Written Answers Nos. 355-369
355. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of SUSI recipients under each income bracket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34028/21]
View answerThe was a total of 74,755 SUSI grant recipients for the 2020/21 academic year. The number of recipients under each income bracket as requested by the Deputy is in the table attached.
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.
Number of recipients for each income bracket
|
Type of Award |
Student numbers |
Income Bracket less than 4 dependent children |
4 to 7 dependent children |
8 or more dependent children |
|
Special Rate |
21,776 |
€24,500 |
€24,500 |
€24,500 |
|
100% Full maintenance |
31,720 |
€39,875 |
€43,810 |
€47,575 |
|
75% part maintenance |
1,658 |
€40,970 |
€45,025 |
€48,890 |
|
50% part maintenance |
3,232 |
€43,380 |
€47,670 |
€51,760 |
|
25% part maintenance |
2,953 |
€45,790 |
€50,325 |
€54,630 |
|
Post Grad special rate |
76 |
€24,500 |
€24,500 |
€24,500 |
|
Post Grad fee contribution |
1,256 |
€31,500 |
€34,615 |
€37,580 |
|
Student contribution 100% fee only |
8,170 |
€49,840 |
€54,765 |
€59,455 |
|
Student cont. 50% |
3,914 |
€54,240 |
€59,595 |
€64,700 |
356. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total allocated capital investment in higher education since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34029/21]
View answerWith regard to building, equipment and ICT investment, the total capital investment in the higher education sector since 2016 has been €244m. This refers to funding provided by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science since its establishment in 2020 and, prior to that, by the Department of Education and Skills.
For clarity, the above does not include Public Private Partnership (PPP) payments or funding for research grants or programmes, some of which would also have supported research infrastructure.
357. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount from higher education that has been allocated the Children’s Hospital each year; the projected expenditure from the higher education to the Children’s Hospital; the number of additional healthcare roles by profession that will be provided when the hospital is operational in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34030/21]
View answerMy Department has allocated €17m to support the provision of 3,486sqm of higher education facilities at the National Children’s Hospital. €10m of the funding allocated was drawn down by the Department of Health in 2019. The balance of funding is expected to be drawn down across 2021 and 2022.
This allocation will support provision of facilities for specialist undergraduate and postgraduate training in areas such as pediatric medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography and psychology. The higher education space is fully embedded in the overall hospital building project and is being delivered under the governance arrangements for that project.
In relation to 'the number of additional healthcare roles by profession that will be provided when the hospital is operational in tabular form', my Department has no information in this regard. The Department of Health has advised that as this relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE.
The Department of Health request that members of the Oireachtas should be advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
358. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the capital investment in further education and training each year since 2016; the anticipated expenditure in FET over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34031/21]
View answerPrior to the current National Development Plan (NDP), there was no dedicated capital investment envelope for the FET sector.
The current NDP marked a turning point. For the first time, a dedicated capital envelope was established for the FET sector. Available funding has increased from €5.5m in 2018 to €17.5m in 2020 to a planned investment of €32.5m in 2021.
FET funding for the coming years will be determined once the current NDP review concludes.
|
Year |
€m |
|
2016 |
3 |
|
2017 |
3 |
|
2018 |
6 |
|
2019 |
13 |
|
2020 |
17.5 |
|
2021 |
32.5 Allocation |
|
2022 |
35 Provisional |
|
2023-2026 |
Allocations to be determined following the review of the NDP |
359. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta an bhfuil a Roinn i mbun comhráití le Cumann Ollscoileanna na hÉireann, leis an Údarás um Ardoideachas agus leis an Lár-Oifig Iontrála maidir le marcanna bónais a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí a roghnóidh an tsonraíocht churaclaim T1 do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta atá á moladh faoi láthair; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [34073/21]
View answerLeagtar amach i mBeartas Oideachais na Gaeltachta go bhfuil raon beart le breithniú chun daltaí i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus i scoileanna trí mheán na Gaeilge a spreagadh chun dul i ngleic le sonraíocht curaclaim T1 don Ghaeilge sa tsraith shinsearach. Féadfaidh an méid a leanas a bheith san áireamh orthu sin
- sparánachtaí tríú leibhéal a dheonadh do dhaltaí a fheidhmíonn ag tairseach gráid sonraithe nó a sháraíonn sin
- 10% de na háiteanna a chur in áirithe i ngach clár OTM do dhaltaí a ghnóthaíonn tairseach gráid sonraithe, ar an gcoinníoll go gcomhlíonann siad na riachtanais iontrála eile freisin
- breithniú ar fheidhmíocht i sonraíocht curaclaim T1 don Ghaeilge le haghaidh iontrála ar chúrsaí tríú leibhéal a éilíonn inniúlacht níos airde sa Ghaeilge.
