Written Answers Nos. 1153-1177
1154. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students with dyslexia in further and higher education; the supports that are in place for such persons; the additional supports provided due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15371/21]
View answerThere is no specific disability category for data collection purposes for learners with dyslexia in either higher or further education. Data is not specifically collected on the number of students with dyslexia in further education but it falls under the broader category of 'Learning, Remembering and Concentrating”. 4,300 students in Further Education indicated a “Learning, Remembering and Concentrating” disability in further education.
The number of students with dyslexia in higher education is not collected by the HEA, however the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides details of the number of students receiving support from that Fund in the broader category of “Specific learning difficulties (dyslexia or dyscalculia)”.
The principal funding source for students with disabilities including dyslexia in further and higher education is the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD). The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding to higher and further education institutions to assist them in offering supports and services to eligible students with disabilities so that they can participate on an equal basis with their peers.
The FSD aims to support the personal, educational and professional development of the participating student and contribute to the achievement of their full potential. Eligible students can receive assistance from the FSD from further education level 5 up to doctoral level 10, and it can be applied for during any year of study.
The FSD operates as a funding allocation to higher education institutions and PLC colleges. The actual level of support to be provided to individual students is decided by each HEI who carry out a needs assessment to determine the types of supports and accommodations needed.
Funding can be used to provide supports and accommodations for assistive technology, equipment and software, non-medical helpers, academic or learning support, deaf supports and transport.
€7,658,000 was allocated to the FSD for Higher Education in 2020 and the fund supporting circa 12,392 students. €1,942,000 was allocated to the FSD for Further Education in 2020 supporting circa 1966 students. In 2019/20, the number of students who indicated a "Specific Learning Difficulties" (including but not exclusively dyslexia) as either the primary or additional disability while attending Higher Education was 6163. For the 2019/20, the number of students in FE with Specific Learning Difficulties (including but not exclusively dyslexia) for whom funding was applied for was 737. There may be students who had a specific learning difficulty who did not apply to the FSD for support. i.e. FSD numbers are not necessarily the same as overall numbers of students with SpLD.
As part of the Government’s Covid response, and budget 2021, a range of additional supports have been put in place for students;
- I have doubled the level of funding available in the Student Assistance Fund for this academic year;
- I have increased the level of funding for the 1916 Bursary Fund (also known as PATH 2) to €5 million per annum, which will provide an additional 200 bursaries, bringing the total number for 2021 to 1,000 bursaries for the most disadvantaged students in the country;
- I have secured an additional €20 million in funding for SUSI this year to cover increased applications to the scheme;
- I have allocated €6 million to enhance SUSI support for postgraduates;
- I put in place a €15 million scheme to support access to laptops and digital devices;
- I have allocated €8m to enable SOLAS to establish a Mitigating Educational Disadvantage Fund to support providers in engaging with learners who are at the greatest risk of disconnection from the education and training system;
- I have secured €50 million to provide financial assistance to full time third level students in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on this group. This funding will offer financial assistance to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEI).
1155. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students will see their SUSI grants negatively impacted as a result of receiving the pandemic unemployment payment; the estimated number of students anticipated to be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15372/21]
View answerUnder the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is available to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the terms and conditions of funding, including those relating to residency, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine. For the 2020/21 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the period 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019.
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 2020. 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.
All applications are assessed nationally with reference to the terms and conditions of the relevant student grant scheme. The terms and conditions of funding are applied impartially to all applicants. 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. The income of all parties to the application will 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.
The Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations for the 2021/22 academic year will be published towards the end of March/early April 2021. The opening of SUSI's online grant application system will coincide with the publication of the scheme. Grant applications are submitted online via www.susi.ie. Further information in relation to student grant assistance is also available from this website. The telephone number for SUSI’s Helpdesk is 0761 087 874.
