Written Answers Nos. 1077-1102
1077. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science , further to Parliamentary Question No. 592 of 11 May, the anticipated year of completion or inclusion within the overall block grant allocation of all items currently funded from the top-slice allocation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31823/21]
View answerMy Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions.
Ring-fenced allocations for specific strategic or important purposes are earmarked as part of the grant from time to time by my Department or the HEA.
This funding is generally used to steer rapidly required systemic change, tackle issues better addressed on a collective or sector manner, or handle urgent ad-hoc requirements. It can also sometimes be allocated through competitive processes based on submission and panel evaluation.
A guiding principle of top slice funding is that a top slice should be for a finite period and subsequently be mainstreamed into the main funding model or discontinued. However each top slice requires ongoing review to determine its suitability to remain as a top slice or be mainstreamed, therefore it is not possible to provide an end date for the top slices as the position is reviewed annually.
In this regard a formal consultation process between the HEA; my Department and representative bodies of the universities (Irish Universities Association) and the technological sector (Technological Higher Education Association) takes place annually to discuss the proposed ‘top-slice’ allocations for the following year.
1078. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science , further to Parliamentary Question No. 592 of 11 May, the difference between his Department's directed top slice and the strategic systems top slice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31824/21]
View answerMy Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions.
The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions via the recurrent funding model. Top sliced, ring fenced funding for specific strategic or important purposes is a component of the funding model.
Annually a top slice consultation process is undertaken between the HEA, the department and sector representatives via the sectoral Top-Slice Working Group
In this regard 'Strategic System Top Slices' are agreed between the HEA and the sector for specific sectoral strategic purposes, for example the Irish Survey of Student Engagement.
The ‘DFHERIS Directed Top-slices’ refer to top-sliced funding from the annual recurrent grant which are agreed as part of the annual budgetary process with the Department, for example the Technological University Transformation Fund.
1079. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if higher education related expenditure from the national training fund is subsequently counted within the overall block grant allocation to the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31831/21]
View answerMy Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions via the recurrent funding model.
The amount provided under the National Training Fund (NTF) Enterprise Focused Higher Education provision is included in the overall recurrent grant to the sector.
The 2021 recurrent allocation is €1,182,834,000; provided from B4 General Current Grants (€1,034,482,000) and NTF Enterprise Focused Higher Education (€148,352,000).
The NTF Higher Education provisions under Springboard; Apprenticeship and Human Capital Initiative are not allocated as part of the recurrent grant to the sector.
1080. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the expenditure on SUSI each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31832/21]
View answerThe table below provides a breakdown of the expenditure relating to student grants and administration costs for each of the financial years 2011 to 2020, as requested by the Deputy.
The Student Grant Scheme is administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), a business unit of City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB). The CDETB was appointed as the awarding authority for the student grant scheme in 2012.
The data encompasses expenditure relating to student support from the other 66 awarding authorities who continued to process renewal applications on a transitional basis, pending the full transfer of all grants to SUSI.
Please note the figure for Student Support in 2020 includes the €18.5m extra once off allocation for Covid-19 measures.
1081. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if graduate entry medical students were exempt from the progression criteria in a SUSI fees waiver application and could access funding as if it was their first undergraduate course. [31833/21]
View answerUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
To satisfy the terms and conditions of 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.
Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, in order to widen access to GEM programmes, and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU students are partly subsidised by the State via the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Institutions participating in the graduate medical programme have been requested to provide accompanying services and supports to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged students in the programme. Details of these services and supports are available from the relevant institution.
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 approval was given to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme. The review is being conducted by external consultants. It is anticipated that the SUSI review will be completed later this year and will inform policy priorities for the next Estimates process and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding.
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.
1082. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total allocated capital investment since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31834/21]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed in summer 2020. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science (DFHERIS)’s Vote, Vote 45, came into effect at the Further Revised Estimates 2020. As part of the 2020 Estimates process, functions relating to further and higher education were transferred from Vote 26 (Education & Skills), along with associated funding relating to the full 2020 financial year. In 2020 my Department was allocated €192m net capital expenditure.
