Written Answers Nos. 375-394
375. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount his Department and all associated agencies have spent on public relations consultancy costs since January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32649/21]
View answerMy department has not incurred any costs on public relations consultancy since January 2021.
377. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties which will be caused for students who sit the HPAT exams if the results are not released before the CAO course change option is closed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that HEAR and DARE eligible students will be particularly affected; if he can report on the date for release of the HPAT results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32675/21]
View answerThe HPAT is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and the RCSI. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the Universities, Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology, in line with their institutional autonomy in relation to admissions. Neither I nor my Department has a function in the administration of the HPAT or the CAO and it is not within my remit to determine either the release date for the HPAT results, or the close date for the CAO's change of mind facility.
It is my understanding that the HPAT results are to be released in late June, and that the CAO's change of mind facility will close on 1st July at 5pm. Therefore there should be, at a minimum, one day between the release of HPAT results and the closure of the change of mind facility.
378. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current and capital costs involved with each action item in the Interim Climate Action Plan under his Department’s responsibility. [32698/21]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has a number of actions under the Interim Climate Action Plan.
Action 14: Strengthen our delivery of public funding for basic and applied research to underpin government policy, meet our decarbonisation objectives and open up new economic opportunities
- My Department has recently launched its consultation on the next National Research & Innovation Strategy and the areas of climate research and grand challenges are explicitly considered. No specific or discrete current and capital expenditure is currently allocated. An allocation for a new National Grand Challenges Programme is expected under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
- SFI currently operates a challenge based funding programme, the SFI Future Innovator Prize Programme. It is expected that announcements will be made in the coming weeks which will reflect allocation of funding to address challenges, including those related to climate, under this programme.
- SFI recently launched a new SFI Infrastructure Programme Call. The SFI Research Infrastructure Programme supports the research community in building and sustaining the required infrastructural capacity to accomplish high-quality, high-impact and innovative research in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics that demonstrably enhance and support enterprise competitiveness and societal development in Ireland. This particular call is being run in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and will see co-funding of infrastructure (subject to international peer review) aligned to the research topics of particular relevant to SEAI which include wind energy, smart buildings, smart grids, transport, energy efficiency and more.
Action 50: Skill-up current contractors/other industry players in deep retrofit, NZEB and new technology installations
- The EU Upskilling Pathways Recommendation and the Skills to Advance programme are funded through the overall further education and training budget, and any provision specifically in relation to climate action elements would be within this overall allocation. Skills to Advance is funded through the National Training Fund (NTF) and there is an overall allocation of €23.3m in 2021 for this provision. Funding from the NTF is provided for through the annual Estimates process.
- In 2020 €500,000 was allocated within the July Jobs Stimulus to support development work to provide for the expansion of the National Retrofitting Programme. This funding was targeted to the development and rollout of NZEB programme development for reskilling of workers in anticipation of a significant expansion of provision in 2021. For 2021 €8m was allocated to supporting retrofit specific skills. This will provide up to 500 places on new specialist retrofitting training courses targeted towards unemployed persons, comprising a 10/12 week reskilling programme for unemployed persons to include training allowances in lieu of welfare payments.
Action 67: Set a trajectory for commencing and implementing a deep energy retrofit programme for the higher and further education sectors
- Undertake an updated space survey of the higher education sector, to fully ascertain the baseline with regard to energy efficiency and inform future capital investment
- Cost: Supports from external specialists at key points has cost the HEA in the region of €38,100 (exc. VAT) to date. The HEA are also seeking to develop a platform to manage and utilise the space survey data. The work done to date in this area has cost in the region of €29,600 (exc. VAT).
- Map the technical and administrative capacity required to design, deliver and oversee a deep energy retrofit programme for the higher and further education sectors
- Cost– this is cost neutral
- Progress implementation of the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme, including lessons learned, and assess potential for new projects
- Cost– The cost associated with the DFHERIS and SEAI co-funded Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme to date is €18m. This includes €6m which was committed to the first phase of the programme which identified 8 pilot projects across the higher education sector. A further €12m was recently announced for a second Pathfinder programme call with a view to project delivery in 2022.
