Written Answers Nos. 1254-1273
1254. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated annual cost to the State to implement each of the funding options laid out in the 2016 Cassells report for the 2021-2022 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39746/21]
View answer1255. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the report by the European Commission on the analysis of the Cassells report has been delayed; when it will be available to the public; and if recommendations from the Commission’s report will be implemented for the 2021-2022 academic year. [39747/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1254 and 1255 together.
My Department's Statement of Strategy, which I published on 8 March last, contains a commitment to put in place a sustainable funding model for the higher education. This is essential in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and performance, and achieve critical outcomes for our economy and society.
The report referred to in the Deputy's question was commissioned under the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Programme in November 2019. The independent consultants appointed by the Commission - Indecon and LE Europe - were required under the terms of reference to undertake a detailed review of the three specific funding options contained in the report of the Expert Group on Future Funding of Higher Education.
The consultants were also tasked by the Commission with examining the steps necessary to adapt higher education and further education and training provision in Ireland to ensure an alignment between graduate output and qualifications and the current and expected future skills need of the Irish labour market, to provide the country with the right set of skills to ensure inclusive, smart and sustainable growth.
The terms of reference agreed by the Commission also required the consultants to identify options for putting in place a new funding system for higher education in Ireland that would provide equity in access, efficiency in the investment of public resources and sustainability in the face of strong demographic growth.
The final deliverable arising from the project was submitted to the European Commission recently. Following its completion my Department has commenced its examination of the report's analysis, findings, conclusions and recommendations in order to develop proposals for Government to seek to meet the commitment contained in its Statement of Strategy. Once this examination is concluded the report will be submitted to Government for consideration in advance of its publication.
It is, of course, important to acknowledge that in the five years from 2015 a very significant programme of re-investment in higher education has been implemented. Over that period current public expenditure allocated to the higher education sector has increased by in excess of half a billion euros or almost 40 per cent. In 2021 total planned current expenditure funding of the higher education sector exclusive of research provision is in the order of €1.98 billion.
This huge allocation of public resources is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to meeting the funding needs of the higher education sector in order to more fully realise its potential in contributing to economic and societal priorities which are central to this country's long-term sustainability.
I am committed to ensuring that we grasp the opportunity provided by the comprehensive and detailed work which has now been completed in relation to this crucial issue and take the actions necessary to increase the sustainability of higher and further education provision in Ireland. This will require a commitment to change and transformation across both higher education and the whole of the tertiary education system. I am confident that all stakeholders are ready to step up to this vital challenge.
1256. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to the State of increasing SUSI grants by 10%. [39748/21]
View answerThe annual spend for the 2020/21 academic year on maintenance grants as of end June 2021 was in the region of €160M.
Based on the number of students in receipt of the maintenance grant for 2020/21, the estimated cost of increasing all rates of the maintenance grant by 10% is in the region of €16.5M.
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.
1257. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to restore the SUSI non-adjacent rate to 24 km. [39749/21]
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 estimated cost to restore the SUSI non-adjacent rate to 24 kilometres is 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.
1258. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to reinstate postgraduate grants. [39750/21]
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.
Currently 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 estimated cost to reinstate postgraduate grants to their pre budget 2012 levels would be in the region of €39.72m. These costings are based on the assumption that the number of post graduate grant holders (2,518) in 2020/2021 will increase to the level prior to the 2012 Budget measure (6,027 students), and that these additional students will all receive the non-adjacent maintenance grant of 100% plus 100% fees.
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. 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.
1259. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of expanding SUSI maintenance rates to all qualifying part and full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. [39751/21]
View answerThe main support to students attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Student Grant Scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding, provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment (progression) and means.
Under the scheme, students must be attending approved full-time courses. All full-time undergraduate and post-graduate students who meet the criteria under the Student Grant Scheme are in receipt of a grant. Part-time courses are not eligible for support.
