficulties has been significantly improved over the past 6 months.
Funding has also helped develop the student counselling services across the Higher Education sector in many ways besides student counsellor resourcing. For example, some institutions have developed new roles of Assistant Psychologist, Student Support Officer and Mental Health Advisors for student mental health supports. Heads of Services have been appointed or further resourced.
I'm very encouraged that the Framework and the additional funding has had immediate impact. The increased capacity has created a lot of activity in outreach to students: online support groups (anxiety support, mood management) ; open, drop in groups to support connection/reduce isolation and loneliness; groups specifically targeting international students, 1st year students and postgraduates. The additional funding has also supported a very significant increase in workshops being offered such as on resilience; managing fear/anxiety/uncertainty; grief and loss during the pandemic; motivation/staying engaged with college.
568. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has instructed higher education institutes not to encourage international student to travel into the State for the second semester of the 2020-2021 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8305/21]
View answerMy Department has informed the higher education sector that, at present, international travel for education purposes should only be facilitated for those international students for whom on-campus academic attendance is essential during semester 2, for example in respect of necessary practical and clinical activities.
The higher education sector follows a protocol which was put in place prior to the commencement of the 2020/2021 academic year, outlining the procedures to be followed to facilitate the safe arrival and return of international students to higher education programmes. The over-riding goal of this protocol document is to support the protection of public health, including that of all students, staff and the wider community. In signing up to this protocol, higher education institutions committed to having the necessary arrangements in place to provide assurance to Government that the arrival of all international students into the country would be managed safely. Each HEI provides assurance that all of these measures have been carried out, by sending in a weekly compliance report to my Department. Under the protocol, incoming international students must comply with all current public health requirements put in place by the Irish authorities in respect of international travel.
569. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the short length of time for the public consultation on the Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 for his Department given both the time of year and Covid-19 context; if he will consider extending the consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8365/21]
View answer570. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of submissions made to the public consultation on the Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8366/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 570 together.
A consultation process on the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science's Statement of Strategy was launched on 2 December and it closed on 18 December 2020. Over 130 responses were received to the consultation, from a wide variety of respondents.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed on 2 August 2020. Transfers of functions into the Department came into force on 21 October 2020 (Further and Higher Education, Research and Science from the then Department of Education and Science) and on 1 January 2021 (Research Policy and Programmes from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment). The Public Service Management Act 1997 notes that a Statement of Strategy should be sent to the Minister within 6 months of appointment.
Given events with the formation of a new Department and the recent formal transfer of functions, the timelines for the consultation process and the development process of the Statement of Strategy were relatively short. However, the number of responses received indicated a large engagement from interested organisations and individuals. It is anticipated that the Statement of Strategy will be published in the coming weeks.
571. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to direct SUSI to change its guidelines regarding course progression (details supplied). [8374/21]
View answerUnder the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. A grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. However, once an equivalent period of study has been completed on the new course, the student may be eligible for student grant assistance for the remainder of the course.
However, under Article 15(8) of the Student Grant Scheme 2020, the awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) has discretion to award a grant for a repeat period of study in exceptional circumstances which impacted on a student completing a particular period of study or undertaking exams in lien with guidelines drawn up by the Minister. SUSI treats each application for repeat funding on a case-by-case basis, and it is it is a matter for the individual student to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the awarding authority that there were exceptional circumstances.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, the Deputy will be aware of the €168m funding package of for the return to education. This package includes a €10m access support package for higher education students. I have approved the allocation of €8.1m of this funding to top up the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
574. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he will take with regard to one-year masters courses that have practical laboratory work at their core that have not held in-person classes; if these classes will be facilitated outside the formal academic year when it is safe to do so; and if the inability to complete essential aspects of these courses will be acknowledged. [8412/21]
View answerI appreciate that this is a time of considerable stress and concern for third level students and the challenging and stressful circumstances that students are facing are being taken into account by Higher Education institutions as they adapt and respond to the changing situation. This includes the consideration of issues around on-site access for practical work for students. The national co-ordination group for further and higher education is also meeting on a regular basis, and is closely monitoring the impact that Covid-19 is having on third level institutions and their students.
From the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), and including the representative bodies of education providers and students to address issues relating to the maintenance of the quality and standards of:
- teaching and learning,
- assessment, and
- qualifications.
