Written Answers Nos. 392-411
392. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to make reservations to the UNCRPD Optional Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34896/21]
View answerAhead of ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Optional Protocol, my Department will assess the requirements for ratification. This will include an assessment as to whether or not potential reservations are needed. It is too early at this stage to indicate whether or not Ireland will make reservations in the context of ratifying the Optional Protocol.
393. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34897/21]
View answerThe Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, which was drafted to ensure implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, had completed Dáil Committee Stage during the previous Government, but lapsed with the dissolution of the previous Dáil and Seanad and was not restored to the Order Paper. Its provisions are being included in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill, the General Scheme of which will shortly be submitted to Government for approval. Once approved by Government, it is intended that drafting will begin on the new Bill thereafter.
394. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on assisting local authorities in meeting UNCRPD obligations in providing services for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34898/21]
View answerThe National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is a whole-of-government strategy. It is the key framework for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland. It supports effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the UNCRPD.
The Steering Group is chaired by my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte T.D. Officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are represented on the Steering Group and report on NDIS actions under their remit, including those that relate to local government.
Local authorities play a key role in implementing the UNCRPD. Minister Rabbitte has recently spoken on this matter at the launch of a report from the Disability Federation of Ireland entitled ‘Training Local Authorities in Using the UN CRPD to fulfil their public sector human rights and equality duty’
My Department has recently begun work on the design of an Implementation Plan for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Plan will set out actions to be taken under each of the Articles of the Convention. This will provide the framework for the role of public bodies, including Local Authorities, in implementing UNCRPD.
395. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a programme developed by an organisation (details supplied) in conjunction with the psychology department in Trinity College, Dublin; if he will endorse this indicative and support it financially through the portfolio of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34955/21]
View answerI was pleased to speak at the launch of the Parenting Plus Special Needs Programme late last year. Parenting programmes offer a valuable support for parents, helping them enhance their existing knowledge and skills to improve outcomes for their families. I welcome this evidenced-based programme from Parenting Plus that addresses the unique support requirements of parents caring for a child with an intellectual disability. My Department previously provided funding under the What Works programme to develop a Healthy Families Programme.
I am committed to supporting parents and as part of this commitment, my Department is leading on the development of a national model of parenting support services. The model will take account of the needs and preferences of parents in Ireland as well as the views of children. It will consider both universal and targeted provision, covering key stages of child development, taking account of parents and children in a range of contexts and parenting relationships. Our aim is to ensure that all parents can access the support they need when they need them.
Tusla funds a range of community and voluntary organisations which provide services to children and families, including those providing parenting supports, many of which offer Parents Plus programmes.
My Department recently launched the Learning Together Fund which, amongst other activities, provides funding for organisations to arrange or access learning and training sessions in evidence informed approaches to prevention and early intervention services for children, young people and their families.
396. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions that have been undertaken to implement the recommendations made in a report (details supplied), confirmed by two further reports and in addition by two reports from the Office of the Ombudsman; the reason these recommendations were not adhered to in relation to the Charleton tribunal despite the recommendations been made in the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34979/21]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
As I'm sure you can appreciate, the impact of the cyber-attack on Tusla systems continues to be felt. Tusla continues to provide a vital service and is working hard to restore their IT systems and access to information. Tusla will respond to you directly in due course.
397. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers who have left Tusla since January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34988/21]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond to you directly on the matter.
398. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the most up-to-date guidelines currently available to childcare providers; when new guidelines in relation to the isolation of children with Covid-19-like symptoms will be issued in view of the roll-out of the vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35003/21]
View answerExpert guidance on the safe operation of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in May 2020 and has been updated on a number of occasions since then, most recently on 25 June 2021. The latest version of the guidance was circulated to all registered providers on 29 June 2021. The guidance is available at https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/lifestages/childcare/
The HSE, in conjunction with my Department, is keeping this guidance under review and will update as appropriate.
399. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the new childcare funding model currently in development will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35004/21]
View answerOne of the major objectives of First 5, a Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 is that babies and young children have access to safe, high-quality, developmentally appropriate Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Care (SAC) which reflects diversity of need. Allied to that objective, First 5 identifies as a key building block additional public funding, strategically invested, to achieve the best outcomes for babies, young children and their families. First 5 commits to at least doubling investment in ELC and SAC between 2018 and 2028 and a new Funding Model will be a key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State.
An Expert Group has been convened by my Department to develop a new Funding Model for Early Learning and Childcare. The Expert Group is tasked with examining the current model of funding, its effectiveness in delivering quality, affordable, sustainable and inclusive services and considering how additional resourcing can be delivered for the sector to achieve these objectives, drawing on international practice in this area.
The Expert Group have met seventeen times to date, most recently on 23 June, and a report on their recommendations is expected to be submitted to me in November 2021 for consideration. Included in the scope of the Group's Terms of Reference are implementation considerations, including the appropriate timing and phasing of the approach, ensuring the sustainability of the sector, accountability for public funding, and the technical and operational feasibility of the new funding model.
Implementation of the Group's recommendations will be dependent on budgetary decisions, and funding is likely to become available on an incremental basis. The full implementation of the Expert Group's recommendations is therefore likely to be a multi-annual process. In the short term, I anticipate that the Group’s recommendations will contribute to informing the Budget 2022 process and my officials are already engaged in that process.
The Programme for Government commits to implementing First 5 , including the planned increase in investment over a number of years, and the new funding model will enable that increased investment to deliver the types of services that align with national policy objectives, resourcing quality provision and requiring affordability for participation in the new model.
Further detail on the work of the Expert Group and documentation related to the process is available at first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/
400. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether that as per SI. No. 632/2016 - Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 which amends SI. No. 221/2016 - Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 Access and Inclusion Model support workers are not required to hold a level 5 qualification in early childhood care and education on the national qualifications framework in addition to their access and inclusion model related qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35010/21]
View answerIn line with emerging best practice to support the integration and independence of children with a disability, AIM level 7 provides additional funding to pre-schools who have a child requiring extra support. Providers can use this funding either to reduce the child-to-adult ratio in the pre-school room or to fund an extra staff member. This staff member is a shared resource with other children in the pre-school room. The Early Years Services Regulations (S.I. No. 221/2016) require that all staff who are employed by an early learning and care provider and who work directly with children of pre-school age must hold, at a minimum, a major award at level 5 on the NFQ in Early Childhood Care and Education or a qualification deemed equivalent by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The December 2016 amendment to the Regulations (S.I. No. 632/2016) provided for exceptional cases in which an exemption from the Level 5 requirement may be made for children with specific needs in the context of AIM. An example of a relevant situation is where a child with complex healthcare needs requires specialised health supports, such as nursing, in order to attend the pre-school.
Tusla, the independent statutory regulator of pre-school services, has published a Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF), which specifies how the Regulations will be interpreted by the Early Years Inspectorate. The QRF (section 2, paragraph 6) specifies that exemption under AIM from the qualification requirement requires an exemption letter from Pobal.
This requirement for an exemption letter from Pobal is also specified in the Funding Agreement for the ECCE pre-school programme, which states, with reference to the Level 5 minimum qualification requirement, that "In exceptional cases, an exemption may be made under AIM, wherein a child with medically complex needs who is availing of AIM Level 7 requires specialised health supports, for example healthcare assistant or nursing care. An exemption may be granted by Pobal where it is considered that such specialist support is required and this may detail the qualification requirements or relevant specialist training of the staff member involved."
As these cases are exceptional, the majority of Access and Inclusion Model support workers are still required to hold at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework, as set out in S.I. No. 221/2016.
401. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the problems with a proposed funding model (details supplied) and its possible detrimental impact on all Youthreach learners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34762/21]
View answerYouthreach is one of a broad suite of Further Education and Training (FET) programmes that are currently funded through the FET System Funding process. This process is essentially a full cost model where each programme initially receives a set amount of funding commensurate to the estimated costs of delivery. Ultimately, the funding provided corresponds to the full costs of delivery. The proposed alternative funding model, which is being considered for all FET provision, seeks to align available funding directly with learner activity by apportioning it with regard to the previous year’s completion returns. In this respect, it is important to emphasise that this would not be a Youthreach funding model but rather a FET funding model. The envisaged benefits of such an approach include increases in transparency, efficiency and value for money.