Action 170: Support, through the education system, the required initiatives in the Just Transition through existing and new strategies being developed, and through ongoing collaboration with relevant Government Departments and Agencies
- HCI: 11 courses, 223 places cost €1.4m
- Springboard+: 14 courses, 310 places, cost €1.12m
379. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his key policy achievements in his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32719/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was founded in August 2020. My Department has achieved a number of key policy initiatives since its establishment which are helping to transform the landscape for tertiary education and for research and innovation in Ireland, providing a foundation for a leading knowledge-driven economy equipped for the future world of work as well as a bedrock for sustainable development of a more inclusive society for all. Key achievements include:
- The national Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-24, “Future FET: Transforming Learning” was launched in July 2020 and is framed around a vision for future FET in Ireland. Priorities for the sector are set out across three core pillars: building skills; creating pathways, and; fostering inclusion. There is also a strong focus on enabling themes, including staffing, capital investment and measurement and data.
- The “Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025” was launched in April 2021 and sets out a roadmap to fully embedding apprenticeship as an option for employers and learners across all sectors of the economy. Under the Plan, a National Apprenticeship Office will be established as a joint office of SOLAS and the HEA. Employer and partner engagement will continue through the establishment of a National Apprenticeship Alliance.
- My Department has been leading in collaboration with further and higher education stakeholders to provide direction and guidance throughout the pandemic with a focus on continuity in provision of service in a manner consistent with public health advice. Most recently I published the plan for a safe return to campus for September 2021, with the proposal being for mainly on-site activity for all students, learners, and staff. In addition, there will be some on-site provision over the summer months including on-site presence for apprentices, English Language Education, and the resumption of research activity, with appropriate protective measures in place.
- A €168 million package was also provided for third-level institutions and students, in order to cover costs incurred during the pandemic and to support students returning to college, including a doubling of the student assistant fund and €15m to support student access to technology including laptops.
- A public consultation to inform the development of the next National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education was launched in April 2021. The third National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015-2021) sets out the Department’s current strategy to address underrepresentation in higher education by those groups identified in the plan. The vision of the current National Access Plan (NAP) is to ensure that the student body entering into, participating in and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland's population.
- Government approval was obtained for the General Scheme of a Bill to reform the Higher Education Authority legislation and the General Scheme was published in May 2021. This marks a very significant milestone in a process to reform out-dated legislation and to put in place a new system with an appropriate balance between autonomy and accountability.
- In May 2021 Technological University status was granted to Athlone and Limerick Institutes of Technology. This is the third Technological University to be created since 2019 and shows a significant advancement of the programme to transform the landscape of higher education in Ireland, also critical in the catalysing greater regional collaboration and development.
- A National Consultation on the future of research and innovation in Ireland was launched in June 2021. This includes an online public consultation process which will take place over the coming weeks. In addition, key stakeholders across research, innovation, industry and civic society, will engage in a number of discussion fora. The outcomes from these consultation processes will mean stakeholders and the wider public will have a key voice to help inform the National Research and Innovation Strategy.
- A number of key interventions have helped in the context of the increased need for upskilling and reskilling in the context of the economic fallout from the pandemic, including initiatives under the July 2020 Stimulus package which provided an additional 35,500 places in the higher and further education sector and with 10,000 free courses for unemployed, self-employed or returners to work under Springboard+ 2021 announced in June 2021.
- A consultation on the 10-year Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy was undertaken in late 2020. Work on the development of this Strategy is ongoing with SOLAS and the Strategy is due to be launched in the near future. A review of the SUSI grant system is also currently underway. The review will determine if the grant system reflects the realities of the current student experience with a view to facilitating access and underpinning an inclusive approach.
380. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit are working towards enabling access to employment for persons from minority and or disadvantaged communities, including, but not limited to, persons with disabilities, persons from ethnic minorities, Travellers, Mincéirí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32741/21]
View answerInclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department, and my ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all, recognising the needs of vulnerable learners and the most marginalised, and to assist people in access to and progression through higher and further education and training. A range of supports and measures are in place, which include the following:
The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. Under 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 which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The 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. Further information in relation to student grant assistance is available from SUSI’s website, www.susi.ie. The telephone number for SUSI’s Helpdesk is 0761 087 874.