This group has focused on the implementation of alternative arrangements and methods of delivery, where appropriate and necessary, to meet both these standards and, where applicable, the educational accreditation criteria established by Professional Recognition Bodies (PRBs).
The government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business and Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021, Plan for Living with COVID-19, combined with the HSA Return to Work Protocols and ongoing Public Health advice, provide the over-arching framework for all sectors of society for the operation of their facilities and premises in keeping with public health advice.
Specific to further and higher education, the government has also published “Guidance for Further and Higher Education for returning to on-site activity in 2020: Roadmap and COVID-19 Adaptation Framework for returning to on-site activity in autumn 2020” accompanied by “Implementation Guidelines for Public Health Measures in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)” and outbreaks protocols developed in collaboration with experts within the higher education sector and with the Department of Health. This suite of guidance provides robust advice to higher and further educational facilities on COVID-19 prevention measures, implementation of which will minimise the risk of infection for all students and staff. Further and Higher Education Institutes should adapt and customise these recommendations for their own particular settings, adhering at all times to the overarching Public Health principles on which the guidance is predicated.
As Higher Education Institutions are autonomous, and as such are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to access to laboratory facilities, and as there are a wide range of courses with practical laboratory elements, students are encouraged to approach their institutions directly if they have any queries in relation to the lab-based elements of their course.
However, my Department is continuing to work with all stakeholders to identify mitigating actions which can be implemented.
575. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding in third-level institutions by student; the way it compares to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8453/21]
View answerAs Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills, I am committed to continuing the process of investing in our higher education system and to the development and implementation of a sustainable funding model for the sector.
It is important to note that, in considering the total level of resource available to the sector, Universities are autonomous bodies under legislation and have significant income streams from activities perused through academic freedom.
Government investment in Higher Education is not specifically allocated against a per student metric and state investment in the sector is not limited to the recurrent grant funding of institutions. The provision of Higher Education funding on an annual basis is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy for Government.
In this regard, Government provides financial support to the higher education sector through direct through recurrent grants, and indirectly through a number of specific parameters including free fees, policy initiatives, Springboard, Human Capital Initiative, SUSI fee supports.
The student contribution, as paid annually by undergraduate students not in receipt of SUSI grants, is another element of the total resources available to the higher education sector. Other income available to the institutions includes fees collected from tuition fees, part-time courses, postgraduate course fees and other onsite/offsite commercial activities. My Department does not have oversight of these funding arrangements.
Since 2015 there has been a significant programme of re-investment in higher education. Funding and policy developments taken in recent Budgets have taken significant steps to address the funding needs of the sector. Most notably, and in line with the recommendation of the Cassells report, a new stream of employer funding was introduced upon a review of the National Training Fund. This level of investment responded to demographic pressures and underpinned a range of initiatives in the higher education sector, including a new research initiative, a substantial investment in the evolution of Technological Universities, significant skills-enhancing opportunities for individuals, sectors and regions most vulnerable to Brexit as well as updating skills more generally to prepare Ireland’s society and economy for a future world of work transformed by technology and automation.
Government funding demonstrably increased in the period 2016 to 2020 with increased planned investment in Higher Education, an increase of 25% compared to 2016 – an amount in the order of an additional €370 million bringing the total funding for the sector in 2020 to €1.87 billion pre-Covid (up from €1.5 billion in 2016). This represented the restoration of the peak level of expenditure on higher education achieved in 2008.
In 2021, in line with the two distinct policy goals that will need to be addressed in budgetary decisions over the medium term, additional funding had been provided for the core budgetary programmes and funding for Covid-19 related policy responses. Exclusive of research provision the total planned Departmental and NTF funding of the HE sector for 2021 is in the order of €1.98billion.
This includes:
- Recurrent Grant and Free Fees Funding of over €1.06 billion.
- National Training Fund Enterprise Focused, Apprenticeship, Springboard and HCI investment of over €305million.
- Student support and related expenses provision of over €400million.
Through Budget 2021 funding will be provided to meet demographic and other pressures across the sectors, including Covid-19 impacts, and to provide for additional upskilling and reskilling opportunities, as well as increased capacity and places in the higher education sector.
