Written Answers Nos. 1292-1307
1292. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider adding a university (details supplied) for the purpose of SUSI grant aid and other open colleges which make QQI awards and certificates in many subjects in order to increase access to higher education and allow persons upskill during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18802/21]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance 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.
Approved courses for the Student Grant Scheme are prescribed in the relevant Student Support Regulations and in the Student Support Act 2011. The Regulations prescribe that an approved undergraduate course is a full-time course leading to a major higher education and training award which takes a minimum of two years to complete in an approved institution. An approved postgraduate course is a full-time course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution listed in the Regulations.
As the college referred to in the details supplied, is a private educational institution, it does not come under the remit of the Student Grant Scheme. In the context of limited public funding and competing priorities, student support funding is currently targeted at full-time students undertaking study in approved publicly funded institutions. However it is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need.
As part of the review of the Student Grant Scheme, the definition of an approved course for student grant purposes is currently being examined. A Report is due to come before me in Summer 2021. You will appreciate that at this point I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the review or indicate when any proposed changes will come into effect. Further information regarding the review of the Student Grant Scheme is available from: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/77452-minister-harris-urges-people-to-have-their-say-on-review-of-the-student-grant-scheme/ .
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, 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 Office in the third level institution attended, and is administered on a confidential discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
In the context of a person re-educating or upskilling, Springboard+ is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part-time higher education courses to enable unemployed people, returners (formerly referred to as homemakers) and those in employment to upskill or reskill in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. The courses, which are at Level 6 (Higher Certificate) to Level 9 (Master's Degree) on the National Framework of Qualifications, are being delivered in public and private higher education providers around the country. Further information may be obtained from the website https://springboardcourses.ie/.
1294. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of altering the free fees criteria to encompass students enrolled on a graduate entry programme who already hold a level 8 degree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18809/21]
View answer1295. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of altering the free fees criteria to encompass the final year of studies for students enrolled on an integrated master's programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18810/21]
View answer1296. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to review the eligibility criteria of the free fees initiative; the process in which the eligibility criteria for the free fees initiative can be altered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18811/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1294, 1295 and 1296 together.
Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including previous education attainment.
In this regard students attending a graduate entry course are not eligible for free fees funding, Students entering such courses are undertaking second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding for any periods of study at the same year level.
As referenced above, funding under the FFI is available for undergraduate awards only. In practice, this means that only the undergraduate portion of an integrated masters programme would be eligible for free fees funding. A full tuition fee is payable by all students for any postgraduate/Level 9 award portion of the course of study. Separately, SUSI grant support is available for those students who meet the qualifying criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. Different supports are available to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Qualifying students attending integrated/intercalated courses, will be initially assessed in respect of the undergraduate portion of the course. A separate application will be required in respect of the portion of the course deemed to be the postgraduate element.
Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of fees to be charged in the case of graduate entry courses or the postgraduate element of an integrated masters course are therefore solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
My department currently has no plans to provide free fees funding for second degree courses or postgraduate years under the FFI therefore the cost of supporting such courses have not been estimated.
In terms of future funding plans and policy, the development of a sustainable funding model for higher education is essential in light of the centrality of higher education to our progress as a country. The future development of Ireland as an inclusive society and a knowledge economy, against the backdrop of rapid technological change will be critically dependant on the quality of our graduates.
In that context, a comprehensive economic evaluation of the funding options presented in the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education is underway supported under the European Commission DG Reform Programme. My Department is 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. 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.
1297. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average time an apprentice is out of education and or unemployed before taking up an apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18823/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to the average time an apprentice is out of education and/or unemployed before taking up an apprenticeship is currently not collated.
1298. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 269 of 1 April 2021, the subjects that have intake limits or quotas issued from his or any other Department such as in the case of primary teachers and the Department of Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18824/21]
View answerThe Minister for Education approves the limits on the intake into primary teaching programmes. The intakes for the B.Ed and PME primary ITE programmes are 1,000 and 200 respectively for the coming academic year. There is no such intake limit on post-primary teaching programmes.
