Written Answers Nos. 455-474
455. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the list of traditional apprenticeships and new apprenticeships, respectively which are now available for participation; and the number of places on each for participation. [27558/21]
View answer456. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the areas in which further new apprenticeships are in development; and the planned number of places on each. [27559/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together.
There are currently 60 apprenticeships available with a further 18 programmes in development. Apprenticeship is demand-led. For craft apprenticeship, the number of places is determined by employers, with off-the-job training provided to all registered apprentices. Apprenticeships established since 2016 have one or more intakes per annum with the take-up determined by employer engagement and available apprentice jobs.
A list of current apprenticeships is attached in Table 1, including registration figures for 2020 and the latest figures available to end of April 2021. Table 2 shows the 18 apprenticeships in development and the estimated initial apprentice registrations.
457. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the approach he plans to take to develop a central hub in which applicants for apprenticeships and employers in the relevant sectors could be matched off; and the way in which he plans to attract employers to use such a hub that might have used less formal routes of recruitment before. [27560/21]
View answerThe Apprenticeship Jobs Portal (www.apprenticeshipjobs.ie) was launched in April 2019 to enhance the visibility and accessibility of apprentice job vacancies, and to assist small companies to advertise apprentice vacancies to a wide audience. Although not a matching system the platform is building traction month-on-month, with over 1,200 employers now registered on the site and over 250 job vacancies posted since its launch. Work is continuing to bring all apprentice employers on-board the system.
Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2012-2025, all apprentice vacancies will be advertised on or linked from the site by the end of 2021. Additional financial and non-financial supports including sector or programme specific recruitment supports for employers and in particular SMEs, will be rolled out during the lifetime of the plan to increase employer engagement and visibility of apprenticeship to applicants. Further enhancements will be considered by the new National Apprenticeship Office over the lifetime of the plan.
Learners of all ages can currently access information and link through to relevant study and education options from www.gov.ie/therightcourse. Work has also commenced towards simplifying student application procedures across the tertiary education sector (further and higher education) with initial engagement underway between this Department, the CAO and SOLAS on how application processes could be presented to learners in an easily accessible manner.
458. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he received correspondence from a person (details supplied); his views on whether it is fair that SUSI recipients availing of experience within their placement schools would have their special rate grant removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27582/21]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.
This service, which was set up at the behest of Oireachtas members, complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student was awarded the Postgraduate Contribution of €3,500 as per letter of 29th April from SUSI. If the student wishes to have their application reassessed with reference to the Change in Circumstances at a later date they can request an Internal Review with SUSI.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant). Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.
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. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed 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.
459. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will instruct University of Limerick to engage meaningfully with students in seeking a resolution relating to the cancellation of the international trips for students for respective masters courses due to the Covid-19 pandemic and to refund costs to students for flights, transfers, accommodation and food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27685/21]
View answerI am very conscious of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our students. In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students, financial assistance is being provided 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.
Under this initiative students who avail of the SUSI grant receive €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.
Additionally Budget 2021 provides further funding to enhance SUSI grant supports for post-grads and increase support for the PATH access initiative. In July I announced a range of additional student supports including a doubling of the Student Assistance Fund, and a €15 million technology fund for devices for students.
The combined impact of these supports and initiatives highlight the strength of the Government's commitment to supporting students in meeting the costs of third level education.
However the University of Limerick is governed by the Universities Act 1997 and within the meaning of this Act UL is an autonomous body with responsibility for its own day-to-day management and operational affairs. This means that UL is independent with regard to its policy and procedure in relation to fees payable by students and it is not within my remit to instruct them as to the issue of refunds.
460. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the dropout rate across universities for first-year students commencing in 2020; the steps he is taking to support students that may be struggling with online learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27765/21]
View answerMy officials have spoken on a number of occasions with representatives from the higher education sector regarding any changes to the non-progression rate among students in this year. While precise figures on non-progression are not available at this time, the higher education institutions have indicated that there is no significant change either upwards or downwards in the non-progression rate this year compared to previous years.
The mental health and well-being of our students is one of my priorities particularly against the backdrop of the intensified stresses and pressures impacting on our students arising from their experiences in seeking to pursue their studies primarily on an online basis during the pandemic.
In 2020, I secured a comprehensive package of financial supports from Government for the higher education and further education and training sectors to mitigate the impact of Covid. This package included funding of €3 m to underpin well-being and mental health and student services in our higher education institutions (HEIs) which was in addition to the €2 m funding that was allocated in Budget 2020 and funding that institutions already provide for these services.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) requested that the HEIs distribute this funding in support of specific student engagement 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.
In addition, a Working Group for Student and Learner Well-being and Engagement was established in January 2021 under the aegis of the Tertiary Education Covid Steering Group chaired by the Union of Students in Ireland and comprising representatives from across the higher and further education and training sector.
The main purpose of this working group has been to further reflect on the challenges facing student and learner well-being and engagement as a result of Covid and to identify existing and further measures to address these. The group examined key issues for students and learners including in relation to mental health and well-being, social engagement and strategies for retention. The proposals from this group are currently under consideration by my Department and individual providers, with a view to developing a further sectoral response appropriate to the needs of students and learners.
461. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of persons on the vocational training opportunities scheme by ETB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27782/21]
View answer462. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the length of waiting lists for the vocational training opportunities scheme by ETB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27783/21]
View answer463. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated costs or savings to the State of removing the criteria of being in receipt of social welfare payment for at least six months for accessing the vocational training opportunities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27784/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 461 to 463, inclusive, together.
The Vocational Training and Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is designed to cater for people who are over 21 years of age, are unemployed and have been getting certain social welfare payments for at least 6 months. This scheme provides a range of courses to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people. It gives participants opportunities to improve their general level of education, gain certification, develop their skills and prepare for employment, self-employment and further education and training. The scheme is operated through local Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and is aimed in particular at unemployed people who are early school-leavers.
The Programme and Learner Support System (PLSS) manages the application process for FET provision. While there are no waiting lists by ETB within PLSS, it is possible to identify the number of learners who are waiting to hear if they have been accepted onto a VTOS course. When an applicant registers their interest in an FET course, either online or manually, their application is recorded as received on the system. Subsequently as the application is scrutinised the status moves to “being processed”. An analysis of PLSS indicates that there are 537 individuals who have one of these two statuses and are waiting to hear if they have been accepted onto a VTOS course that will start later in 2021 when the 2021/22 academic year begins. It is important to note that the status of these individuals is not an indication of the existence of capacity issues.
It is not possible to estimate the cost to the state of removing the eligibility criteria that participants must have been unemployed for six months prior to starting a VTOS course as no information is held in relation to how many of this cohort would take up a VTOS course if they were eligible. However, it is important to stress that the existence of the six month rule is not driven by budgetary considerations, but rather by the policy imperative to tailor provision to the needs of the target cohort.
Participants on VTOS receive a training allowance in lieu of their Social Welfare payment as well as travel and meal allowances. VTOS course content, ranging from basic education and training to advanced vocational training, is aimed at individuals who are considered to need significant interventions, to increase their employability. Accordingly, eligibility is restricted to individuals who have been unemployed for at least 6 months for this reason. A suite of alternative FET provision is available to cater for individuals who are more recently unemployed, i.e., less than six months. This includes Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) options and a range of training initiatives.
The number of VTOS Core Learner enrolments per ETB for 2020 is in the following table.
|
ETB |
VTOS CORE Learners Numbers 2020 |
|
City of Dublin ETB |
399 |
|
Donegal ETB |
200 |
|
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB |
360 |
|
Galway and Roscommon ETB |
456 |
|
Kerry ETB |
179 |
|
Kildare and Wicklow ETB |
718 |
|
Kilkenny and Carlow ETB |
287 |
|
Laois and Offaly ETB |
279 |
|
Limerick Clare ETB |
755 |
|
Longford and Westmeath ETB |
119 |
|
Louth and Meath ETB |
205 |
|
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB |
432 |
|
Tipperary ETB |
149 |
|
Waterford and Wexford ETB |
839 |
|
Grand Total |
5377 |
464. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of additional tutors that have been hired to teach apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27785/21]
View answerThe information requested is being sought from the Education and Training Boards by SOLAS and I will arrange for it to be sent directly to the Deputy.
465. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason students from Ballyfermot College of Further Education that have spent two years on a higher national diploma advanced production and design course and want to continue onto a BA hons visual media (game design) are not eligible for the SUSI grant in order to undertake the degree course (details supplied); and if the anomaly will be addressed. [27906/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the college to which he refers, is an approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre which is managed and funded by City of Dublin ETB. Post Leaving Certificate Centres provide further education courses up to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). However, my Department has facilitated the provision of a visual media course accredited by the University of Dundee, as the equivalent of a Level 8 on the NFQ for a number of years and continues to do so as an exceptional measure.
Section 7 of the Student Support Act, 2011 outlines the position with regard to approved institutions for the purposes of student grants.
This particular PLC college is comprehended within Section 7(1)(d) of the Act as an education institution in the State in receipt of grants out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas for the provision of post-leaving certificate courses. Further education centres are not designated as approved third level institutions for the purposes of the student grant scheme.
I understand that prospective students are informed of the absence of grant support for the degree courses before they apply for places and through the college website.
466. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the SUSI grant scheme to include online and part-time higher education courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27928/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. On foot of these commitments I gave approval to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme.
A Steering Committee has been established to provide direction for the external consultants undertaking the review. Its membership includes: the Union of Students of Ireland; Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), SOLAS, the HEA; Irish University Association (IUA); Technological Higher Education Association (THEA); Technological University Dublin (TUD), the Department of Social Protection and officials from my Department.
The public consultation process closed a few weeks ago with over 250 submissions received. The views of students were sought via an online survey process and over 8,500 survey responses have been received. The survey process is now closed and the consultants will now commence their analysis of the rich data captured in the surveys.
While I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the review, it is anticipated that the review will be completed later this year and will inform future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.
467. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of first-year enrolments in general and psychiatric nursing at the Mayo campus in GMIT in each year since the courses began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27965/21]
View answerThe enrolment data requested is in the followingspreadsheet from 2005 to date. The courses, general nursing and psychiatric nursing, commenced in 2000, however enrolment data from 2000 to 2004 is not readily available from GMIT.
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Numbers of Students Studying at the Mayo Campus of GMIT
GENERAL and PSYCHIATRIC Nursing (2005/2006 - 2020/2021)
|
Programme |
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN GENERAL NURSING |
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN PSYCHIATRIC NURSING |
|
2020/2021 |
30.0 |
22.9 |
|
2019/2020 |
29.0 |
23.0 |
|
2018/2019 |
28.3 |
25.0 |
|
2017/2018 |
23.0 |
21.4 |
|
2016/2017 |
26.0 |
19.3 |
|
2015/2016 |
28.0 |
15.0 |
|
2014/2015 |
26.3 |
15.0 |
|
2013/2014 |
31.0 |
15.0 |
|
2012/2013 |
25.0 |
15.0 |
|
2011/2012 |
28.0 |
14.0 |
|
2010/2011 |
26.0 |
16.0 |
|
2009/2010 |
25.0 |
15.5 |
|
2008/2009 |
41.0 |
16.0 |
|
2007/2008 |
41.3 |
15.0 |
|
2006/2007 |
41.0 |
17.0 |
|
2005/2006 |
34.0 |
16.0 |
468. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider developing an apprenticeship programme for barbers to complement the recently announced apprenticeship programme for hairdressing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28037/21]
View answerApprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market.
The development of a new apprenticeship is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers coming together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship response in their sector.
The Apprenticeship Council examine any proposals arising in the context of identified skills needs. All apprenticeship proposals go through a rigorous evaluation process which is led by the Council, and approval is subject to the application meeting a prescribed set of requirements as set out in the handbook and guidance document on Developing a National Apprenticeship which may be accessed on www.apprenticeship.ie.
I understand from SOLAS that an expression of interest in developing an apprenticeship in barbering has already been received and they are engaging with the proposer in the matter.
469. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review a matter (details supplied) in relation to CAO registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28108/21]
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. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO.
Queries about applications should be directed to CAO itself. A contact form is available on the relevant page of the CAO website: www.cao.ie/index.php?page=contact
470. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is a policy of data back-up in the operations of his Department and all agencies under his remit. [28120/21]
View answerMy Department’s IT backup arrangements are that frequently-changing data is backed-up nightly, infrequently-changing data is backed-up weekly, and both types are also stored offsite on encrypted tape media.
The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the linked document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly.
471. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person can apply for a SUSI grant based on the financial status of a family member (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28151/21]
View answerThe objective of the statutory based student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.
For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.
A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in studies of at least three years and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous October. Otherwise he or she would continue to be assessed on the basis of parental income.
Only in exceptional cases, where compelling evidence of estrangement from parents/guardians is provided, can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address, Article 21(3) (b) of the Scheme refers. Otherwise he or she is assessed as a dependent student for student grant purposes, i.e. assessed on the basis of the income and address of parents/legal guardians.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI and subsequently to the Student Grants Appeals Board within the statutory timeframes.
472. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount spent by his Department on external professional legal services in 2014, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [28304/21]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was legally established on 2 August 2020. In 2020 my Department has incurred €11,022 in legal fees. This figure constitutes costs paid directly to a barrister or solicitor by the Department.
473. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the investment made by his Department and State agencies under its remit in each year in cyber security for the past ten years. [28847/21]
View answerFor operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose details, including any budgetary matters, of my Department’s cyber security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any disclosure of information in relation to cyber security matters could assist malicious actors in identifying potential vulnerability and potentially compromise my Department’s information security posture.
474. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the status of a naturalisation application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27426/21]
View answerThe immigration case of the person concerned was considered under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), which resulted in a Deportation Order being made in respect of them on 24 February 2020. Notification of that Order was issued by registered post dated 19 August 2020. That communication also advised the person concerned of the requirement that they present to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) on 19 September 2020, to make arrangements for their removal from the State. I am advised that they failed to do so.
A detailed consideration of all aspects of their case will have been carried out before a decision is made to grant permission to remain in the State or to make a Deportation Order. This includes a full consideration of their private and family rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights as well as consideration of their work situation, among other issues.
The effect of a Deportation Order is that the person named on the Order is legally obliged to leave the State and to remain outside of the State. The enforcement of Deportation Orders is an operational matter for GNIB. However, I can assure the Deputy that both my own Department and the GNIB are taking a pragmatic approach in relation to the enforcement of Deportation Orders during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the clear commitments previously given, no Deportation Orders are being enforced during the pandemic, except in cases where an individual may be a threat to national security or whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest.
Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) allows an Order to be amended or revoked by making a request to the Minister for Justice. In making a revocation request, a person can raise new or changed circumstances in their case including in relation to their country of origin. I encourage people to be as detailed as possible in their representations to me and my Department so that fully informed decisions can be made at the appropriate time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility, inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