In terms of Government funding the immediate matter to consider is that the delivery of further and higher education in the context of Covid-19 will cost the providers more not less. In 2020 the Government has provided funding in the amount of €168m to support the return of students to further and higher education. A further €47.5m is also being provided in 2020 to provide additional skills courses as part of the July stimulus programme. The Government has also made available once off funding to provide financial assistance in academic year 2020/21 to all students who avail of SUSI grants and to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state.
I am confident that the significant additional funding already committed is delivering real benefits on the ground. However there is always a need to look to the future. This is why I am progressing the development of a sustainable funding model for higher education. This is essential in light of the centrality of higher education - both in terms of human capital development, research and innovation - to underpinning the future development of Ireland as a knowledge economy against the backdrop of rapid technological change.
In that context, the future funding needs of the sector are currently under further review through the Departments engagement with the European Commission/DG Reform. The review is a comprehensive economic evaluation of the various funding options presented in the Cassells Expert Group Report and is being undertaken by an expert independent international consortium of consultants including Indecon and LE Europe.
Department officials are working closely with the European Commission and the independently appointed consortia of consultants. The key aim of this review is to investigate methods of increasing the sustainability of higher and further education provision in Ireland, including an examination of the funding options. This review commenced in early 2020 and work is expected to be complete towards the latter part of Q2 2021.
Department officials will continue to work with stakeholders on this comprehensive analysis of funding options for higher education and the assessment of the appropriate balance in provision across the tertiary education system.
Completion of this work will allow for an informed debate on the appropriate policy approach to future planning and funding of higher and further education provision which is fundamental to Ireland's economic and social sustainability.
All of the foregoing highlights my commitment and that of Government to support students and learners in accessing and successfully participating in both higher and further
576. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown between expenditure on training for those seeking employment and in employment training; the way in which apprenticeships are categorised; the percentage spent on funding apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8462/21]
View answerThe National Training Fund (NTF) was established by the National Training Fund Act, 2000 to raise the skills of those in employment, provide training to those who wish to acquire skills for the purposes of taking up employment, and provide information in relation to existing, or likely future, requirements for skills in the economy.
The 2021 NTF allocation of €741.2m will provide €299.8m (40.5%) for programmes for those in employment and €438.2m (59.1%) for programmes relating to skills acquisition for the purposes for taking up employment. €3.2m (0.4%) is provided for the provision of information on skills requirements.
Funding for the apprenticeship programme is provided for in the programmes for those in employment. The training for employment allocation provides €198.4m for the funding of the apprenticeship programme through both SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority. This equates to almost 27% of total NTF expenditure.
577. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 589 of 10 February 2021, if by taking the step to support students from Northern Ireland and maintain the number of students accessing Erasmus+ from the island of Ireland while simultaneously losing the capacity of universities in Northern Ireland to host incoming students from across the EU will require higher education institutions in this jurisdiction to host additional Erasmus students from elsewhere in the EU; if this will have financial implication for HEIs; if so, the funding that will be available to ensure HEIs can facilitate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8634/21]
View answerThe Irish Government has committed to providing continued access to Erasmus + higher education mobilities for students in NI institutions. Officials in my Department have been engaging with the HEA, with representatives from our higher education institutions and with NI institutions to develop operational procedures for the scheme, with further meetings planned between NI and Irish higher education representatives in the near future.
It should be recalled that provision was made in the EU-UK Trade and Customs Agreement which would provide a basis for the UK to participate in the Erasmus Programme. However, the UK Government have opted not to exercise this option.
Incoming EU Erasmus+ students are funded by their sending institution, so this will not have a financial implication for Irish HEIs.
578. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to matters raised (details supplied) concerning unemployment and skills upgrading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8679/21]
View answerThere are currently 42 Bus Driving and 57 HGV Driving courses planned to take place around the country throughout 2021 across the network of Education and Training Boards (ETBs). A breakdown by ETB of these courses is attached for your information.
In addition to these courses, there is also a Commercial Driver apprenticeship in development which will be 2 years in duration and is expected to be offered at Level 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The industry lead for this programme is the Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) and it is expected to be rolled out by September 2021.
I would encourage any prospective learner to contact their local ETB directly in order to obtain information regarding application procedures for these courses. Further information can also be obtained from www.fetchourses.ie.
579. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of progress of capital works at Letterkenny Institute of Technology which were secured under the previous Government; the progress in relation to university status for the institute which also received a commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8722/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a new Library, IT and Education Building is planned for Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT). The project forms part of Bundle 2 of the Higher Education PPP Programme. It will consist of a library and various learning resource spaces, general and specialised teaching spaces, ICT labs, administration space and ancillary space.
Submissions have been invited from consortia interested in tendering for Bundle 2 and the shortlisting of prospective tenderers will commence in the coming weeks. It is anticipated that construction will commence in Q3/Q4 2022, with the first projects completed in Q3/Q4 2024.
The refurbishment and upgrade works to the main building on LYIT's Killybegs campus are also continuing, with Phase 1 and 2 of the project complete and Phase 3 expected to be on site in summer 2021.
LYIT forms part of the Connacht Ulster Alliance, along with GMIT and IT Sligo. The consortium is preparing proposals to seek technological university designation through the prescribed legislative process under the Technological Universities Act 2018. While a joint application under Section 29 of the Act has not been received to date, the Department understands that significant progress has been made in relation to its finalisation, including intensive discussions with the staff of the respective Institutes, and that an application is in view for submission in Q1 2021. Ultimately, however, the finalisation and submission of an application remains a matter for the Institutes themselves.
To date, the consortium has received a total of €11.6 million in Exchequer funding to advance its proposals, of which €5.9 million was allocated under the first tranche of the Transformation Fund in October 2020.
580. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of the European Social Fund allocated to each NUTS 3 region in Ireland during the 2014-2020 programme; the proposed allocation to each NUTS 3 region during the 2021-2027 programme; if the European Commission's downgrading of the northern and western region has been taken into account in his Department's planning for the 2021-2027 programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8841/21]
View answerFor the 2014-2020 programming period Ireland was comprised of two NUTS 2 regions – the Southern and Eastern Region and the Border, Midland and Northern Region (BMW). Both NUTS 2 Regions were categorised as more developed regions, attracting a 50% ESF cofinancing rate and a 66.67% YEI cofinancing rate.
Reflecting the changes introduced to Ireland's regional structure this will change for the 2021-2027 period, to three NUTS 2 regions, the Southern Region, the Eastern and Midland Region and the Northern and Western Region. As the Deputy notes, the Northern and Western Region is being categorised as a transition region and will attract a higher ESF cofinancing rate of 60% while the other regions will be cofinanced at 40%.
While the 2014-2020 ESF Programme had indicative allocations by NUTS 2 Region, the Programme has been amended on a number of occasions, most recently to avail of the additional flexibilities, delivered through two Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII and CRII+) packages, in which Member States could re-programme existing allocations of funding towards the Covid 19 response, at a co-financing rate of 100%. €60m ESF funding was reallocated to the ERDF to support the purchase of PPE for the Health Services and we will be drawing down the full ESF/YEI allocations on fewer programmed activities.
At the end of 2020, the share of BMW expenditure declared in payment applications to the European Commission accounted for 17% of the total expenditure declared. It should be noted that expenditure in the BMW region was only reported with effect from 2016 as the earlier 2007-2013 ESF Programme ran for a further 2 years in the BMW than in the other regions.
In relation to 2021-2027 Ireland is expected to receive €451m for the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) with an initial ESF+ allocation for the transition region – the Northern and Western Region of €125,659,754 with the remaining €325,412,787 allocated across the two more developed Regions. However, the Regulations governing the funds, which are nearing finalisation, provide for a number of flexibilities, including transferring allocations between Funds and Regions. The final allocation between programmes and regions will be determined in the context of discussions with the European Commission on the Partnership Agreement covering all Common Provisions Regulation funds.
The Northern and Western region’s status as a transition region is being taken into account in the planning of the 2021-2027 programme. An independent Needs Analysis was conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants to provide the evidence base for the future ERDF and ESF+ programmes. The report includes an analysis of regional disparities and the particular challenges faced by each region. Given the reclassification of the Northern and Western region, a specific chapter is dedicated to the past performance and the particular needs of this region. This issue will continue to be taken into account in the drafting and finalisation of the ESF+ programme.
581. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. [8893/21]
View answerMy Department has not entered into any contracts for public relations or consultancy since January 2021.