To note that the 2020 figure of €192m does not include any capital funding for research, innovation and science associated with functions transferred from Vote 32 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation) on 1 January 2021. In 2021, my Department was allocated €498m in net capital expenditure, including research, innovation and science.
My Department is investing in a number of programmes and projects to advance the delivery of the ambitions for Ireland’s further and higher education sectors. These projects will expand capacity in further and higher education institutions, will support a pipeline of talent and skills aligned with national and regional needs, and will also upgrade existing infrastructure to improve the campus environment – taking account of energy efficiency, as well as best practice in teaching and learning. As this past year as shown, research plays a crucial role and has a positive impact across our society. My Department is investing in a number of projects that will encourage society as a whole to engage in Research and Science. These projects will provide an increased focus on research and innovation and will inform how we respond to the challenges we are facing today and will be a key driver of our future society.
The published Estimates for my Department’s Vote provides information regarding capital expenditure and may be of assistance to the Deputy.
1083. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of extending access to the fund for students with disabilities to all 26 further education and training programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31835/21]
View answerThe purpose of the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) 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. FSD funding of €1.942m is currently allocated to the FET sector in respect of participants on the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Programme.
It is not possible to identify the cost of providing the funding provision of this fund to each individual programme as significant differences exist with regard to the type and length of supports that would be needed on other programmes and the different profile of learners on each programme.
While funding from the FSD does not extend beyond PLC, there are supports available to students with disabilities on all further education programmes allocated by ETBs on a case by case basis which are included in the programme cost.
1084. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of non-EU students who enrolled in higher education in each of the past two years. [31895/21]
View answerThe information the Deputy is seeking is not held by the Department. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) collates data in relation international students studying in public higher education institutions in Ireland each year, and this information is available on the statistics page of their website
https://hea.ie/statistics/data-for-download-and-visualisations/enrolments/ (under 'International Enrolments').
Please note that figures for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic year are not yet published on the HEA website.
1085. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider revising the residency rules governing eligibility for the SUSI grant that prevents Irish citizens who return from non-EU countries from receiving the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31896/21]
View answerUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
With regard to the residency criterion, in order to be eligible for a grant, a "student", as defined in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011, must demonstrate that he/she has been resident in the State for at least three years out of the five year period ending on the day before the start of his/her approved course of study. Similar and in some cases more restrictive residency criteria apply in other member States e.g. in the UK a student has to be resident for the three years immediately preceding his/her commencement in college.The three out of five year rule takes cognisance of students who wish to take time out to travel or work abroad. Such students can still meet the residency requirement if they have not been outside the State for more than two of the previous five years. It is also possible for students, who did not meet the residency requirement at the commencement of their studies, to have their eligibility reviewed if they meet the residency requirement during the course of their studies.
Alternatively a tuition student who meets the residency requirement in a Member State, the EEA or Switzerland and satisfies the nationality requirements may be eligible for a fee grant. There are no plans to extend beyond the current eligibility criteria.
1086. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science , further to Parliamentary Question No. 659 of 24 February, if he will provide assurances that the delay in issuing of the 2021 leaving certificate results will not disadvantage students in Northern Ireland from accessing third-level places here; if he has met his counterparts in Northern Ireland to discuss this; and the ongoing engagement between the two jurisdictions on this issue. [31899/21]
View answerThe timing of the Leaving Certificate results will not impact negatively on Northern Ireland students seeking to study here.
With respect to the questions of students with Leaving Certificates wishing to study in Northern Ireland, it is important to note that the latest date for the acceptance of conditional offers within the UCAS system is 8th September 2021. The publication of the Leaving Certificate results is 3rd September.
Last week, officials from my Department have contacted the Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Queens University Belfast (QUB), University of Ulster (UU), St Mary’s University College (SMUC) and Stranmillis University College to confirm that Irish Leaving Certificate candidates will be processed without any difficulty, and at this stage, QUB and UU have confirmed that no issue will arise. Based on last year’s experience, when the Leaving Certificate results were published on 7th September 2020, I do not anticipate any issues with the remaining two colleges.