It is also important to highlight that it is currently envisaged that, for the purposes of the model, a completer will be defined as a learner who completes 25% or more of the course. It would not be the case, under the proposed model, that centres would lose funding where a learner or learners do not complete the full course.
The exact details on the type of provision which will be categorised within each of the components of the funding model is still to be decided. The independent panel, charged with making recommendations in relation to the proposed model, are however very conscious of the unique characteristics of Youthreach provision and Youthreach learners, and are committed to ensuring that the future funding approach recognises the significant costs incurred in delivery of the programme.
402. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration has been given to expanding SUSI grants for postgraduate students in recognition of the cost of study fees and the limitations of low qualifying income thresholds for these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34395/21]
View answerThe main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level. 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.
Postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible for the Postgraduate Special Rate of Maintenance grant, the income threshold for this grant is €24,500, also postgraduate students are eligible to have their post graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270.
Budget 2021 provided for enhanced postgraduate supports for the academic year 2021/22 including the fee grant amount rising from €2,000 to €3,500 and the income threshold for eligibility for these grants to increase from €31,500, now €54,240. This is an initial step in meeting part of the Government’s commitments regarding SUSI grant support.
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 Ministerial approval was given to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme.
The review is being conducted by external research/policy consultants Indecon International Economic Consultants. A Steering Committee has been established to provide direction for the external consultants undertaking the review. Its membership includes: the Union of Students of Ireland; Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), SOLAS, the HEA; Irish University Association (IUA); Technological Higher Education Association (THEA); Technological University Dublin (TUD), the Department of Social Protection and officials from my Department. A public consultation and student survey have been carried out as part of the review and the consultants are carrying out their analysis of the data captured in the surveys. The findings will inform policy priorities for the next Estimates process and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.
403. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department and the Higher Education Authority will assist and support Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology as the last remaining institute of technology to join the Technological University through a section 38 of the Technological Universities Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34441/21]
View answer404. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a line item list of expenditure for funds awarded to Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology by the Higher Education Authority for exploring technological university designation; if this funding is to seek technological university designation under the Technological Universities Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34442/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 together.
The development and progression of technological universities (TUs) is an established policy objective of Government in the context of overarching national strategy on higher education landscape restructuring and this is underscored in the commitment in the current Programme for Government.
Under the statutory framework provided in the Technological Universities Act 2018, two or more Institutes of Technology (IoTs) may jointly seek TU designation through a prescribed legislative process. Section 29 of the 2018 Act provides for the application jointly by two or more applicant institutes to the Minister of Education and Skills for an order seeking designation as a TU subject to their jointly meeting specified eligibility criteria. Section 38 of the 2018 Act provides that an applicant institute and an established technological university may apply to the Minister for an order.
Government has assisted a number of IoT consortia to develop proposals for TU designation in terms both of providing financial assistance and, as appropriate, calling on the expert advice of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in the framing and developing of relevant TU oriented proposals.
Since 2013 some €120 million in Exchequer co-funding will have been allocated to such consortia and emerging TUs, of which €90 million is ring-fenced under a TU Transformation Fund with the first tranche of €34.33 m in allocations being made last October.
Under the 2020 Transformation Fund IADT Dun Laoghaire was allocated €100,000 to explore how it might pursue a trajectory to achieve TU designation in accordance with the provision of the 2018 Act. Further details of the allocation are attached in Appendix 1.
Dundalk Institute of Technology is in a similar position to that of IADT and that institution, too, is being assisted by the HEA under the Transformation Fund to explore how TU designation can be achieved.
The administration of the Transformation Fund is a matter for the HEA with annual allocations and planned activities in the period to 2023 being overseen by the Authority.
It is a matter for the governing body of a Higher Education Institution such as IADT Dun Laoghaire to decide on the strategic direction and positioning of the institution within the higher education landscape and to pursue a relevant direction of travel accordingly, including for TU designation as appropriate.