However, to extend the average undergraduate maintenance grant to those in receipt of fees only to eligible full-time undergraduate and post-graduate students would cost in the region of €23.67m.
The estimated cost of extending the average maintenance grant to part-time students at undergraduate and postgraduate level for the duration of studies is outlined in the table below.
|
- |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
|
Total Cost |
€80.8m |
€161.6m |
€242.4m |
€323.2m |
*The latest statistics from the Higher Education Authority (HEA)* indicate that in the academic year 2019/20 there were 27,392 part-time undergraduate and 18,401 part-time postgraduate students at HEA funded institutions.
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.
1260. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to fund affordable student accommodation and housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39752/21]
View answerThe National Student Accommodation Strategy is designed to ensure that there is an increased level of supply of purpose built student accommodation to reduce the demand for accommodation in the private rental sector by both domestic and international students attending our Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Several of the actions in this strategy centre around ensuring that HEIs have access to low-cost financing in order to support their building of student accommodation.
One of these actions involved the introduction of legislation to empower the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to lend directly to HEIs for the development of students accommodation. This legislation was commenced in 2017, and so far three universities - TCD, UCC and UCD have had a total of €157 million in loans approved by the HFA, which will provide more than 1,400 new student bed spaces.
Last month I, along with my colleagues the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, announced that €75 million of financing had been successfully sourced for the Council of Europe Bank for the building of student accommodation in universities.
My Department and I will continue to work to ensure that our HEIs have access to the financing they need to build student accommodation.
1261. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated annual cost of a targeted fund to fully finance third-level education for 100 persons experiencing homelessness including those living in temporary accommodation such as hostels, direct provision centres and domestic abuse refuges. [39755/21]
View answerMy Department is committed to the continued roll-out of supports for students and targeted initiatives to support delivery of the vision and targets within the National Access Plan. The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP) 2015-2021 identifies the target groups that are currently under-represented in higher education. These include entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education, students with disabilities, mature entrants, members of the Irish Traveller community, students entering on the basis of further education aware and part time flexible learners. The NAP also indicated subgroups that require support including lone parents, teen parents and ethnic minorities. My Department funds a range of supports including targeted measures to meet the needs of disadvantaged, vulnerable and students under-represented in Higher Education. It is not possible to estimate annual cost of a targeted fund to fully finance third-level education for students experiencing homelessness as the individual needs of students are different, depending on their particular circumstances. Students in the groups can apply and may already qualify for the range of supports that are already available including a student support scheme for persons in the protection process or at the leave to remain stage.
The scheme provides supports to qualifying students which are similar to those available in the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI to eligible applicants who are in the protection system and who are either:
- asylum applicants
- subsidiary protection applicants
- leave to remain applicants
Work on the development of the next National Access Plan (NAP) 2022 – 2026 is currently underway following a consultation process where all interested parties were invited to make their views known on matters related to access to higher education particularly for groups who are under represented or at risk of not participating in the higher education population. In the context of the development of the new plan, consideration will be given to priority groups that may need prioritisation. My Department will work with the HEA on the finalisation in the coming months on the new Plan. It is my intention to publish the new NAP at the end of 2021. My Department will continue to keep existing provision and initiatives under review. We want to develop a better understanding of what works best within the different models, and to look at how we can assist people to access and progress through higher and further education and training. Thus ensuring that we grow prosperity across communities and build social cohesion, while also recognising the different needs of learners and enabling each and every one of them to develop to their full potential.
1263. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made on the review of the current SUSI scheme; the changes that have been identified; if the new criteria for the scheme will be available to students making their applications in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39799/21]
View answerThe principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. Under the terms of the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
SUSI opened its application process for the 2021/22 academic year on March 31 and to date has received over 81,000 applications.
The Deputy will be aware that 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 I gave approval to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme.
My Department is overseeing the implementation of the review. 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 process closed in April with over 280 submissions received. The views of students were sought via an online survey process in May and over 9,000 survey responses were received. The consultants appointed to conduct the review, are carrying out their analysis of the data captured in the surveys.
