Written Answers Nos. 451-470
451. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of providing a dedicated IT support staff and dedicated educational technology staff member to each of the further education and training colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32964/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled. I will arrange for an early response to issue directly to the Deputy.
452. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and percentage of students accepted onto a higher education course on the basis of a further education qualification in each year since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32965/21]
View answerThe National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 set a participation target of 10% for students who are new entrants to higher education and their basis for admission is a further education and training qualification for 2019. The 2018 Progress Review of the NAP shows that participation increased from 6.6% at the commencement of the NAP to 7.3% in 2017/2018. The source of the data is the CAO.
In 2018/19, an entry basis tag was introduced in the Student Record System which provides the number of further education qualification holders in higher education identified by the HEIs themselves as entering their course based on a further education qualification for 1st year full-time undergraduate new entrants.
This data shows that for 2018/2019, the number of Further Education Award or equivalent students is 2,355 and for 2019/2020 it is 2,579. This equates to 5.6% and 6.0% respectively for all full-time undergraduate 1st time new entrants to higher education whose basis of admission is a further education qualification.
453. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an annual forum to report progress to stakeholders on progress made on access as committed to under the national access plan has been established; if he will continue this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32983/21]
View answerThe third National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015 – 2019) was launched in December 2015. A progress review published in 2018 extended the lifetime of the current Plan to 2021.
A commitment of this current National Access Plan (NAP) was to hold annual forums to report progress to stakeholders on progress made under NAP and to inform future prioritisation of actions for the next phase of implementation. The 2021 Forum was held on 23rd April and was a key consultative event for the next National Access Plan which will run from 2022-2026. It was the fifth annual forum.
The continued need for these annual access forum will considered in the development of the next National Access Plan, which is currently on-going.
454. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage participation of each non-manual worker group in higher education each year since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32984/21]
View answer455. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage participation of each semi, unskilled manual worker group in higher education each year since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32985/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 455 together.
Up until recently, the HEA collected data on the socioeconomic background of students through the Equal Access Survey, which is an annual voluntary set of questions asked of all first-year undergraduate new entrant students to HEA funded higher education institutions.
Since 2017/18, the use of Deprivation Index Scores (DIS) has replaced the survey data as a socioeconomic measure. The National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 set participation targets of 30% for the non-manual worker group and 35% for semi/unskilled manual worker group by 2019 and, following a publication of a Progress Review of the NAP in 2018, targets of 32% and 40% respectively were set for these groups for 2021. However, due to the need for census data and the change in data collection, participation rates are only available for 2016/17 which show that 27% of the non-manual worker group, and 36% of the semi/unskilled manual worker group, participated in higher education.
456. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage participation of full-time first-time mature students in higher education each year since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32986/21]
View answerThe table below provides a summary of full-time mature new entrants in higher education (as a percentage of all new entrants) since 2015/2016.
The National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 (NAP) was launched in December 2015, and aims to ensure that the student body entering, participating in, and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population. First time Mature Students are specifically identified as a target group within the National Access Plan. There are two separate targets contained in the Plan, one for full-time mature entrants, and one for the combined total of full and part-time/flexible entrants as a percentage of all new entrants. For 2019, a participation target of 16% was set for the full-time mature entrants group and 24% for the full-time and part-time/flexible combined mature entrants group.
The 2018 Progress Review noted rates of participation by mature students had declined since the commencement of the NAP and recommended that research into participation by mature students be commissioned to examine the key influencing factors, including challenges and barriers. A firm of consultants were appointed by the HEA in 2020 to carry out the review and the final report was published on the 14th June 2021. The finalisation of the report is timely as it coincides with the consultation process on the next National Access Plan (2022-2026). Its findings and recommendations will input into the development of the next Plan and provide an evidence base for more effective targeting and tailoring of actions to support mature students.