Equity of Access to Higher Education continues to be a national priority for the Government and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Programme for Government reflects the importance of supporting learners at risk of education disadvantage and learners with special education needs in higher education. The vision of National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 is that the student body entering, participating in, and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population. The plan set out five goals and more than thirty actions, developed following widespread consultation with stakeholders, with the aim of supporting increased access and participation in higher education by six main target groups.
Those groups include entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education; first-time mature students, students with disabilities, part-time/flexible learners, further education and training award holders; and Irish Travellers. The plan also indicated subgroups that require support, including lone parents, teen parents and ethnic minorities. Improving equity of access to higher education is an ongoing objective.
There are three main funding streams which support the implementation of the National Access Plan. These are:
- The Programme for Access to Higher Education;
- The Student Assistance Fund; and
- The Fund for Students with Disabilities
There are three strands to the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) with an overall funding envelope of €40.4m. Strand 1 supports access to initial teacher education from the target groups identified in the National Access Plan. Strand 2 provides bursaries of €5,000 to students who have been identified by their higher education institution as being the most socio-economically disadvantaged students in the target groups under the National Access Plan. Strand 3 supports regional clusters of higher education institutions with the aim of attracting additional students from groups currently under-represented in higher education.
A new National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education will be developed in 2021 for the years 2022-2026. Consultations on the approach to the development of the Plan is on-going.
The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards costs such as rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Students on full or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (NQF level 6-10) in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply for the SAF. The core allocation for the SAF is €9.1 million per annum which is expected to support circa 14,000 students. This includes €1 million which was added to the fund in 2017 for part-time students who are lone parents or members of the other access target groups. Prior to that the fund supported full-time students only. An additional €1 million was added to the fund in 2018 for students attending Professional Masters of Education (PME) courses, who are experiencing financial difficulty. This additional funding was also made available for the 2019/20 year and again in 2020/21.
The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) supports participation by students with a disability in further and higher education. The FSD is one of the main funding sources supporting participation by students with disabilities in approved further and higher education courses in Ireland. It also supports students from Ireland to study on approved courses in Northern Ireland, the UK and other EU countries. The actual level of support to be provided to individual students is decided by each HEI who carry out a needs assessment to determine the types of supports and accommodations needed. The 2020 allocation to the fund is €9.6m which is expected to support circa 14,000 students. A significant development with this Fund has been the inclusion of students on part-time courses in 2018 and this continued into 2019 and 2020 also.
A progress review of the National Access Plan, published in December 2018, acknowledges a number of significant positive developments and characterises the first phase of implementation of the NAP as a period of achievement and investment. A major element of both progress to date and the future implementation of the plan has been the increased investment in new access initiatives since the original publication of the National Access Plan (NAP).
The objectives of the National Access Plan are supported by a range of interventions and programmes:
In response to the lower than anticipated progress for Travellers, an Action Plan for Increasing Traveller Participation in Higher Education 2019-2021 was launched in 2019 and its aim is to advance Traveller participation in higher education within the context of approaches on retention and transition of Travellers across the education spectrum.
A study commissioned by the Higher Education Authority on the challenges facing mature students participation in higher education has recently been published. The finding of the report will be considered in the context of the new National Access Plan 2022 – 2026 commencing in 2022.
In 2020 approximately €42 million within the core funding allocated to HEIs was in recognition of the additional costs of recruiting and retaining students from National Access Plan target groups, including students with disabilities. This enables all HEIs to have an access infrastructure, including disability support services, in place that provides for the pre-entry and post-entry work required to support students from target groups access and successfully complete higher education.
Persons in the protection process (asylum and subsidiary protection) or leave to remain process are not eligible to access the statutory based SUSI grant scheme. However, the administratively based Student Support Scheme provides supports along similar lines to the SUSI grant scheme and is available to persons in the asylum, subsidiary protection or leave to remain process.
Budget 2021 provided for enhanced postgraduate supports from the 2021/22 academic year including the fee grant amount rising from €2,000 to €3,500 and the income threshold for eligibility for these grants increasing from €31,500, now €54,240. This is an initial step in meeting part of the Government’s commitments regarding SUSI grant support.