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.
1264. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated of cost of reducing apprentice fees by 20%, 50% and 100%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39873/21]
View answerAn Annual Student Contribution (ASC) is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and Technological Universities. The amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in the institution during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution required from the apprentice.
For craft apprenticeships, the ASC charged is typically one third of the €3,000 ASC paid by students attending for the full academic year and so amounts to approximately €1,000 per apprentice per period spent in the IoT. In the case of consortia-led apprenticeships the contribution varies for each programme as off-the-job training has a more flexible structure, ranging from periods of block release to one day per week or remote learning options.
If the ASC was removed, with the apprentice paying examination fees only, then the cost to the State is estimated at an average €267 per apprentice per annum. Based on a current population of almost 21,500 registered apprentices, the estimated cost is €5.7m per annum. An estimated 50% reduction in the ASC to apprentices would cost an estimated €2.85m and a 20% reduction in the ASC to apprentices would cost an estimated €1.14m per annum.
1265. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to decrease the qualifying criteria for the non-adjacent rate of the SUSI grant from 45 km to 24 km; the estimated cost involved in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39874/21]
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 estimated cost to decrease the qualifying criteria for the non-adjacent rate from 45km to 24 kilometres is 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.
1266. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated number of students that would be affected by changing the SUSI adjacency rates from 45km to 25km, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39875/21]
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.
Student maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or non-adjacent rate. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of students whose normal residence is 45km or less from the approved institution which he or she is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases.
If this distance requirement for the non-adjacent rate was reduced from 45km to 25km it is estimated that 8651 students who received the adjacent rate of grant in the 2020/21 academic year would move into the non-adjacent bracket and received a higher rate of maintenance grant.
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.
1267. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projected yield from a 0.1% increase in 2021 in the national training fund levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39882/21]
View answer1268. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the history of increases in the national training fund levy over the past five years in tabular form; the projected yield at budget time of each 0.1% increase in tabular form; the actual yield in the full year following the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39883/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1267 and 1268 together.
The following table sets out for the years 2015 to 2021 the national training fund levy; levy income; the projected yield at budget time of each 0.1% increase; the actual yield in the full calendar year following the increase.
|
Year |
NTF Levy Rate |
NTF Levy Income |
Projected Yield for each 0.1% increase in NTF levy |
Actual Yield for each 0.1% increase in NTF levy |
|
2015 |
0.7% |
€364m |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2016 |
0.7% |
€390m |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2017 |
0.7% |
€431m |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2018 |
0.8% |
€565m |
€58m |
€71m |
|
2019 |
0.9% |
€712m |
€82m |
€79m |
|
2020 |
1.0% |
€717m |
€96m |
€72m |
|
2021 |
1.0% |
Not yet available |
€79m |
Not yet available |
Calculations of the yield have been obtained from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP).
It should also be noted that only the contributions from the private sector estimated yield increases are taken into account when increasing the national training fund spending limits. The 0.1% increases in each of the three years from 2018 to 2020 resulted in the national training fund spending limits increasing by €47m in 2018, €69m in 2019 and €74m in 2020.
1269. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the agencies and State organisations under his Department that are receiving State funding that do not have to declare salaries of employees under the 2016 code of governance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40037/21]
View answerMy Department is guided in its reporting obligations by the terms and conditions laid down by Statute, where appropriate Company Law and the stipulations of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s 2016 appendix document - Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies – Business and Financial Reporting Requirements.