I gcomhthreo le forbairt na ndréacht-sonraíochtaí T1 agus T2 do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta, thionóil oifigigh i Roinn Oideachas roinnt cruinnithe le Cumann Ollscoileanna Éireann (COÉ) agus leis an gCumann um Ardoideachas Teicneolaíoch (CAOT), sular bunaíodh mo Roinn. Scrúdaíodh sna cruinnithe an raon clár tríú leibhéal le riachtanais iontrála sa Ghaeilge, glacadh le cláir OTM i measc iarrthóirí Gaeltachta agus bearta atá ar fáil cheana féin chun tacú le rochtain daltaí ar an mbreisoideachas agus ar an ardoideachas.
Ach, is institiúidí neamhspleácha iad na hOllscoileanna agus na Institúidí Teicneolaíochta, agus níl feidhm agam nó ag mo Roinn ina ngnóthaí oibríocha. Is faoi gach aon institúid aonair atá sé a cuid gnóthaí acadúla féin a bhainistiú, ina measc sin na riachtanais iontrála a leagan síos agus marcanna bónais a chur ar fail.
Is dréachtcháipéis atá sa tsonraíocht T1 reatha agus dá bhrí sin tá sí faoi réir athraithe bunaithe ar thoradh an phróisis chomhairliúcháin a leathnaíodh go dtí an 30 Samhain. Ba ghá, dá bhrí sin, díospóireachtaí a chur ar sos go dtí go mbeidh torthaí an chomhairliúcháin agus an doiciméad
360. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of academic and research staff in full-time permanent employment in public higher education institutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34106/21]
View answerIn line with the Universities Act, 1997, third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy. Employers in the higher education sector are also required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements.
Based on data provided to the Department by the Higher Education Authority for Universities and Higher Education Colleges, approximately 80% of academic staff are full time and permanent and approximately 10% of research staff are full time and permanent. The Department is unable, from the data available to it, to give similar estimates at this time for Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities but will seek the remaining information requested and will respond further to the Deputy as soon as it is received.
361. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if further details will be provided on the public health advice in relation to the resumption of English language education and the restrictions on international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34108/21]
View answerIn March 2020, my Department established a distinct Working Group with key stakeholders for the English Language Education (ELE) sector to manage the significant impact of the pandemic on ELE. This Working Group is comprised of the sectoral representatives of students, staff and providers alongside representatives of relevant Government Departments such as the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Social Protection.
This Working Group is planning for a limited, safe return of on-site activity, which comprises small group in-person learning to cater exclusively for needs of the existing cohort of ELE students currently in the State. This approach for on-site activity is consistent with small group learning across further, higher and adult education. To enable this to happen, all existing restrictions and public health guidance with appropriate protective measures and limited congregation will be followed supported by reopening protocols and an adaptation framework that are aligned with public health guidelines to facilitate and ensure the safe return to classroom activity for this cohort of students. The Working Group has worked collaboratively to develop these sectoral reopening protocols and supporting materials and this work is now nearing finalisation.
This approach notes the sector is much reduced with estimates placing student numbers at less than 10,000 currently in the State in comparison to pre-pandemic levels where the sector has capacity to facilitate approximately 200,000 foreign learners annually. Prospective ELE learners in the State not previously enrolled and students who are not currently in the country are not included in these planned on site activities.
ELE providers have been advised that there remains no basis for the recruitment of new international students who might travel to the country at this time. However, the initial resumption of in-person activity will represent a key step on the pathway to recovery for the ELE sector in Ireland. My Department will continue to engage with ELE stakeholders as this sector moves, aligned with public health advice, including any such advice in relation to international travel, towards its full re-opening and continues on a path to recovery.
362. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice the funding the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner received in 2020; and the amount it is expected to receive in 2021, in tabular form. [34142/21]
View answer363. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice the estimated cost of increasing the funding for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner by 5%, 10%, 20% and 50%, in tabular form. [34143/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 363 together.
The Government is committed to supporting the ongoing roll-out and delivery of the Data Protection Commission's national and international responsibilities. There has been a continued year-on-year increase in funding for the Commission over the last four budgetary years to reflect this commitment.
The Commission has received an allocation of €19.1 million in funding under Budget 2021. This represents a 13% increase on the €16.9 million that was allocated for 2020 and a more than five-fold increase from its 2015 allocation of €3.647m, in line with its increased functions.
Against this background of successive increases in budget allocation in recent years significant underspends by the Commission have occurred. These underspends have been €4.7 million in 2020, €4.8 million in 2019 and €3.6 million in 2018.
Staffing numbers in the DPC have also increased from 110 at the end of 2018, to 150 by the end of last year. Through ongoing recruitment, the DPC is expected to fill an additional 30 posts by the end of Q2 2021.
The additional statistical information requested by the Deputy can be found in the attached tables.
|
% increase on 2021 Allocation |
€ |
Allocation |
|
5% |
€955,000 |
€20,055,000 |
|
10% |
€1,910,000 |
€21,010,000 |
|
20% |
€3,820,000 |
€22,920,000 |
|
50% |
€9,550,000 |
€28,650,000 |
|
Year |
DPC Allocated Funding |
Underspends |
|
2021 |
€19,100,000 |
- |
|
2020 |
€16,916,000 |
€4.7m |
|
2019 |
€15,280,000 |
€4.8m |
|
2018 |
€11,669,000 |
€3.6m |
364. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be reached in relation to a visa application by a person (details supplied); if the visa will be expedited given the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33984/21]
View answerThe visa application referred to by the Deputy was created on-line by the applicant on 1 April 2021 and associated documents were received in the visa office on 1 June 2021. I understand that the visa office has recently been in contact with the applicants to request further documentation to assist with the processing of the application.
In accordance with the provisions under Point 21.1 of the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification, processing of family reunification visa applications, such as this may take up to 6 months to determine from date documentation is received in the relevant visa office.
The visa office endeavours to have applications of this nature processed earlier than this, however, this is not always possible. In order to be fair to all applicants, applications are processed in order by date received in the office.
Processing times and decisions at the overseas visa offices can be checked at the webpage for the relevant office: www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/visa-offices.
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.
365. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the high number of category A complaints reported to the Office of the Inspector of Prisons from the Dóchas Centre in 2020; if her attention has been further been drawn to the Dóchas Centre accommodating 3% of the total prisoner population while accounting for almost 12% of category A complaints in 2020; the number of complaints under each category heading for the past three years to date at the Dóchas Centre; the number of those appealed and the number upheld, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34021/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service is committed to the provision of safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison in this State. As the Deputy is aware the prisoner complaints system was introduced by the Irish Prison Service in November 2012, based on a model recommended by the then-Inspector of Prisons.
All prisoners have the right to make a complaint at any time and are treated with the utmost seriousness. The current system categorises complaints according to their nature and seriousness, ranging from the most serious 'Category A' through to a 'Category F' complaint.
The most serious "Category A" complaints are those alleging assault or use of excessive force against a prisoner, ill treatment, racial abuse, discrimination, intimidation, threats or any other conduct against a prisoner of a nature and gravity likely to bring discredit on the Prison Service. Category A complaints are independently investigated by persons outside the Prison Service. Category B complaints are serious level complaints, which may include verbal abuse, inappropriate searches or any conduct against a prisoner of a nature likely to bring discredit on the Prison Service. Category C may include complaints about visits, phone calls, reception issues. Category D complaints can be made against professionals which include medical personnel and solicitors. Category E can be made by visitors to the prison.