My Department understands that IADT Dun Laoghaire is in discussions with the HEA in relation to 2021 allocations and proposals under the Transformation Fund.
405. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the arrangements that have been made with other European countries, the United States of America and so on in relation to the pandemic; if unvaccinated can students travel; if they are covered for Covid-19 healthcare in the country they are doing their Erasmus programme in; and if they will get vaccinated in the country they are studying in as they may have missed been offered their vaccination here if they are 18 to 29 years of age. [34527/21]
View answerOutward international travel by students is subject to the same guidelines covering travel as generally apply. These are set out on the Government's website at: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/75d92-covid-19-travel-advice/.
In general, matters relating to healthcare, including entitlements of EU nationals to healthcare in another Member State, and the vaccination programme are matters for the Minister for Health.
406. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the SUSI stakeholder desk phone lines were down recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34556/21]
View answerThe SUSI Stakeholder Desk is a service provided by SUSI to respond to queries and representations made on behalf of students by third party advocates including Oireachtas members, student union representatives, guidance counsellors, citizens information staff and college access personnel. The Stakeholder Desk provides dedicated phone and e-mail access to the central SUSI administration where queries receive direct attention. Approximately 50 queries are received weekly of which approximately 20 are phone queries.
I have been advised by SUSI that the SUSI Stakeholder Desk phone service was unavailable on Monday 21 June and until 3pm on Tuesday 22 June. However, the e-mail service remained available throughout this period. The unavailability of the phone service was due to technical difficulties with a third party supplier data link that is used by the phone system. Identifying the root cause and implementing the required remedial actions was carried out by the supplier, resulting in the restoration of the service as soon as was possible.
To highlight that the email service remained available for stakeholders while the phone issue was being investigated and addressed, SUSI advised Oireachtas members of the issue by email on Monday 21 June and subsequently that it had been resolved.
The SUSI Support Desk that is provided as a primary direct contact point for students and receives approximately 5000 queries weekly was unaffected by this incident and operated as normal throughout this period.
407. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta cé na fo-theidil faoina bhfuil an €900,000 atá sonraithe don bhliain 2020-2021 sna Meastacháin Athbhreithnithe agus atá comhaontaithe aige mar mhaoiniú d’Acadamh na hOllscoile Gaeilge. [34594/21]
View answerLeithdháileann mo Roinn maoiniú athfhillteach ar an Údarás Ardoideachais (ÚAO) le haghaidh eisíocaíocht dhíreach chuig institiúidí ardoideachais ainmnithe an ÚAO. Leithdháileann an ÚAO an maoiniú sin ar na hinstitiúidí tríd an tsamhail mhaoinithe athfhillteach.
Cheadaigh an ÚAO leithdháileadh de €1,766,000 le cur in áirithe do OÉ Gaillimh (ó leithdháileadh athfhillteach B4) d’Acadamh na hOllscólaíochta Gaeilge le roinnt blianta anuas.
Ina theannta sin, in 2018 gheall an Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta (an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus na Meán anois) €900,000 a sholáthar in aghaidh na bliana acadúla 2018/19, 2019/20 agus 2020/21 d'Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta.
Aistrítear an maoiniú sin ina thráthchodanna ón Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus na Meán chuig an ÚAO le híocaíocht a chur ar aghaidh chuig OÉ Gaillimh.
Ba chóir aon cheisteanna breise maidir leis an €900,000 a chur ar an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus na Meán ar an gcéad dul síos lena bhfreagairt.
408. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the pandemic unemployment payment will be considered as an eligible payment for the special rate of a SUSI grant given that those who applied for jobseekers benefit and allowance in March 2020 were awarded the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34732/21]
View answerAlmost 101,000 applications were received by SUSI for grant support in the 2020/21 academic year. Just over 79,000 applicants were assessed as eligible for grant support with projected total costs of €370 million. Applications for the 2021/2022 academic year are open and to date, we have received over 69,000 applications. Over 41,500 have been approved for grant support.