The Code of Practice sets out, inter alia, details of reporting requirements for state bodies. Aegis bodies under the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science include:
(1) Higher Education Authority (including the Irish Research Council)
(2) Quality and Qualifications Ireland
(3) Léargas – The Exchange Bureau
(4) Grangegorman Development Agency
(5) SOLAS
(6) Skillnet Ireland
(7) Science Foundation Ireland
In regard to non-commercial State Bodies under the aegis of my Department the Code requires bodies to disclose:
- The aggregate amount of total compensation paid to employees including employee numbers in whole time equivalent format
- The aggregate total compensation paid to employees split between salary, overtime and allowances,
- Details on CEO salary and benefits (and termination benefits if appropriate)
- the aggregate pay bill and total number of employees,
- details of the numbers of employees whose total employee benefits (excluding pension costs) for the reporting period fell within each pay band of €10,000 from €60,000 upwards and,
- an overall figure for total employer pension contributions in their annual report and/or financial statements
- a note on termination benefits to all staff should also be included with CEO termination benefits being kept separate.
In regard to the wider sector a separate Code of Practice applies to the IoT sector and the University sector. These codes set out relevant reporting requirements.
1270. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports specifically available to students with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40105/21]
View answerInclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department. My ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all. This means recognising the needs of vulnerable learners, the most marginalised and those with special and additional needs.
A range of supports and measures are in place for learners with disabilities; some of these supports are targeted while others are available to the general student populace. 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. Circa 75,000 students are supported annually under the fund.
The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending higher education. 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 in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply for the SAF. Circa 14,000 students are supported annually under the fund.
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 institution who carry out a needs assessment to determine the types of supports and accommodations needed. Circa 14,000 students are supported annually under the fund.
Earlier this year I approved a number of strategic projects under the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) aimed at supporting students with disabilities to access and engage with higher education. The initiatives, which involve 23 higher education institutions (HEI) and €5.4m in expenditure, are broad and are aimed at improving access to higher education for people with a disability, to improving college campuses and to assist staff with training and development. Among the projects are a number of projects for students with autism including the establishment of autism friendly rooms across nine different campuses, the development of assistive technology including for students with disabilities, an app to help students with visual or hearing impairment navigate their way around campus and specialist assistance for students who are deaf.
Circa €40m is allocated annually to higher education institutions (HEIs), through their core funding, 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 to access and successfully complete higher education.
Apart from the student grant and dedicated access supports, the Deputy will be aware of the range of additional supports that were put in place for students as part of Budget 2021 and as part of the Government's COVID response last year. These included: additional supports for access measures in higher education; a mitigating educational disadvantage fund for further education and training; a student laptop scheme; a once off grant of €250 for students; additional funding for student mental health and well-being; and Dormant Accounts Funding for Traveller access to and progress within higher education.
The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2016-2021 (NAP) has set targets to increase participation in higher education by people with disabilities. Specific targets have been set to increase participation in higher education by students with physical or sensory disabilities. The original (8%) and revised target (12%) under the National Access Plan of new entrants to higher education with disabilities has now been exceeded, with 12.3% of new entrants to higher education in 2019/20 declaring a disability.
While there is significant provision for students with intellectual disabilities in the further education and training sector where there were 2,821 learners with intellectual disabilities in 2019 and some provision in the higher education sector involving a comparatively small number of learners. I have asked my officials to engage with the HEA and SOLAS to see where we can play a stronger role, in meeting the educational needs of this group as part of a coherent whole of Government responses. We are at an early stage of work in this area, but it is an area I am strongly committed to pursuing.
Fostering Inclusion is one of the three core pillars around which the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-2024 is built. SOLAS, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), and the 16 ETBs across the country have progressed a series of actions to support the goal of Fostering Inclusion through the development and roll-out of a series of good practice guidelines to promote inclusion throughout FET, including for learners with a disability. This includes the development of a conceptual framework for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for the FET Sector, which aims to reduce obstacles to learning by taking into account the needs of learners of diverse backgrounds and abilities. SOLAS are also working on finalising a report on ‘Guidelines on Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Adult Literacy Service’.
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 for learners with a disability. Supports in the FET sector for learners with a disability include access to the Fund for Students with a Disability (FSD), a wide range of reasonable accommodations depending on the learner’s needs, the Adult Education Guidance Service (AEGS), as well as provision of specific programmes for learners with a disability who may require more intensive supports through Specialist Training Provision (STP).