Apart from the student grant and dedicated access supports it is important to note the range of additional supports which have been put in place for students as part of Budget 2021 and as part of the Government's COVID response last year.
My Department is committed to the continued the roll-out of supports for students and targeted initiatives to support delivery of the vision and targets within the National Access Plan.
The level of funding available in the Student Assistance Fund for 2020 was doubled;
- €1.9m in the form of a once-off COVID-19 contingency fund to enable HEIs deliver local COVID-19 responses to support disadvantaged students;
- The level of funding for the 1916 Bursary Fund (also known as PATH 2) increased to €5 million per annum, which will provide an additional 200 bursaries, bringing the total number for 2021 to 1,000 bursaries for the most disadvantaged students in the country;
- An additional €20 million in funding for SUSI in 2021 to cover increased applications to the scheme;
- €6 million allocated to enhance SUSI support for postgraduates;
- €15 million scheme to support access to laptops and digital devices;
- €50 million to provide financial assistance to full time third level students in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on this group. This funding will offer financial assistance to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEI).
- €300,000 has been secured through the Dormant Accounts Fund for targeted supports to address the implications of COVID-19 on Traveller participation in higher education in 2021.
Fostering Inclusion is one of the three core pillars around which the Further Education and Training Strategy (FET) 2020-2024 is built. The FET sector is committed to increasing levels of inclusion through the provision of high quality, more accessible and flexible education and training programmes and supports suited to the identified needs of individuals, including persons with a disability, members of the Traveller and Roma communities, migrants and the unemployed, with the aim of enabling every citizen to participate fully in society.
SOLAS, working closely with my Department, has established multi-annual strategic performance agreements with the 16 ETBs. These agreements place a clear emphasis on inclusion for all. In terms of promoting equity, one of the most significant features of these new agreements is the setting of quantitative targets for inclusion of priority cohorts, which are derived from a combination of specifically identified local needs and government strategies and action plans, as well as the relevant EU strategies and policies. The channelling of specific programme budgets and/or resources towards provision for a particular priority group or cohort would be a decision to be made by individual ETBs.
Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 which was published in April the impacts of, and outcomes from, existing access to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programmes as well as other interventions across the sector will be examined to provide an evidence base for best practice and future interventions to deliver an apprentice population which better reflects the general population.
382. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to the Exchequer of restoring the grant adjacency rate to 24km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32788/21]
View answerThe student maintenance grant is a contribution towards the living costs of a student. It is not intended to cover the full costs of attending college. The student grant scheme does however, provide for different levels of maintenance support, depending on means. Grants are also provided at adjacent and non-adjacent rates. The higher non-adjacent rates are intended to provide additional support to those students who may be living away from home.
Budget 2011 provided for a number of student grant measures which came into effect for the 2011/12 academic year, including the change in the assessment of the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 24 kilometres to 45 kilometres.
The 24km distance criterion was originally set in 1968 and had not been updated in more than 40 years. Since then, significant improvements have taken place in the road and rail network and it is considered that the revised distance criteria is more consistent with the type of distances that students may legitimately be expected to commute to college.
The current qualifying distance of 45km for the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant takes into account a reasonable radius within which students may commute on a daily basis.
The cost of reversing the change to the distance criteria in the Student Grant, is estimated to be in the region of €28.5m.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 which is well underway and 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.
383. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the SUSI grant to all level 6 further education and training courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32789/21]
View answerAccording to most recent statistics available from the Department of Education, there were 9,486 full time Level 6* Post Leaving Certificate students (2018/19), while the total full time students registered for craft apprenticeship was 16,142 for the 2019/20 academic year. The average maintenance grant payable to a further education student is €1,995.
The estimated cost of extending the SUSI support for PLC Level 6 and training courses is €51.13m.
*Level 6 is the second year of study, as these students would have completed a one year Level 5 PLC course. There were 41,432 FET enrolments at level 5 for the 2018/19 academic year.
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.
Source: www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Key-Statistics/education-indicators-for-ireland-2020.pdf.
384. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the SUSI support for postgraduate courses to cover the full cost of fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32790/21]
View answerThe latest statistics from the HEA indicate that in the academic year 2018/19 there were 24,855 full-time post graduate students at approved institutions. Most EU and EEA students can expect the cost of fees for a year of full time study to be between €4,000 and €9,000. Based on an average cost of €6,500 the estimated cost of extending the SUSI support for post-graduate courses to cover the full cost of fees would be in the region of €161,557,000.
The Programme for Government contains commitments to, amongst other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. The review of the Student Grant Scheme is underway with over 250 submissions received via the public consultation process and over 9,000 survey responses were received through an online survey process. 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. At this point I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the review to indicate when any proposed changes will come into effect.
385. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of plans to regularise the terms and conditions of adult education tutors employed by education and training boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32472/21]
View answerThe Labour Court has made a recommendation in relation to a claim brought by SIPTU and TUI in respect of regularising the terms and conditions of Adult Education Tutors employed by Education and Training Boards which has been under consideration by officials in my Department, the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The recently ratified Public Service Agreement, Building Momentum, contains a mechanism to address outstanding adjudications, commitments, recommendations awards and claims within the terms of the quantum of the Sectoral Bargaining Fund available for agreed Sectoral Bargaining Units. My Department and officials from the Department of Education are engaging with the relevant unions to establish their sectoral bargaining priorities.
386. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if it is possible to reclaim a relative’s War of Independence firearm if it was surrendered to An Garda Síochána in the 1970s. [32572/21]
View answerI have been informed by An Garda Síochána that many historical items, including firearms, have been donated or surrendered to them over the years.
I have been further advised by the Garda authorities that, unfortunately, without more detailed information they are unable to track the relevant item and ascertain if it is possible to return it.
Therefore, I would advise the Deputy that the individual who wishes to reclaim the firearm should contact An Garda Síochána directly who will be in a better position to assist in this regard.
387. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary No. 174 of 19 May 2021, the reason Ireland has failed to provide the information relating to procedural time limits on the eJustice portal after more than three years; the actions she and her predecessor have taken during this time to ensure that this information is made available on the eJustice portal; the reason for the delay in providing information for the eJustice portal; if she will be amending or repealing section 18(h) of the Act in order that Irish citizens can enjoy the same data protection rights as all other EU citizens; and if not, the reason therefor. [32536/21]
View answerAs indicated to the Deputy in reply to his previous questions on this matter, the European e:Justice Portal contains information on both European Union law and the national law of the Member States of the EU.
The Portal is maintained by the European Commission. Information is provided by Member States via the European Judicial Network (EJN). While membership of and responsibility for the EJN is spread across my Department and the Courts Service, the Courts Service is Ireland’s primary contact point.
Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions.
The factsheet on Irish procedural time-limits to which the Deputy refers, was removed from the Portal for updating on foot of changes to the relevant legislation. It was inadvertently not re-uploaded due to pressure of more significant work. The factsheet has been revised and uploaded to the e:Justice Portal and can be found at:
https://e-justice.europa.eu/279/EN/time_limits_on_procedures?IRELAND&member=1
388. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice her plans to grant a blanket amnesty to front-line essential workers going through the immigration process and living in direct provision in order that they have leave to remain in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32569/21]
View answerFirstly, let me assure the Deputy that my Department has taken a pragmatic and compassionate approach to immigration and international protection arrangements in the context of COVID-19 and will continue to do so for as long as is necessary.
Furthermore, I fully acknowledge the important contribution that migrants have made to health and social care and other essential services in Ireland during the pandemic and beyond. I also recognise and acknowledge the crucial role front-line 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.
For those who are in the international protection process, our objective is to have decisions made on their applications, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security.
In the context of the permission to remain element of the process, each case is given a detailed consideration on its individual merits under all of the prescribed headings, which includes a full consideration of their private and family rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights, among other issues, before a decision is taken to grant or to refuse permission to remain.
I can also advise the Deputy that the issuing of letters recommending the refusal of international protection and permission to remain have been suspended since December and for the duration of Level 5 restrictions. The question of recommencing issuing these decisions will be kept under review in the coming weeks as the situation regarding international travel eases.