In relation to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, PUP has been treated as reckonable income since it was introduced in March 2020. Income from the Covid-19 payment has the same standing and is treated in a similar fashion to other Department of Social Protection payments such as Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance. It is important there is a consistency of approach for all students. A student or a family on Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance must be treated the same as a student or a family on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
This is not the first year the scheme has dealt with claims related to the pandemic. Over 10,000 applicants declared a change of circumstance in 2020/21 and some 40% of these related to COVID-19. The scheme has shown a flexibility in addressing these issues.
For the next academic year (2021/22), an application will ordinarily be assessed on gross income from all sources for the period January to December 2020. However, if an applicant or a family member has experienced a change in circumstances during 2021, then they can apply to SUSI for their application to be assessed or reassessed under a change in circumstances. Such a change in circumstances would include no longer being in receipt of a pandemic unemployment payment. The change in circumstance must be likely to continue for the duration of the course or the foreseeable future. This is a well-established procedure.
SUSI has a data sharing agreement with the Department of Social Protection which enables SUSI to check what type of payments grant applicants are in receipt of.
My Department is expecting an increase in the number of applications as a result of Covid and we secured an additional €20 million in Budget 2021.
The number of applications to SUSI, the approved awards, number of appeals and the change of circumstances cases are all carefully monitored on a weekly basis to monitor spend, predict costs and identify trends.
We will continue to monitor this and work with colleagues across Government to ensure the scheme can be fair and responsive to the individual circumstances of applicants.
409. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a student (details supplied) will be reconsidered for the special rate of the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34733/21]
View answerThe student grant scheme, administered by SUSI, provides maintenance grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for student grant assistance is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
The qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant is as follows:
(i) The student must qualify for the standard rate of grant (i.e. the 100% grant);
(ii) Total reckonable income, after income disregards and Child Dependant Increase(s) are excluded, must not exceed €24,500; and
(iii) As at 31st December 2020, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme.
As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.
This service, which was set up at the behest of Oireachtas members, complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student in question was not eligible for the Special Rate as while her income was under the Special Rate threshold it did not include an eligible payment under Schedule 2 of the Student Support Scheme 2021.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant). Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
410. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit fulfil their obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34856/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 requires a public body to assess, address and report on the human rights and equality issues it believes to be relevant to the functions and purpose of the body.
The requirements to Assess and Address have been dealt with under the Department’s Statement of Strategy. These are dealt with under the Department’s values, the goals and the strategic actions.
In setting out the values of the Department, the Statement of Strategy includes the following:
Treat our colleagues and those to whom we provide services equitably, in keeping with our Public Sector Human Rights and Equality obligations
Under the #Inclusion, Goal 4 states that:
Goal 4: Champion Equality
Provide leadership, advocate equality and respect for all, support inclusive learning, working and research environments, promote female leadership in academia and research, eliminate harassment and promote the principle of consent.
The Action Plan in the Statement of Strategy includes the following action:
17. Equality & Respect
Develop policy on a Consent Framework including ensuring that each higher education institution prepares an individual action plan; also consider data emerging from a new Gender Equality survey being developed by the Higher Education Authority.
The final obligation, to Report, will be included in the Department’s Annual Report.
Since its formation in 2020, the Department has progressed a number of additional specific initiatives which impact on the protection and advancement of human rights and equality such as: pathways to third level education for people with intellectual disabilities, funding supports for Traveller education, prisoner education programme and the development of a new National Access Plan.
The compliance with section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 by the bodies and agencies under the aegis of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is a matter relating to the internal functioning of these agencies. The Minister has engaged and continues to engage with agencies in relation to the implementation of their obligations under the Disability Act 2005, in relation to the Social Inclusion Roadmap and other relevant human rights and equality obligations as they arise.
411. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit undertake disability impact assessments; the process by which these assessments are monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34873/21]
View answerAll substantive Memoranda for Government are required to identify, under a disability impact assessment, any difficulties or barriers that may exist or arise within a service delivery, policy or process that prevents someone with a disability from availing of that service, policy or process.
The disability impact assessment is undertaken in line with the procedures outlined in guidelines, "How to Conduct a Disability Impact Assessment: Guidelines for Government Departments", issued by the Department of Justice in 2012.
My Department is gathering the relevant information in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department and will forward it to the Deputy when available.