The Deputy will also appreciate that the student grant scheme is a demand led scheme and therefore the cohort of students qualifying for grants each year varies; and is influenced by a number of factors. A review of the Student Grant Scheme in 2020 (following the impact of COVID-19) was committed to as part of the Programme for Government. This Review is currently being undertaken. It will document the impact of Covid-19 on the Scheme and outline a number of recommendations for consideration by the end of Quarter 1, 2021.
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.
1156. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional Exchequer expenditure was transferred into the national training fund in 2020 or 2021; if so, the details of such transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15423/21]
View answerAs part of the policy of investing in Higher and Further Education and Training through a reformed National Training Fund (NTF), the estimates for 2020 included the transfer of €28.2m of labour market-focused higher education provision from Exchequer funding to the NTF.
There were no such transfers in the 2021 estimates.
1157. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the project execution, project budget or cost delivery for the repair of the roof and other building fabric at the GMIT Castlebar campus following €2 million funding announced on 14 September 2018 as part of a major package of investment in education under Project Ireland 2040; his future plans for capital development projects for 2021 to 2023 for the GMIT Mayo campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15440/21]
View answerFunding of €2.08m was approved to support an upgrade of the roof and other building fabric at the GMIT Castlebar campus in 2018. This recognised the health and safety challenge posed by the roof condition and responded to a recommendation of the Working Group on Developing a Sustainable Plan for the Mayo Campus of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
The project was devolved to GMIT for delivery and took the form of a number of phases of works which reached substantial completion in October 2020. The full Department funding allocation was drawn down by December 2020.
While there is no other project-specific funding currently allocated by the Department to the GMIT Castlebar campus, GMIT was awarded Devolved Capital Grant funding of €1.7m for the 2020/21 academic year. This can be spent on minor capital works and equipment across all campuses; it is for GMIT to decide how the funding is prioritised.
The Department and HEA will continue to engage with GMIT on its campus development plans.
1158. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding allocated to regional skills fora in each year since 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15443/21]
View answerAllocation for the Regional Skills Fora subhead is as follows:
|
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Allocation € |
1,100,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,236,000 |
1,636,000 |
1,767,000 |
This provision covers the cost of salary and associated costs of the network of nine Regional Skills Fora Managers, enabling them to meet their role to bring together multiple voices at regional level, to facilitate employer-educator dialogue, to help find solutions to skills gaps and to match identified skills needs with sustainable provision in each region. The Fora also help enterprise navigate the further and higher education and training providers’ landscape to assist enterprise to meet their upskilling and reskilling requirements.
1159. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding allocated to enterprise focused higher education provision in each year since 2017, in tabular form; if there are measurable objectives associated with the funding; if it is intended only to move Exchequer funding of recurring costs from the Exchequer to the national training fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15444/21]
View answerNational Training Fund (NTF) expenditure includes an allocation for enterprise focused higher education provision.
The purpose of the NTF Enterprise Focused provision is to provide skills-related recurrent funding in support of higher education programmes that are particularly oriented towards meeting labour market needs. The full and partial NTF funding of specific programmes, previously funded through the voted exchequer funding, aligns with the recommendations of the 2018 independent NTF review which was undertaken by Indecon.
The NTF Enterprise Focused provision is allocated to institutions via the Higher Education Authority (HEA); contributing towards the recurrent grant and ‘Free Fees’. The student numbers associated with the identified skills areas are monitored on an annual basis by the HEA.
Details of the 2017 to 2021 allocation under the NTF Enterprise Focussed Provision are set out below:
|
- |
Outturn 2017 |
Outturn 2018 |
Outturn 2019 |
*Provisional 2020 Outturn |
Provisional 2021 |
|
NTF - Enterprise Focused HE Provision |
€5.6m |
€37m |
€120.1m |
€177.6m |
€148.35m |
*Includes additional funding allocated under the July Stimulus Package towards postgraduate and modular skills provision, original allocation was €148,352,000.