Work is continuing on the completion of the necessary actions to introduce the new Prisoner Complaints System. This includes the drafting of the Statutory Instrument and the roll out of necessary training for Irish Prison Service staff. There is currently no mechanism in place to appeal an outcome of a complaint but this facility will be available for prisoners in the new complaints process. Unfortunately, it is the case that the impact of the Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions have delayed the completion of this work. My Officials continue to engage with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with a view to completing work on the Statutory Instrument which will give legal effect to the new Prisoner Complaints System.
The Dochas Centre has a bed capacity of 146 female prisoners. The average number in Custody in 2020 was 120. The figures sought by the Deputy are set out in the tables below:
Category A - Complaints Dochas 2018-2021
|
Year |
CATEGORY |
Number |
Outcome |
|
2018 |
A |
5 |
0 Upheld |
|
2019 |
A |
8 |
1 Upheld |
|
2020 |
A |
8 * |
0 Upheld |
|
2021 – ( June 2021) |
A |
1 |
Incomplete as of yet |
* 4 complaints related to one incident and were investigated together.
Table 2 - Categories B-F Complaints Dochas 2018-2021
|
Year |
Category B |
Category C |
Category D |
Category E |
Category F |
|
|
2018 |
18 complaints |
62 complaints |
6 complaints |
2 complaints |
0 complaints |
|
|
2019 |
10 complaints |
41 complaints |
3 complaints |
1 complaints |
0 complaints |
|
|
2020 |
25 complaints |
25 complaints |
7 complaints |
0 complaints |
0 complaints |
|
|
2021 (end April 2021) |
6 complaints |
7 complaints |
0 complaints |
0 complaints |
0 complaints |
These complaints were not upheld.
The Prison Service is acutely aware of the fact that women prisoners are a vulnerable group within the prison system and is aware that the supports for female offenders and their rehabilitative needs are very different to male offenders. The Deputy will wish to be aware that staff working with female offenders are provided with bespoke training and in February 2020 the Prison Service introduced a new tailored programme for staff to address the special needs of women prisoners called ‘Working with Women in Custody’.
366. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 339 of 20 May 2021, if she will provide an update in respect of the information requested by this Deputy from the Irish Prison Service (details supplied). [34032/21]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the information sought previously is currently being finalised and will issue to you shortly.
367. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if she will list all peace commissioners appointed from 1 January 2017 to date; the details of the county and sub-district of each appointment; the age of each person at the time of their appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34037/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice under Section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924. Peace Commissioners are empowered to act in their county of assignment and within the counties adjoining that county.
While every effort is made to maintain accuracy, it should be noted that Peace Commissioner records are appointment based and they do not always reflect the actual situation on the ground because the Department is reliant on the Peace Commissioners and other interested parties to advise of changes in circumstances which may occur subsequent to an appointment.
Individuals requesting the services of a Peace Commissioner are advised to contact their local Gardaí to ensure that a particular listed individual is active and available. The details of appointed Peace Commissioners are also retained by the Peace Commissioner Unit in my Department and my officials are happy to assist individuals who require the services of a Peace Commissioner. They can be contacted at info@justice.ie or by telephone (01) 8592323.
Since 1 January 2017, 416 persons have been appointed as Peace Commissioners. This figure does not include those who were appointed in an ex officio capacity. Attached is a list of those persons appointed to the position of Peace Commissioner since 1 January 2017, which provides details of the county and sub district of each appointment.
It is not possible to provide the Deputy with the age of each person at the time of their appointment as to do so would require a review of each individual file which would involve a disproportionate amount of staff time.
368. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions under the Novel Psychoactive Substances Act 2010 in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [34055/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. This includes the compilation of information relating to convictions.
In addition, the decision about whether or not to prosecute a person is entirely a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions and I, as Minister, have no role in such matters.
I am informed by the Courts Service that there is no record of any prosecutions under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 in the years in question.
The Deputy should note however, that the Courts Service can only provide data in instances where offence codes provided on the system were used by prosecutors. In relation to prosecutions under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010, prosecutors may have used uncoded free text offences, which do not appear in searches for prosecutions by the Courts Service.
369. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the status of a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34064/21]
View answerAn application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 31 October 2019.
This application for naturalisation continues to be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
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.
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 at 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 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.