1087. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the City of Dublin Education and Training Board has unilaterally decided to withdraw VTOS and BTEI courses from a college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31966/21]
View answerCDETB acknowledge that BTEI and VTOS have been a very positive dimension of Cabra Community College for the past thirty years. Cabra Community College is a second level site that accommodated further education and training provision when the site had capacity. However, Cabra Community College is growing rapidly, and is also planning to open a special education class to respond to the increasing demand for special educational needs provision in the area. In order to meet this demand, further education and training provision will need to be relocated.
The nearest site with similar course and capacity to accommodate the provision is Colaiste Íde. Students will benefit from a larger campus with more student activities, more learners, increased supports available, better adult facilities such as a canteen/ coffee shop. They will also be in an adult only setting which is preferable from a child safeguarding position.
CDETB have indicated to my colleagues that they are committed to providing education provision across the city and will continue to look for suitable sites in the Cabra area to benefit all of their learners.
1088. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to reverse the decision to include the pandemic unemployment payment in SUSI grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32011/21]
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 2021/22 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the period 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020.
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 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been treated as reckonable income for the SUSI means assessment process since it was introduced in March 2020. This means that income from the Covid-19 payment has the same standing and is treated in a similar fashion to other Department of Social Protection payments such as Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance.
A core principle which underpins the SUSI means assessment process is that there is consistency of approach and an equitable treatment of students and their families, to ensure a fair use of the financial resources available. This includes the treatment of similar social protection payments for students and families.
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 current income and applicants may also be asked to provide evidence of same.
My Department has liaised closely on an ongoing basis with the Department of Social Protection since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and how it impacts on the student grant scheme.
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 approval was given to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme. The review is being conducted by external consultants. It is anticipated that the SUSI review will be completed later this year and will inform policy priorities for the next Estimates process and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
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 including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.
1089. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students who avail of Erasmus or study abroad programmes for the upcoming academic year will be provided with a Covid-19 vaccine ahead of the 2021-2022 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32012/21]
View answerThe management of the vaccination programme is a matter for the HSE, in line with guidelines from the High Level Task Force on COVID 19 Vaccination. The priority of this Government is to support the roll-out of the programme in accordance with these guidelines.
Any adjustment to the currently published vaccination programme is a matter for the Department of Health.
1090. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the refusal by the University of Limerick to refund, or partially reimburse, postgraduate students for an international trip advertised as part of their masters degree programme that was replaced by an online workshop due to Covid-19 restrictions; the engagement he has had with the over 100 students in this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32014/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, higher education institutions are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation and are responsible for the day-to-day management and operational affairs of the institution including the determination of postgraduate tuition fees and refund policies. The matters raised are an internal matter for the University of Limerick (UL) and my Department is therefore not in a position to intervene in the related policies of the University.
This matter was raised in the Dail with me and I sought further clarity from University of Limerick. It advised that “Changes in university teaching delivery has had a significant impact on the costs and benefits of higher and adult education. First, it changes the nature of a university’s costs, reducing operational expenditure on utilities and services, but increasing the cost of IT services, staff training in new technologies and the provision of additional counselling and support services for students.
On balance, the costs of higher education are higher in a blended model, and this has been reflected in additional government grants to universities. The budgeting process and Masters programme pricing is completed by the Postgraduate Studies office in consultation with the faculty Deans. The eventual price of the Masters programme depends on a range of factors including the cost of delivery and the support structures including everything from administrative support to estate maintenance. The total fee after scholarships is approximately split 50/50 with central administration and the faculty. As an aside, scholarships for all programmes increased this year as a tacit acknowledgement of the impact of the pandemic.
Within the Kemmy Business School, the fees received do not have a list of sub accounts where the monies are allocated to various costs. The cost of the virtual workshop this year was significant and the time and effort put into the delivery of that workshop was equivalent or greater to the organisational effort for an international trip.
For the KBS, the key task was to ensure that students achieved the learning outcomes as per our mandate from Higher Education Authority (HEA) and audited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). We are confident that these outcomes were achieved. The cost of delivery between the international trip and virtual workshop or other alternatives cannot be distinguished.