Mature new entrants as a % of all new entrants
|
2015/16 |
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
|
10.5% |
9.2% |
8.4% |
7.6% |
7.1% |
457. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage participation of persons with disabilities in higher education in each year since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32987/21]
View answerThe National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 (NAP) was launched in December 2015, and aims to ensure that the student body entering, participating in, and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population. Students with disabilities are specifically identified as a target group within the NAP. A participation target of 8% was set for students with disabilities in higher education for 2019 and, following a publication of a Progress Review of the NAP in 2018, which showed this target had been exceeded, a new target of 12% was set for 2021. Considerable progress toward realising the targets of the National Access Plan has been achieved amongst the students with disabilities target group with the 2021 target already exceeded in 2019/20 academic year.
The proportion of students in higher education with a disability comes from the Equal Access Survey, which is an annual voluntary set of questions asked of all first-year undergraduate new entrant students to HEA funded higher education institutions. The data shows that in 2015/16, 8.6% of students with disabilities participated in higher education (as a % of all new entrants); in 2016/17, 10.3% participated, and in 2017/18, 10.5% participated. Due to GDPR issues, data on students with disabilities is not available for the 2018/19 academic year. In 2019/2020, 12.3% of students were identified as having a disability (as a % of all new entrants).
The development of the next National Access Plan 2022 – 2026 is currently underway.
458. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of students studying on a part-time, flexible basis in higher education in each year since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32988/21]
View answerThe HEA collect data on enrolments for undergraduate and postgraduate which includes remote learners. The table attached gives the percentage of undergraduate and postgraduate students in each of the years requested. The total proportion of students studying on a part-time or flexible basis has increased from 19.2% in 2014/15 to 23% in 2019/20.The data given for the 2019/20 year is the latest available.
|
Mode (UG+PG) |
2014/2015 |
2015/2016 |
2016/2017 |
2017/2018 |
2018/2019 |
2019/2020 |
|
Distance Education |
1.2% |
1.3% |
1.7% |
1.5% |
1.4% |
1.3% |
|
E-Learning |
1.2% |
1.4% |
1.5% |
1.9% |
2.4% |
3.1% |
|
Full-time |
80.8% |
80.6% |
80.0% |
79.3% |
78.0% |
77.0% |
|
In-Service education |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
Part-time |
16.8% |
16.7% |
16.7% |
17.3% |
18.1% |
18.6% |
|
Total |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
459. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of members of the Traveller community participating in higher education in each year since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32989/21]
View answerThe number of Traveller students in higher education comes from the Equal Access Survey which is an annual voluntary set of questions asked of all first-year undergraduate new entrant students to HEA funded higher education institutions. Gathering accurate data on Irish Traveller participation is difficult and is influenced by varying response rates to the survey.
In 2020, the HEA carried out a review on the number of Irish Travellers participating in Higher Education. This review involved the analysis of all enrolments from the Student Record System and linking these back to the Equal Access Survey records for each cohort of new entrants. The findings of the review show that in
- 2015/2016, 100 Travellers participated in higher education of which 30 were new entrants;
- 2016/2017, 103 Travellers participated in higher education of which 32 were new entrants;
- 2017/2018, 118 Travellers participated in higher education of which 50 were new entrants.
- Due to GDPR issues, Traveller data is not available for the 2018/2019 academic year;
- Using a similar methodology to the review, in 2019/2020, 110 students were identified as Travellers, of which 48 were identified as new entrants. It is important to note that due to missing data in 2018/19, figures for 2019/20 onwards may underestimate the number of Traveller students in the system over the next few years.
Irish Travellers are a target group of the National Access Plan 2015 – 2021. It is important that all efforts are made to ensure we have accurate and up-to-date record of the number of Traveller students in higher education as we commence the development of the next National Access Plan 2022 – 2026.
460. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of support being developed to support students in accessing digital devices for educational purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33062/21]
View answer461. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students that have received assistance in accessing digital devices in the previous educational term; the types of devices provided in tabular form; the level of support envisaged for the new term beginning in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33063/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together.