1161. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of additional places created for those intending to study medicine this academic year in order to manage the unintended consequences arising from the calculated grade process inter alia grade inflation; and the number that will be created for the students entering university in September 2021. [15475/21]
View answerIn order to help mitigate the impact of the changes to the grading system in 2020 I announced the creation of an additional 2,225 places on high-demand courses in Higher Education Institutions. These places were provided in order ensure that as many students as possible could be accommodated on a course of their choice, given the unprecedented circumstances they faced. The subject areas in which these places were created can be seen in the table below.
|
Subject Area |
Additional Places |
|
Architecture |
23 |
|
Arts & Humanities |
476 |
|
Business |
430 |
|
Creative Arts |
41 |
|
Dentistry |
18 |
|
Education |
170 |
|
Engineering |
313 |
|
Law |
142 |
|
Music |
9 |
|
Science |
220 |
|
Information Technology |
31 |
|
Nursing |
134 |
|
Medicine, Health & Physical |
218 |
|
Total |
2225 |
I am aware of the high number of CAO applications this year, and officials from my Department are engaging regularly with representatives from the higher education sector in relation to the 2021/22 academic year and demand for places.
€18 million has been provided in Budget 2021 to deliver new undergraduate student places from September 2021 which will address demographic growth pressures. These places are in addition to additional places funded through the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 2, which will be on undergraduate courses in areas of identified skills needs.
Nonetheless, there will be fluctuations in CAO points this year, as there are every year, which will depend on the volume of applications, the number of applicants who meet the entry requirements, the number of places available and the grades received by applicants. The CAO process applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. As such, neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO, and it is not with my remit to provide any guarantees as to CAO points in any year.
My officials will continue monitor the situation as it develops and I will take action as necessary to ensure the availability of a full range of further and higher education options for the class of 2021.
1162. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports he is considering for students visiting Ireland that came on the understanding that there would be blended and in-person delivery of their course and in view that there has not been access to libraries or adequate study facilities and no prospect of a part-time job due to the closure of the hospitality sector for same while the universities continue to charge full fees (details supplied). [15476/21]
View answerWhile Ireland is on Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID all further and higher education institutions will deliver the majority of their classes online with only essential activities held on site. While it is appreciated that the COVID impacts are disappointing for students who had hoped to have as much time on campus as possible, these measures are necessary to support halting the spread of the Coronavirus.
Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and are responsible for their own academic affairs. Therefore, the determination of the total level of tuition fees is a matter for each institution in accordance with its own particular operational conditions and circumstances in ensuring quality education provision.
In general there is a real requirement in these exceptional times to have a responsive approach to student needs wherever possible and it is important to acknowledge that HEIs have to date shown enormous willingness to be responsive in numerous ways. Students are encouraged to engage with their institution to discuss any issues in relation to their course, including course delivery and fees.
In considering fees, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. This support has played a very significant role in facilitating access to and growth in higher education. What was previously the preserve of a relatively small proportion of the school leaving population is now much more widely available, as reflected in the current transfer rate from second to third level.
This commitment is demonstrated through the Free Fees Schemes under which the Exchequer currently contributes €340m to meeting the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate students in higher education.
All students eligible for the scheme receive state support whereby the Exchequer pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution. In addition, the Exchequer pays the student contribution of €3,000 per annum in full or part, through SUSI, for approximately 44% of students eligible for free fees at a cost of over €180m.
I am of course very conscious of the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our students. In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students, financial assistance will be provided in academic year 20/21 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.
Under this initiative students who avail of the SUSI grant will receive a €250 top-up in their grant and students who do not avail of the grant but attend publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state can reduce by €250 any outstanding student contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution.
This builds on the additional supports announced in July 2020 including a doubling of the Student Assistance Fund, a €15 million technology fund for devices for students in further and higher education and an additional €3m provided for investment in supports for mental health services and well-being initiatives.