While it is true to say that some operational costs such as heat, light, etc. have decreased other costs have increased. These increased costs include considerable human and technological resources into pivoting to online delivery at very short notice. These costs are spread across the campus and it is not possible to allocate them to particular programmes.
Overall, responding to the pandemic has changed the way that we provide education, but it does not mean that either the cost of provision or the value of the student learning is diminished. Despite the very real challenges, we have continued to adapt our education delivery in order to teach, assess and graduate students with the same high qualifications and skills”.
1091. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for payment structures to higher education institutes in circumstances in which institutions decide to opt for a blended or whole-time online delivery of programmes; if a whole-time online or blended programme will result in a reduced payment by the Higher Education Authority to the individual higher education institutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32029/21]
View answerThe delivery method of programmes in the first instance is a matter for the institutions, as autonomous bodies to consider.
My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions via the recurrent funding model.
The costs associated with any blended delivery methods of higher education programmes and the appropriate allocations of funding would be considered within the context of the review of the HEA allocation models for Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) across the entire higher education sector.
In 2016, the HEA appointed an independent Expert Panel to review the current allocation model for funding higher education and to make recommendations on the most appropriate funding model for the future. The completed review recommends reforms to the HEA funding distribution model.
A key recommendation of the RFAM report is the development of a Costing Model applied consistently across Higher Education Institutes (at present, there is some differentiation in the costing approach as between the Universities and the Technological Universities; Institutes of Technology). The review recommends moving away from the current ‘two-pot’ funding approach (with fixed proportionate allocations to universities/specialist colleges and institutes of technology) and towards a universal approach to supporting all higher education institutions.
This will involve the standard student-driven methodology determining base allocations, and a broadly universal set of metrics for research and innovation support, with individual adjustments and targeted funds ensuring that sufficient incentives remain to protect and to reinforce the diversity of different individual missions.
Recommendation 7 of the report identifies that the design of this new model will be informed by a short, focused review to establish a single, shared costing approach to be implemented across all higher education institutions. Deloitte were appointed by HEA in 2019 to undertake a scoping exercise on an appropriate model.
In 2021, the HEA working with my Department, DPER and sector representatives will commence development of a conceptual framework on the journey towards adoption of a Universal Costing System applying across the entire Higher Education Sector.
1092. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on a matter in terms of the calculation of SUSI grants to include the pandemic unemployment payment for 2020 (details supplied). [32037/21]
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 2021/22 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the period 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020.
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 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been treated as reckonable income for the SUSI means assessment process since it was introduced in March 2020. This means that income from the Covid-19 payment has the same standing and is treated in a similar fashion to other Department of Social Protection payments such as Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance.
A core principle which underpins the SUSI means assessment process is that there is consistency of approach and an equitable treatment of students and their families, to ensure a fair use of the financial resources available. This includes the treatment of similar social protection payments for students and families.
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 current income and applicants may also be asked to provide evidence of same.
My Department has liaised closely on an ongoing basis with the Department of Social Protection since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and how it impacts on the student grant scheme.
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 approval was given to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme. The review is being conducted by external consultants. It is anticipated that the SUSI review will be completed later this year and will inform policy priorities for the next Estimates process and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
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 including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.
1093. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is currently completing a plumbing apprenticeship since March 2020, which was a nine month on-the-job training block followed by a three month college attendance under Solas to complete phase 1 college attendance, will return in order for a person to complete phase 1 and move to phase 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32063/21]
View answerOf the 60 apprenticeship programmes, 25 are craft apprenticeships with a standardised seven phase programme of on-the-job and off-the-job training. Off-the-job training is delivered in phases 2, 4 and 6 of a craft apprenticeship in ETB Training Centres (Phase 2), Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities (Phases 4 and 6).
A rapid growth in craft apprentice registrations over the past 4 years, combined with COVID-19 related suspension of face to face off-the-job training during 2020 and 2021 has had a significant impact on the ability of craft apprentices to access off-the-job training in a timely manner. This has impacted on waiting lists for off-the-job training for electrical, plumbing, carpentry and joinery and motor mechanic apprentices in particular.