Historically, the Department of Education has endeavoured to manage the supply of trained primary teachers in an effort to achieve equilibrium between the supply of and the demand for trained teachers and as such sets limits on the yearly intake.
The current quota for EU entrants to medicine stands at 708. This quota was established as a recommendation of the Report of the Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training, also known as the Fottrell Report.
The intake quota for nursing stands at 1,819. The quota exists due to limits on the number of clinical placements that can be facilitated by the health service.
1299. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places available for first year veterinary medicine in UCD each year; the number allocated to students in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18836/21]
View answerHigher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and manage their own academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO process applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the HEIs. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. The number of places offered is a given course is a matter for the HEI in question.
According to information available on the UCD website the average intake in veterinary medicine is 82. The number of these allocated to students in Northern Ireland is a matter for UCD, as an autonomous institution.
1300. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a full list of all institution and courses that provide allocated places for students from Northern Ireland or make special arrangements for those applying with A-levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18837/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and manage their own academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO process applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the HEIs. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. The number of places allocated to any specific cohort of students, including students from Northern Ireland, is a matter for the individual HEIs.
1301. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the educational staff to student ratio in each higher education institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18853/21]
View answerI have attached a spreadsheet showing Student/Academic Staff ratios (full-time/excluding research staff) for the academic year 2017/18. These are the latest published figures and I understand that the Higher Education Authority plan to publish the 2018/19 institutional profiles in the coming months.
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Student/Academic Staff Ratio (Full-time/excl. Research Staff) - Institutional Profiles 2017/18 |
|
Institution |
Student/Academic Staff Ratio |
|
DCU |
22 |
|
MU |
27 |
|
NUIG |
19 |
|
TCD |
17 |
|
UCC |
22 |
|
UCD |
20 |
|
UL |
18 |
|
Unis |
20 |
|
MIC |
30 |
|
NCAD |
16 |
|
RCSI |
13 |
|
St Angela's |
18 |
|
Colleges |
34 |
|
AIT |
15 |
|
CIT |
18 |
|
DIT |
17 |
|
IADT |
18 |
|
DKIT |
16 |
|
GMIT |
16 |
|
ITB |
20 |
|
ITC |
27 |
|
ITS |
12 |
|
IT TALL |
17 |
|
ITTRA |
13 |
|
LYIT |
18 |
|
LIT |
15 |
|
WIT |
14 |
|
IoTs |
17 |
|
All HEA-Funded |
19 |
1302. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of public funding in total revenue of each higher education institute since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18857/21]
View answer1340. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage share of public funding in the revenue of the higher education sector as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20356/21]
View answer1341. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage share of public funding in the revenue of each higher education institute in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20357/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1302, 1340 and 1341 together.
My department does not compile the information requested by the deputy.
The provision of funding for Higher Education on an annual basis is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy.
It is important to note that, in considering the total level of resource available to the sector, higher education institutions are autonomous bodies under legislation and have significant income streams from activities pursued through academic freedom.
The accounts of HEA designated higher education institutions are audited by the C&AG annually and the accounts are laid before the Oireachtas.
1304. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost per student on the Technological University DIT pilot pre-apprenticeship programme; the number transferred to apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18975/21]
View answerThe cost per student on the pilot TU Dublin Access to Apprenticeship programme is €5,200. This programme is funded by industry, the HEA and the Social Innovation Fund Ireland. It is an innovative close-to-the-labour market employability programme which is specifically set up to support young men and women from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to secure craft apprenticeship positions.
Since 2018, 63 young people including eight women have secured an apprenticeship position through the programme. Approximately 60% secured an apprenticeship with the company with whom they undertook their work placement on the programme. A further 30% secured an apprenticeship with an alternative company with the assistance of the Access to Apprenticeship's post programme Pathway Planning support. The programme is supported by more than 30 apprenticeship employers across the construction, engineering, electrical, motor and aviation industries.