Students 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 Office of the institution attended. The fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
1163. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on correspondence received by his Department from a union (details supplied) on 16 March 2021 in respect of the proposed new apprenticeship action plan; his further views on whether the critical role played by the trade union movement in the delivery and operation of an internationally recognised best practice apprenticeship system ought to be a central feature of the revised system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15502/21]
View answerThe trade union movement are an integral part of the delivery of the apprenticeship system in Ireland. This is achieved through membership of the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee (NAAC), a subcommittee of SOLAS, as well as the Apprenticeship Council which has overseen the expansion of apprenticeship over the last five year period to reach a total of 60 programmes across all sectors of the economy.
The forthcoming Action Plan for Apprenticeship will set out a strategy for the coming five year period which will deliver an apprenticeship system which is flexible and responsive, providing a strong value proposition for employers and apprentices, is attractive and easy to engage with, and delivers high standards and sought after qualifications. The only way to achieve this, and to safeguard the success of the apprenticeship system into the future, is through embedding the continued engagement of stakeholders, including the trade union movement, into the system.
A response to the correspondence referred to in the Question has issued outlining the important role of trade unions in the forthcoming Action Plan, including in the craft apprenticeship area.
1165. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the range of travel and accommodation supports for both craft and post-2016 apprentices; the expenditure in this regard; the number of recipients; the average amount allocated; the criteria used for allocating support; the way in which it compares to the real cost of travel and accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15716/21]
View answer1166. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the draw on the NTF or cost to the Exchequer of increasing funding allocated to travel and accommodation support for apprentices by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15717/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1165 and 1166 together.
Craft apprentices attending off-the-job training in an ETB, IoT or TU are eligible for either accommodation or travel allowances, depending on the distance from the apprentices home to the site of off-the-job training. These allowances are payable to relevant trainees on further education and training courses and are not exclusive to apprentices. The detailed information requested by the deputy is being collated and will be forwarded once available.
For apprentices registered on consortia-led programmes, the payment of travel and/or accommodation allowances is dependent on the apprentices contract with their employer. There is no cost to the exchequer for these payments.
1167. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of removing the annual student contribution for all apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15736/21]
View answerAn Annual Student Contribution (ASC) is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology (IoTs). The amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in IoTs during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution made by the apprentice.
For craft apprenticeships, the ASC charged is typically one third of the €3,000 ASC paid by students attending for the full academic year and so amounts to approximately €1,000 per apprentice per period spent in the IoT. In the case of the new consortia led apprenticeships the contribution varies for each programme as their off-the-job training has a more flexible structure.
If the ASC was removed, with the apprentice paying examination fees only, then the cost to the State is estimated at an average €266.67 per apprentice per annum. Given the current apprentice population the estimated cost is €5.28M per annum.
1170. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the expenditure on apprenticeships in 2020; the percentage of the national training fund allocated to apprenticeships; the estimated expenditure in 2021; the estimated percentage allocation of the national training fund of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15763/21]
View answerApprenticeship in Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund (NTF) which was established by the National Training Fund Act, 2000, as a dedicated fund to support the training of those in employment, and those seeking employment. It is funded through an employer levy of 1% of reckonable earnings in respect of employees in classes A and H employments, representing approximately 75 per cent of all insured employees.
The total allocation from the NTF for the provision of apprenticeship for 2020 was €184.4m which amounts to 25% of total NTF expenditure.
The NTF allocation for apprenticeship in 2021 is €198.4 million amounting to 27% of total NTF expenditure.
1172. 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 in each of the years 2004 to 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15818/21]
View answerThe availability of the information requested in relation to the number of apprentices that have been employed across the public sector in each of the years 2004 to 2011 is currently being assessed by SOLAS and will be forwarded to the Deputy if available.
The Programme for Government has committed to taking the lead on boosting the availability and uptake of apprenticeship by providing public sector apprenticeship schemes. The forthcoming Action Plan for Apprenticeship 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. In addition to the Programme for Government commitment, the role of the public sector in apprenticeship recruitment was raised by a number of stakeholders during the consultation process and proposals in this area are informing the new action plan.