A number of emergency measures have been put in place to ensure that craft apprentices are facilitated in progressing in their programmes insofar as possible. Those apprentices who had been assigned to off-the-job training in January 2021 prior to the second lockdown were facilitated to complete theory elements of off-the-job training remotely during January and February. This group was prioritised for the phased return to off-the-job practical training and assessment during April and have now completed their phases.
€20M in capital expenditure has been allocated to SOLAS and the HEA to facilitate an additional 4,000 craft apprenticeship places across the system in the coming period in addition to €12M already allocated to support additional classes and teaching capacity to ameliorate COVID-19 measures. Spaces arising from these measures will begin to come on-stream in the second half of this year.
All institutions with learners (including apprentices) on site are operating on the basis of current public health guidance with face to face training operating at approximately 50% normal capacity. As the public health situation improves, increased capacity will become available within both the existing and new physical facilities.
SOLAS and the HEA are actively working with the education and training providers to identify additional solutions which will address the waiting lists for off-the-job elements of craft apprenticeship to ensure that apprentices are enabled to complete their training as quickly as possible.
1094. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice , further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 25 May, if special consideration can be given to the health circumstances of an applicant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30520/21]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 1 February 2019. However, the person concerned made a request on 23 October 2020, under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked and this will be considered as soon as possible. The decision will be that the existing Deportation Order will be either ‘affirmed’ or ‘revoked’.
As a person subject to a Deportation Order, they are legally obliged to comply with any reporting obligations placed on them by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). They may be directed to attend, either at the Burgh Quay office in Dublin, or at their local Immigration Office, at specified times on specific dates until such time as the deportation process has been completed.
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.
1095. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the status of a naturalisation application for a person (details supplied); if she will arrange for them to receive a citizenship application reference number; if she will expedite the return of his or her passport; if she will prioritise the application given its exceptional nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30521/21]
View answerI recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have been playing a key role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed in chronological order in the interests of fairness to applicants and are assessed individually in accordance with the legislation. There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the category of employment or the nationality of the applicant. All applicants are required to meet minimum periods of reckonable residence and standard checks are carried out as part of the overall process to maintain its integrity.
Currently, there are just over 24,600 applications on hand at various stages within the system, ranging from those just received to those where a decision has been made.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
The identity of every applicant must be confirmed to the greatest extent possible and a passport is a primary identifier. Therefore, it is a requirement of the naturalisation process that a current passport must accompany every application. Under normal circumstances, passports are returned approximately 10 days after their receipt. However, the current limits on staff attendance in the office due to COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in delays in the return of some passports.
Applicants are advised not to send in their application during the pandemic if they anticipate that they may have to travel at short notice. However, I fully appreciate that people may have to travel at short notice for emergency reasons and the citizenship website advises that in these circumstances, applicants should email the citizenship helpdesk at: citizenshipinfo@justice.ie, with the relevant details. Any request must be accompanied by appropriate scanned supporting material detailing the reasons for travel, such as medical information. Any request of this nature is dealt with promptly.
The pandemic has meant that citizenship ceremonies, the final stage of the process, cannot be held at this time. However, a temporary system that enables citizenship applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty to the State was opened in January 2021.
Approximately 2,894 people have received their Irish citizenship since then. A further 1,853 people have returned their signed statutory declarations and will receive their certificates of naturalisation in the coming weeks. By the end of this month, the Citizenship Division of my Department will have communicated with 6,500 applicants, offering them the opportunity to complete their citizenship journey through the statutory declaration process. Healthcare and other frontline workers are benefitting from these new arrangements.
Officials from the Citizenship Division of my Department have also met with doctors’ representatives in recent months, including Train us for Ireland, and that positive engagement will continue.
1096. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed for a person (details supplied) to regularise his or her status, whose stamp is now expired and has lived in Ireland for nine years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30526/21]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy held a Stamp 1G permission which expired on 7 February 2020.