On 22 July 2020, the Government approved a €168 million package of supports for the further and higher education sectors to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. €15 million of this was earmarked for devices to support disadvantaged students.
The decision to allocate funding in this area responded to concerns raised by higher and further education providers, and by student representatives, regarding the digital divide in the context of the shift to online and blended models of learning as a result of COVID-19. €10 million was provided to the higher education sector and €5 million to the further education sector. A total of 21,336 laptops were procured under this scheme by the higher education institutions and ETBs. A total of at least 16,526 students have now directly benefited from support in accessing ICT devices, with more to benefit as the scheme is still continuing.
From within the overall total of 21,336, 16,668 laptops were procured via a bulk order placed by HEAnet on behalf of higher education institutions and ETBs. The type of laptop procured via the bulk order was a mix of Dell 5410 i3 and i5 (plus a small number of i10), 8GB RAM, 256 SDD, 14” 1366x768 res screen, with 5 year next business day support and warranty. Devices were also pre-loaded with Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat reader and some additional software from Microsoft.
The remainder of the laptops were procured directly by the higher education institutions and ETBs in accordance with the needs of their student cohort. The Department does not have the specifications of the devices procured directly.
There is some scope to support additional students in the 2021/22 academic year from the pool of devices that have already been procured – whether in relation to devices that have not yet been distributed or those that will be returned by students who are concluding their studies.
My Department is currently considering the appropriate supports for the next academic year in the context of specific costs and particular issues arising from the impact of the pandemic on the tertiary sector and students.
462. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of contracts that have not been honoured by industry partners in Science Foundation Ireland research centres; the value of unhonoured contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33108/21]
View answerI should first explain that the relationship between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centres and their industry partner should not be perceived as purely transactional. The agreements (Contract Research Agreement) that companies enter with SFI Research Centres are to engage in deeply collaborative research projects.
As of end 2020 1,034 Contract Research Agreements (CRAs) with 528 individual companies have been signed by SFI Research Centres. These CRAs represent commitments of over €250m from industry – over €128m of which is cash and just under €125m of which is in-kind. From time to time a CRA may be signed but terminated before a project gets fully off the ground. This is generally due to changes in company structures or ownership such as mergers or acquisitions. Of the 1,034 CRAs signed just 9 (0.9%) have been terminated due to such circumstances. Those CRAs terminated represented value of just under €600k cash commitments and €370k in-kind commitments.
463. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of academic staff in Science Foundation Ireland research centres; the number of staff on permanent contracts; the median wage paid to academic staff; the number of PhD researchers in the research centres; the average stipend paid to PhD researchers connected to the research centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33109/21]
View answerThe number of academic staff working within Science Foundation Ireland Research Centres is 757. I assume that by “PhD researchers” the Deputy means PhD students of which there are currently 1,231 carrying out their work at SFI Research Centres.
A detailed breakdown of the number of staff on permanent contracts or otherwise is not available. This information is held by each individual institution.
In relation to the median wage of academic staff, for the majority of awards, SFI does not provide a contribution towards the salary of the lead applicant (Principal Investigator), co-applicant (Co-investigator) or any Funded Investigator. Exceptions apply, where salary is allowed in certain circumstances, or is partly supported for these individuals. SFI provides contributions to fund the salaries of other team members according to specific guidelines as set out in the SFI Grant Budget Policy. Any contributions made by SFI are in line with a published SFI Team Member Budget Scale which is available on the SFI website.
SFI funds postgraduate student stipends at a flat rate of €18,500 per annum for up to four years. Where adequate justification is provided, SFI may contribute to MD or PhD training of Medical Practitioners for a maximum of three years. In addition, SFI makes a standard €5,500 contribution towards the annual cost of postgraduate fees, for up to four years.