The same position also applies to the making and service of deportation orders, with the exception of some very limited circumstances in cases where an individual may be a threat to national security or whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that in cases where a Deportation Order has been made, section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) provides a mechanism under which a person subject to a Deportation Order can make a formal request to have that order revoked. Any such request, however, will need to be founded on new information or materially changed circumstances which have arisen since the decision to make the Deportation Order was taken. Any request made will be considered on its individual merits.
389. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will address a matter regarding a proposal by a community group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32573/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Justice is leading on the drafting of the implementation plan for the Drogheda Scoping Report, and is coordinating input from relevant departments, agencies and the Louth local authority to drive the recommendations forward. My Department will maintain an oversight role on the implementation of the scoping report, in close cooperation and coordination with other departments as well as the Louth local authority.
The publication of the implementation plan for the Drogheda Scoping Exercise is a key action in the Justice Plan 2021. As well as publishing the scoping report, my Department has identified some actions for early implementation which can be progressed in line with the finalisation of the implementation plan. As part of the input being sought from departments, the implementation plan will outline resources being put into the community in Drogheda. I look forward to bringing the implementation plan to Government in the near future.
I would further note that all applications for funding in any area of community safety that are received by my Department are welcome, and will receive appropriate and thorough consideration as part of the relevant funding assessment process.
390. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that junior barristers can earn as little as €25 a day for court days; if she will reverse cuts to professional fees made during 2008 to 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32584/21]
View answerAs I outlined in my reply to Question No. 226 of 16 June 2021 responsibility for unwinding professional fee cuts imposed between 2008 and 2011 rests with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. However, my Department has engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with a view to having this issue resolved.
It is my understanding that the matter is under consideration by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and will be examined further in the context of wider public pay policy and the implications for public expenditure.
391. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the amount her Department and associated agencies have spent on social media advertising since the beginning of January 2021 until 12 June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32617/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has spent €12,566.66 on social media advertising since the beginning of January 2021 until 12 June 2021. This was exclusively for boosting social media posts in relation to the 'No Excuses' awareness campaign on sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Two of the agencies under the aegis of my Department have incurred costs for social media advertising in the timeframe outlined, as set out in the table below.
|
Agency |
Cost |
|
Policing Authority |
€1,191.85 |
|
An Garda Síochána |
€2,599.00 |
392. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the amount her Department has spent on social media content production since the beginning of January 2021 until 12 June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32634/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that my Department has had no spend on social media content production since the beginning of January 2021 until 12 June 2021.
All content for social media is produced in-house with the exception of media campaigns such as the Still Here and No Excuses campaigns, for which there were no social media content production costs for the period in question.
393. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the amount her Department and all associated agencies have spent on public relations consultancy costs since January 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32651/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has had no public relations consultancy costs since January 2021.
Four of the agencies under the aegis of my Department have incurred costs for public relations consultancy services in the timeframe outlined, as set out in tabular form below.
|
Agency |
Cost (€) |
|
An Garda Síochána |
79,008.82 |
|
Data Protection Commission |
5,909.38 |
|
Irish Prison Service |
541.00 |
|
Legal Services Regulatory Authority |
1,250.00 |
394. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when religious services will recommence in prisons given vaccines are being rolled out and social distancing is possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32671/21]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that 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 Service, will set out a phased unwinding of the restrictions that were introduced to prevent the possible of spread of Covid-19 into our prisons. A date for the resumption of religious services will be agreed as part of these wider plans.
While the unwinding of prison restrictions and the resumption of religious services is a priority for the Irish Prison Service, 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 Prison Service must take account of the risks of Covid-19 transmission in a congregated setting and the fact that a large cohort of people in custody and staff working in our prisons have not yet been fully vaccinated when reviewing the unwinding of prison restrictions.
In this regard, a vaccination programme commenced on 9th June 2021, on a prison by prison basis, with vaccinations being administered by the National Ambulance Service, supported by Irish Prison Service health care teams to all prisoners, and unvaccinated staff under 40 years of age.
Revised guidelines and controls for the safe celebration of religious services have been developed and approved and I wish to advise the Deputy that Chaplains have continued to work in all prison establishments during lockdowns, providing spiritual and pastoral support services.