On 22 July 2020, they submitted an application for an extension of student conditions. Following consideration of their application, on 4 November 2020, the person concerned was granted a Stamp 1 permission valid until 31 March 2021, in order to obtain an employment permit. They were advised that no further permission would issue without an employment permit. This permission does not appear to have been registered with their local Immigration Registration Officer.
The person concerned should contact the my Department by emailing: immigrationsupport@justice.ie in relation to their current circumstances in the State.
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.
1097. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice when she expects prison visits to resume as part of the exit from level 5 of the Living with Covid-19 Plan. [30543/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, all physical family visits to prisons have been suspended since 26th December 2020, following the country-wide move to level 5 of the National Framework for Living with Covid-19 and in line with the Irish Prison Service Framework for Restrictive Measures.
The Irish Prison Service is currently developing a new Framework for the Unwinding of Prison Restrictions which is informed by the recent Government Plan for reopening our society, set out in Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead.
The new Framework for Unwinding Prison Restrictions, which will be published later this month by the Irish Prison Service, will set out a phased unwinding of the restrictions that were introduced to prevent the possible spread of Covid-19 into our prisons. The plan for the resumption of physical visits will be included in the Framework.
The unwinding of prison restrictions and the resumption of physical visits is a priority for the Irish Prison Service, however, it is subject to a number of critical factors including:
- The need to maintain infection control measures;
- The roll out of the prison vaccination programme for both prisoners and staff;
- The roll out of the community vaccination programme;
- The availability of staff resources to facilitate the resumptions of physical family visits while continuing to resource the operation of Covid-19 posts including infection control and increased Courts activity.
It is likely that all visitors will continue to be subject to the Covid-19 screening procedures which have been in place since March 2020 and visitors will be requested not to attend if they have any Covid-19 symptoms, have been in contact with a person who has gone for testing, if they themselves have tested positive for Covid-19 and have yet to be cleared by their doctor, or if they have been abroad in the preceding fortnight.
Details on the procedures and arrangements will be announced by the Irish Prison Service in advance of the return of physical visits.
In the interim, the Irish Prison Service is acutely aware of the need for prisoners to maintain contact with their families and the new video visit system which was introduced in 2020 continues to allow families to maintain contact with those in custody.
The video call system has proven very successful and I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that when physical visits recommence, they will also retain the option of video calls for prisoners.
1098. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the status of the programme for Government commitment to review the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011. [30544/21]
View answerThe Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). OMCs are companies registered under the Companies Acts, the members of which are the owners of residential units within the development, which are established for the purposes of ownership and management of such common areas.
The Programme for Government commits the Government to conduct a review of the existing management company legislation. My Department will engage with other relevant Departments in relation to taking the appropriate steps to advance this matter.
1099. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if it is acknowledged that an applicant (details supplied) will be unable to provide requested documentation for 2015-2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30547/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It must be assured that the applicant has been lawfully resident in the jurisdiction for the relevant, claimed period. Therefore, all applicants must provide three separate proofs for each year of residence claimed. A list of documents that can be used as proof of residency can be found on our website at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Proofs-of-residence.pdf.
The onus is on the applicant to provide sufficient proof of reckonable residence for the period of residence claimed on the application form. Failure to provide sufficient proofs of residence with the application will result in the application being deemed ineligible.
The documents to send as proofs of residence are as follows:
1. If the applicant is employed, they must send their P60 for years up to 2018 or Employment Detail Summary from 2019 onwards, or if they are in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection they must provide a statement of payments/benefits received for each year.
2. Mortgage statements if they own their home or tenancy/rental agreement if renting.
3. Bank Statements for at least 3 months of each year showing day-to-day transactions and or Direct Debits for utility bills. Online shopping transactions are not sufficient as proof of residence in the State.
4. For the current year, the applicant should submit an employment letter from their current employer, which includes their name, address, date they commenced work with the employer along with 3 recent payslips.
If the applicant is unable to provide any of the above for each year, they may submit the following:
- Utility Bills such as Electricity or Gas bills (which show units usage), fixed line telephone, fixed line internet, fixed line TV.
- Letter from their GP showing their name, address and dates of attendance.
- Letter confirming attendance at medical appointments which include their name and address.