I might add that full details on the SFI Grant Budget Policy is available on the agency’s website at the following URL:
https://www.sfi.ie/funding/sfi-policies-and-guidance/budget-finance-related-policies/SFI-Grant-Budget-Policy-April-2021.pdf
464. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when his Department will publish the research and development budget 2020-2021; the estimated public spend for 2020, 2021 and 2022 on research and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33111/21]
View answerThe data in the Research and Development Budget Survey is compiled annually from a comprehensive survey of Government Departments and Agencies. This year’s survey is still in the field and I expect its publication in Q4 this year. The estimated public expenditure is €817m for 2020 and €905 for 2021. Estimated figures for 2022 are not available.
465. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average number of European credit transfer and accumulation system associated or acquired through each of the 10,158 places on 294 courses under Springboard+ 2021 announced on 14 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33112/21]
View answerSpringboard+ 2021 was launched on 14th June 2021, providing 10,158 places on 294 courses. As a result of multi-annual funding of graduate conversion courses, this leads to a combined total of 13,128 places in 399 courses available in the 2021/22 academic year under Springboard+ 2021 and HCI Pillar 1. Attached is the average number of European credit transfer and accumulation system (ECTS) associated or acquired for Springboard+ 2021.
466. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the capacity in each of the Youthreach services in County Waterford in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33118/21]
View answerThe Youthreach programme is a national programme of education and training for early school leavers.
The Youthreach programme provides two years integrated education, training and work experience for unemployed early school leavers without any qualifications or vocational training, who are between 16 and 21 years of age. The programme offers participants the opportunity to identify and pursue viable options within adult life, provides them with opportunities to acquire certification, and includes a work experience element to prepare participants for progression on to further study, training or working life.
I outline below the capacity identified in each of the Youthreach centres in Co Waterford.
|
Youthreach Centre |
Capacity |
|
Subla, Waterford Youthreach |
21 |
|
Tramore Youthreach |
25 |
|
Waterford Youthreach |
42 |
|
Dungarvan Youthreach |
27 |
|
Wexford Youthreach |
23 |
|
Gorey Youthreach |
31 |
|
New Ross Youthreach |
35 |
|
Enniscorthy Youthreach |
40 |
467. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of full-time equivalent persons engaged in research and development each year since 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33202/21]
View answerIt is estimated that there were a total of 32,727 full-time equivalents persons working in R&D across all the sectors of the economy in 2020. This figure is made up of the R&D personnel in the Business, Higher Education and Government sectors as outlined in the table below.
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 (est) |
2020 (est) |
|
|
Business Sector |
17,821 |
18,383 |
18,203 |
19,542 |
18,956 |
19,733 |
20,322 |
|
Higher Education Sector |
14,847 |
15,012 |
15,178 |
13,211 |
11,243 |
11,243 |
11,243 |
|
Government Sector |
826 |
951 |
993 |
1,051 |
1,196 |
1,194 |
1,162 |
|
Total FTE R&D Personnel |
33,494 |
34,346 |
34,374 |
33,803 |
31,396 |
32,170 |
32,727 |
The figures for the business sector come from the biennial survey on Business Expenditure on Research and Development (BERD) which is produced by the CSO. The 2019-2020 BERD survey was published in March this year and the figures for 2020 are an estimate.
The figures for the higher education sector are taken from the biennial survey on Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) and my Department is responsible for this survey. The latest HERD survey covers the academic year 2018-2019 so the figures for 2019 and 2020 are estimates. There was a break in the series after 2016 following a revision of the methodology for HERD personnel which now classifies research staff more accurately. The next HERD survey covering 2020-2021 will be undertaken in Q1 2022 and its publication is expected in Q4 2022.
The figures for the government sector come from the annual survey on the Research and Development Budget (R&D Budget) which is also under the remit of my Department. Figures for 2020 are estimated as this year’s survey is currently in the field and I expect its publication in Q4 this year.