1175. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total Covid-19-related spend in 2020 by his Department, agency and budget line item; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16275/21]
View answerThe onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 presented unique challenges across the Higher Education and Further Education Sectors. Early on, a review was conducted by my Department in consultation with the Higher Education Authority and Institutes, Further Education and Training stakeholders to ascertain the impact of the crisis on the sectors.
Following on from this review €216m of Voted expenditure was allocated specifically for Covid supports, along with a further €100m non-voted funds via the National Training Fund.
Covid related spend from Voted expenditure in in 2020 was on the order of €219m, and a further €65m in skills-related expenditure via the National Training Fund. It should be noted that there were also some savings due to the pandemic, as a result of provision being affected or delayed because of restrictions that were used to meet some other Covid-19 related costs during the year.
During 2020, €13m was paid to SOLAS to cover Covid costs arising in the Education and Training Boards and for the Mitigating against Educational Disadvantage Fund.
€133m went towards grants to Universities and other third level institutions in order to transition to distanced and remote working, support the Front Line response, and protect research in Irish institutions. This includes the Dublin Dental Hospital, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and Royal Irish Academy of Music.
€48m was provided to Student Universal Support Ireland and Higher Education Institutions for the Covid Once off Grant for students. €15m was spent on the provision of laptops to assist students with online and blended learning. €10m was provided to the Higher Education Authority for the Student Assistance Fund and Covid Contingency Fund. €0.9m was spent by the higher education sector in facilitating the safe arrival of international students into Ireland for the 2021/2022 academic year.
Finally, on foot of the July Jobs Stimulus Package, €100m was allocated, and €65m spent through the National Training Fund as a response to upskilling and reskilling needs of those most affected by the pandemic through a varied range of labour market focused programmes operated through SOLAS, Skillnet Ireland and the Higher Education Authority.
1176. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16294/21]
View answerThe only applicable fines, charges or bills issued directly by the Department relate to Freedom of Information costs which can be paid via a cheque or bank transfer.
In addition, public sector employees paid by the Department through the National Shared Service Office have the option to have 3rd party charges deducted from their pay and forwarded onto the relevant parties each month, this can range from but not limited to; Cycle to Work, Travel Pass, Health Insurance, Credit Unions, Social Clubs and Local Property Tax.
1177. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice if house viewing is considered non-essential under the current level 5 restrictions (details supplied). [15718/21]
View answerWhile the Minister for Health is primarily responsible for our overall National COVID strategy, I am happy to supply the following information about the current guidance developed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) in this regard.
The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is the statutory body established under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, with responsibility to licence and regulate property services providers (auctioneers, estate agents, letting agents and property management agents).
To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have contacted the Property Services Regulatory Authority who has informed me that, on 19 May 2020, the PSRA in association with the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV) and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) issued the Joint Sector Protocol for Property Services Providers (PSPs). The Protocol is intended to ensure strict precautions are taken to provide the highest standards of safety in the sales, lettings, valuations and managements of properties in the best interest of clients, consumers, employees, employers and those who are categorised as being at risk or at high risk of Covid-19.
Following on from the Government's publication of the Plan for Living with Covid-19, the PSRA in association with IPAV and SCSI published the Property Services Providers Guidance to implementing the Plan for Living with Covid-19. This document set out additional measures to be undertaken at the different levels outlined within the Plan. An updated version of this Guidance issued in January 2021, to take into account the enhanced restrictions currently in place. The guidance in this most recent edition of the Protocol for “Viewings by the public of properties for sale” under current Level 5 restrictions (page 4 of the document) is as follows:
Viewings by the public is permitted of properties by appointment only where the property has gone sale agreed and contracts for sale drafted.
In these circumstances:
- Viewings by one party of two people from the same household is only permitted; and
- Properties must be unoccupied at the time of appointment.
Both the Protocol and the Guidance are subject to the Government, HSE and Department of Health guidelines on these matters. The full document is available to view on the Property Services Regulatory Authority website at: www.psr.ie