- Letter on headed paper from Sports Club/Social Club/voluntary organisation which shows their name, address and dates of attendance or involvement in the club or organisation.
- Letter from their child’s school confirming their attendance and the applicant’s involvement in the school life of their child.
- Any other proofs, similar to above, that in their opinion clearly demonstrates their residence in the State for the period in question.
If the applicant is financially maintained by a family member, they should provide evidence that the family member has or had the financial means to support the applicant for the period in question. The applicant must also still provide three proofs of residence in their name for each year, as outlined above.
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 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
1100. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that under the current system of admissions to Ennis courthouse there is no update system in place and persons are waiting for extended times at the entrance to the courthouse in all weathers for their case to be called; and if she will consider introducing a text alert system to inform those whose cases are being heard in order that they can make their way to the courthouse rather than wait outside for extended periods. [30613/21]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter.
Covid-19 has affected the way court lists are managed. Prior to the pandemic, I am informed that a Judge would have a callover of cases at the start of the court list to prioritise the running order of the court. Court users would then wait in the courthouse for their case to be called. Social distancing requirements have changed this way of working. I understand that court lists are now normally staggered with specific times slots assigned to cases. The new arrangements allow the courts to deal with as many cases as possible while ensuring public health guidelines are enforced.
However, court cases do not always run on schedule as some cases can run longer or finish quicker than anticipated. While this may cause some inconvenience to court users, it remains the safest option to manage court proceedings during the pandemic and ensure that people can have their cases heard.
I am informed that Ennis court lists operate on this model and generally court lists have been managed safely and successfully by implementing the new procedures. However, I understand from the Courts Service that the office recently had an issue at a court sitting where a court list was not staggered and this regrettably did lead to inconvenience for some court users. Extra space was opened up to accommodate as many people in the courthouse as could safely be accommodated and arrangements were made with some court users having to leave and return later in the day. I am advised that office management has subsequently ensured that staff understand the importance of staggering court lists and it is expected that this incident should not reoccur.
The Courts Service further informs me that it cannot establish a text alert system for court users as the Courts Service does not gather or receive mobile phone details of court users in the normal course of business. As such, the Courts Service's ICT systems cannot facilitate a text alert system. The Courts Service has also identified data protection issues, which may also arise if this suggestion was implemented.
The Courts Service are satisfied that the measures that they have in place will ensure that this type of incident should not reoccur.
1101. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons released from prison in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [30624/21]
View answer1102. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons released from prison in each month since January 2018. [30625/21]
View answer1129. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons released from Irish prisons in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [30973/21]
View answer1130. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons released from Irish prisons in each month since January 2020. [30974/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1101, 1102, 1129 and 1130 together.
The information requested by the Deputies has been sought. Unfortunately it was not possible to compile it in the time-frame permitted but I will revert to each of the Deputies directly as soon as the information is available.
|
Month |
Year 2021 |
Year 2020 |
Year 2019 |
Year 2018 |
|
Month |
Year 2021 |
Year 2020 |
Year 2019 |
Year 2018 |
|
January |
385 |
633 |
802 |
584 |
|
February |
445 |
690 |
714 |
621 |
|
March |
571 |
599 |
717 |
585 |
|
April |
527 |
542 |
741 |
626 |
|
May |
460 |
562 |
745 |
657 |
|
June |
533 |
663 |
639 |
|
|
July |
578 |
782 |
715 |
|
|
August |
450 |
640 |
570 |
|
|
September |
479 |
685 |
643 |
|
|
October |
533 |
738 |
663 |
|
|
November |
507 |
726 |
769 |
|
|
December |
576 |
713 |
725 |
|
Year |
Number of Releases |
|
Year |
Number of Releases |
|
2021 (end of May) |
2,388 |
|
2020 |
6,682 |
|
2019 |
8,666 |
|
2018 |
7,797 |
|
2017 |
9,332 |
|
2016 |
15,237 |
|
2015 |
17,420 |
|
2014 |
16,673 |
|
2013 |
16,103 |
|
2012 |
17,187 |
|
2011 |
17,413 |