The table above is published in the annual R&D Budget Survey which is available on gov.ie. The latest iteration is available on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3d811-the-rd-budget-2019-2020/
All these surveys are carried out using the definitions, rules and guidelines set out in the OECD’s Frascati Manual. This allows for a common dataset to be collected across all OECD and EU countries and facilitates international comparisons and benchmarking.
468. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places taken up in private colleges and public higher education institutes under springboard each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33203/21]
View answerSpringboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free and subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. Springboard+ 2021 was launched on 14th June 2021. Attached is the number of course participants/ places taken up each year since 2011 with the breakdown between public and private education providers.
|
Course Particpants by Provider & Sector |
Course Particpants by Provider & Sector |
Course Particpants by Provider & Sector |
||
|
Springboard+ Call Year |
Institutes of Technology |
Universities |
Private/Other |
Total No. of Course Particpants |
|
2020/2021 |
5,899 |
3,025 |
4,033 |
12,957 |
|
2019/2020 |
3,951 |
2,314 |
3,713 |
9,978 |
|
2018/2019 |
3,619 |
1,512 |
4,003 |
9,134 |
|
2017/2018 |
1,935 |
903 |
3,517 |
6,355 |
|
2016/2017 |
1,332 |
667 |
3,199 |
5,198 |
|
2015/2016 |
1,921 |
916 |
4,914 |
7,751 |
|
2014/2015 |
1,298 |
672 |
3,205 |
5,175 |
|
2013/2014 |
2,352 |
948 |
2,886 |
6,186 |
|
2012/2013 |
2,443 |
939 |
2,927 |
6,309 |
|
2011/2012 |
1,909 |
494 |
2,501 |
4,904 |
|
Note: there were 2 calls for proposals in the 2011/12 academic year but only 1 call in the other years. |
||||||
469. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the FET and Solas programmes funded through the training people for employment budget line of the National Training Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33204/21]
View answerProgrammes which are funded from the National Training Fund (NTF) Training for Employment budget line include VTOS, Blended Training, Bridging and Foundation Training, Community Training Centres, Local Training Initiatives, Specialist Training Providers, Specific Skills Training and Traineeship Training.
This budget provision enables the Skills to Compete and Retrofitting initiatives which gives people who lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 the skills they need to compete in the labour market if they are unable to re-enter their previous employment. In total there is €207.3 million allocated from the NTF for training people for employment.
470. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when phase 2, 4 and 6 off-the-job apprentice training will resume at full capacity in view of the fact that it is expected that third-level classes will resume on campus from September 2021 and second-level schooling has already resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33207/21]
View answerCraft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 60 existing available apprenticeship programmes. It is these 25 programmes which are delivered in phases of on-the-job and off-the-job training in Training Centres or Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities (depending on phase). These programmes were those most impacted by the shutdown of on-site learning activity in 2020 and 2021 given the practical nature of the apprenticeships.
Craft apprentices were prioritised for a return to on-site learning on 8 March 2020. Delivery of off-the-job phases is continuing, albeit with restricted numbers. The Government has committed €20m funding to increase the level of craft apprenticeship training capacity and work is underway around the country to put additional workshops in place to support increased activity, regardless of spacing requirements. There is will also be provision for on-site presence for some craft apprentices over the summer months. Appropriate protective measures will be in place and numbers on site will be controlled. This approach to returning on-site over the summer period will assist institutions and providers in organising and managing the safe return of larger numbers in the autumn.
A plan for re-opening of tertiary education was published on 15 June 2021. As part of this plan, a new framework is being developed for a safe return to on-site activity for September 2021. The framework allows institutions and providers to consistently and safely adapt to ongoing changes to COVID-19 guidance and circumstances. Planning is proceeding on the basis that full resumption of on-site activity is possible, subject to progress in the rollout of vaccinations and the prevailing public health advice at that time. The return to increased levels of on-site activity for apprentices will take place within public health guidelines.
SOLAS and the HEA are actively working with the education and training providers to identify additional solutions to ensure that craft apprentices are enabled to complete their training as quickly as possible.