Ensuring that the apprenticeship population reflects the general population is a stated aim of the Government in both the Programme for Government and the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. Targets for participation by under-represented groups, and additional specific actions to support those target groups will be set in conjunction with the Equity of Access Subcommittee (of the National Apprenticeship Alliance) and will be monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that interventions are working and that we are delivering greater diversity across the apprentice population.
My Department will continue to keep existing provision and initiatives under review. We want to develop a better understanding of what works best within the different models, and to look at how we can assist people to access and progress through higher and further education and training. Thus ensuring that we grow prosperity across communities and build social cohesion, while also recognising the different needs of learners and enabling each and every one of them to develop to their full potential.
1271. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students that are in receipt of disability, scholarship or bursary payments are disadvantaged when they apply for SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40106/21]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme is the principal financial support for students participating in higher education, including those with disabilities. The Student Grant Scheme provides for fee and maintenance grants to all students who meet the qualifying criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression.
To date SUSI has received over 80,000 student grant applications for the 2021/22 academic year. Approximately 56,000 applications have been assessed with over 49,000 assessed as eligible for support.
Under the student grant scheme 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.
Both Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension are eligible payments for the purposes of qualifying for the special rate of grant.
For student grant purposes, Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension are treated as reckonable income for the SUSI means assessment process in a similar fashion to other Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection payments such as Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance, thus ensuring a consistency of approach and an equitable treatment of students and their families in the SUSI means assessment process.
However, Disability Allowance, where it is paid to the applicant, is an income disregard for student grant purposes and is not included in the means test. This treatment, along with other provisions of the scheme, ensures that those students most in need receive supports commensurate with their needs.
Apart from the student grant scheme, students with disabilities are also entitled to support under the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) which provides funding to higher and further education institutions to assist them in offering supports and services to eligible students with disabilities so that they can participate on an equal basis with their peers. Students attending approved courses in Northern Ireland, the UK, and the EU are also eligible for support. The purpose of the FSD is to provide students with a disability with the necessary assistance to enable them to access, fully participate in and successfully complete their chosen course of study.
DFHERIS bursaries and FSD funding does not negatively affect SUSI grant eligibility for students with disabilities.
1272. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to increase the number of dentistry places available in Irish universities. [40184/21]
View answer1294. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of student places available for young persons who wish to study dentistry in each third-level institution respectively, in tabular form. [40924/21]
View answer1295. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the shortage of dentistry places for students and the extremely high points needed to access this field of study (details supplied) and particularly in relation to the distinct lack of qualified dentists in Ireland; if he will consider providing more student places for those wishing to pursue a career in dentistry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40925/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1272, 1294 and 1295 together.
In light of high number of CAO applications this year, and the pressures faced by the Leaving Certificate students of 2021, my officials have been working with the HEA and the higher education institutions to identify where there is scope for additional places to be provided for the 2021/2022 academic year. However there are real, material limits on the number of places in courses such as dentistry due to the practical nature of such courses and the specialized equipment involved.
The exact number of places in individual courses is a matter for the higher education institutions in line with their autonomy, and my Department does not hold this information.
1273. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to ensure that the recently announced €24 million funding for an additional 4,620 college places will be directed to employ full-time permanent teaching staff. [40185/21]
View answerLast year more than 2,250 additional places were provided in order to offset the particular pressures faced by the higher education system. My Department is working with the HEA and the Higher Education Institutions to identify where there is scope for additional places to be provided this year. All bodies involved will continue to work to ensure the availability of a full range of options for applicants in 2021.
As part of this work, support will be provided for additional roles within the higher education sector to protect against significant erosion of the staff/student ratio within institutions. This will be in addition to the demographic funding which is more broadly applied to support the capacity of the system at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and which has been seen to deliver stronger retention in recent years.