Access to Apprenticeship students have progressed into the following apprenticeships: Plumbing (23), Electrical (19), Metal Fabrication (6), Carpentry (4), Motor Mechanics (4), Brick and Stone-laying (2), Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2), Heavy Vehicle Motor Mechanics (1), Wood Manufacturing (1) Industrial Insulation (1).
1305. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of part-time, fixed term, zero hour, short-term and unpaid contracts that exist in each university, institute of technology and technological university across all institutions under the remit of the HEA in tabular form. [19004/21]
View answerThe HEA have collated data from the sector on the numbers of occasional hourly paid administrative, teaching and support staff and the Department is reviewing the data to gain a better understanding of the practices.
The Department has engaged with representative bodies of the Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and been advised that there are a number of factors that would lead HEIs to engage the services of temporary or casual teaching staff. These may include short-term replacement for sick leave and other leave, new activities, growth in student numbers, diverse sources of funding, or philanthropic activity. Those with full-time jobs elsewhere in the private and public sector are sometimes used in the sector in hourly-paid positions as a way of bringing current expertise into the lecture theatre or tutorial room. We are also advised that some staff are engaged as exam invigilators, specialist staff such as industry leaders, visiting lectures or to provide temporary cover at short notice due to staff absences.
In line with the Universities Act, 1997, third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy. Employers in the higher education sector are also required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements. In the event that a union has specific concerns regarding work and contract conditions among staff in any third level institution, that union can seek to have the matter addressed using the dispute resolution procedures provided for in the Haddington Road Agreement, and any individuals who have issues of dispute have a variety of dispute resolution options open to them.
The Cush Report is specific to concerns raised about part-time and fixed-term employment in lecturing.
It is important to acknowledge that there can be objective conditions for the employment of an individual on a fixed term basis such as for example, for the completion of a specific task or project or for the temporary replacement of an academic seconded to a leadership role for the period. Nevertheless the recommendations of the Cush Report to avoid unnecessary use of extended temporary contracts are clear.
The sector has noted that occasional hourly paid staff are not used to fill positions where permanent whole-time staff would be employed.
1306. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has received a request from a centre (details supplied) for a waiver of the QQ1 regarding the engagement fee based on section 80 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012; his views on this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19115/21]
View answerQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the national agency responsible for qualifications and quality assurance in further education and training and higher education in Ireland. The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, which established QQI, requires that quality assurance underpins the relationship between QQI and the providers with which it engages. QQI has undertaken a re-engagement process with its legacy providers to renew this quality assurance relationship. As part of this process QQI has worked closely with stakeholders from the Community and Voluntary Sector to identify appropriate solutions that balance the need to continue to facilitate this sector’s education providers to support hard-to-reach learners, with the responsibility to ensure that all providers that engage with QQI are equipped to meet the same robust quality assurance standards.
The level of QQI fees to be applied for the purposes of re-engagement has been subject to extensive deliberation to ensure that they are applied equitably. It was determined during this process that it would not be possible to develop a fee waiver scheme which would be fair, equitable, objective and justifiable given the diversity of providers in this sector.
I understand that the education and training provider referred to by the Deputy has been in contact with QQI directly about this issue.
1307. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students in further education institutions will be afforded the Covid €250 grant. [19196/21]
View answerIn recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government approved once off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year.
The funding delivers financial assistance to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions.
The scheme will ensure students who avail of the SUSI grant, including in Post Leaving Certificate (PLC), receive €250 top-up in their grant. Students who do not avail of the grant but attend publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state can reduce by €250 any outstanding contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution.
The latter option is designed to ensure students who pay the standard €3,000 in registration fees but are not in receipt of SUSI will benefit from the measure. The only centrally determined payment for the PLC programme is the €200 PLC participant contribution. This amount is not payable for persons with a medical card, as well as a number of other categories.
There are supports available to PLC students including through the Back to Education Allowance through the Department of Social Protection and the Fund for Student Disabilities. PLC students also benefited from additional Covid supports announced in July through the €15 million technology fund for devices.
Learners who do not avail of a SUSI grant while attending a PLC course are not eligible for this funding. Such learners should contact their local ETB for enquiries about financial supports that may be available to them.
