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Wednesday, 22 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 141-155

Disability Services

Questions (141)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

141. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the distinction that is being made in his policy work between organisations for persons with a disability and disability representative organisations. [45511/21]

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Written answers

Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007.

Our approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of progressive realisation, each year

moving forward on key reforms, with the obligations arising from the Convention being met over time.

The UNCRPD requires State parties to actively involve people with disabilities in policy development (Articles 4.3 and 33.3). The UN Committee has issued guidance on these articles through General Comment No 7. This guidance makes a distinction between organisations 'for' people with disabilities and organisations 'of' people with disabilities (also called disabled persons organisation or DPOs). The UN Committee recommends that organisations run by people with disabilities (and not for them or advocating on their behalf) are prioritised for consultation.

As a first step towards full implementation of UNCRPD requirements on consultation, my Department has begun the process of building and supporting the consultation framework for involving people with disabilities in the policy development process.

My Department has funded the development of a Participation and Consultation Network to build capacity within the disability community so that people with disabilities and their representative organisations can fully participate in policy-making. The Network was formed in late 2020.

The Network has over 100 members with funding provided to an organising member and four grant funded members. Members include disability organisations, disabled peoples organisations, individuals with disabilities and family members and support groups. They represent a wide and diverse set of experiences of disabilities which ensures a huge amount of knowledge and experience is available.

The expression of interest call for members of the Network specifically invited DPOs to apply. Two of the grant funded members are DPOs (AsIAm and the Coalition of Disabled Persons Organisations (DPO Coalition)). The DPO Coalition are themselves a grouping of DPOs whose own membership ensures that the Network includes the voices of many of Ireland’s DPOs. The Network is the first time that the voice of DPOs has been formally included at a national level. The Network has already been formally consulted on the UNCRPD State Report and it is currently completing a programme of work establishing its own internal structures and practices, which will allow it to carry out its work effectively.

In addition to the Network, the Disability Stakeholder Group is the existing mechanism for monitoring the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. It is a voluntary group of 24 individuals with expertise and lived experience of disability. A recent call for new members included, for the first time, an invitation for DPOs to apply, alongside individuals, persons with live experience, academics or professionals, and advocacy type organisations. Applications to sit on the Group are currently being considered.

International Agreements

Questions (142)

Joan Collins

Question:

142. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 442 of 20 January 2021 and 179 of 12 May 2021, the exact outstanding issues that need to be resolved by the Department of Justice before the State can proceed to ratify the Second Optional Protocol on the UNCRC which includes the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45548/21]

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Written answers

Significant work was carried out prior to my appointment as Minister to ensure the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol. Assessment carried out previously concluded that the enactment of Sexual Offences Act 2017 and Criminal Justice (Victims of Crimes Act 2017) removed the main hurdles for ratification.

As outlined in my previous reply on this matter, my Department subsequently made a comprehensive submission to the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 seeking confirmation as to whether Ireland was in a position to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The advice received from the AGO stated that while Ireland is largely compliant with the terms of the Protocol, there are some outstanding issues that need to be resolved before the State can proceed to ratification. My Department has been liaising closely with the Department of Justice and Equality as the outstanding issues identified by the AGO fall within their remit.

The main outstanding issues relate to determining what if any legislative measures may need to be put in place to ensure that the full range of offences covered by the Protocol can be prosecuted on an organised and transnational basis in line with Article 3.1 of the Protocol.

There is close engagement between the Department of Justice and my Department and once this process is concluded the next step will involve the development of measures that might be necessary to enable ratification.

Departmental Funding

Questions (143)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

143. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the projects or grantees in his recently announced €1 million funding for children’s services within the What Works initiative that will be targeted directly at benefiting the lives of children with disabilities. [45624/21]

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Written answers

My Department has allocated funding under the What Works initiative, funded through Dormant Accounts, for children’s services under three funding initiatives in 2021: the What Works Training Fund, the Learning Together Fund, and the Children and Youth Digital Solutions Fund.

The What Works Training Fund is now open for applications and will support community and voluntary organisations who are members of the Tusla Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) and provide services to children, young people and families in areas of disadvantage, to assist in meeting their training needs.

The Learning Together Fund was designed to support community and voluntary organisations or networks of statutory and non-government organisations, to promote increased understanding and use of evidence informed approaches to prevention and early intervention services for children, young people and their families.

Finally, the Children and Youth Digital Solutions Fund is a one year fund created by Rethink Ireland and funded by my Department.

Under the Children and Youth Digital Solutions Fund, €50,000 was awarded to Dyspraxia/ DCD Ireland for their Partnering for Occupational Therapy Telehealth Services (POTTS) project, in addition to €10,000 in non-financial supports and support through the Rethink Ireland Accelerator Programme which is a minimum of five days of capacity building workshops.

This project addresses waiting times for an initial Occupation Health assessment of children. The project works with supervised Occupational Therapy students from the University of Limerick to deliver one to one and group therapy interventions to children and young people. This funding will provide support to more children across the country awaiting clinical assessments and it also aims to produce a template that can be used by other services to provide clinical telehealth services to their users.

Also under the Children and Youth Digital Solutions Fund, Foróige received a similar award for their VRóige project. This project aims to address social isolation and developmental opportunities for young people who are hard to reach, such as those living rurally, with disabilities, suffering with social anxiety, young carers or those in hospital. Using immersive technology, this project addresses social isolation by connecting them to Foróige programmes, professional youth workers, trained volunteers and like-minded peers.

Through the What Works Learning Together Fund, €4,510 has been allocated to St. Gabriel’s Foundation for its Behavioural Support Programme. This programme works with children presenting with complex disabilities and severe behavioural challenges along with their families in a family centred practice model of service delivery. The money awarded to St. Gabriel’s is intended to fund the upskilling of Therapy Assistants. This coaching is aimed at helping to maintain a calm home for the family as a whole and vastly improving the child’s ability to participate in school activities and positively engage with peers and school staff alike. The overall positive impact is reducing the need for crisis intervention and helps to delay and prevent the ultimate need for long term residential care in some cases.

Additionally, Ballincollig Family Resource Centre Ltd was awarded €10,000. This grant will go towards its Ballincollig ASD Community Response Capacity Building Network which provides Parents Plus Special Needs Programme Training to a network of front-line support workers. These front-line workers include childcare workers, youth workers and family support workers who provide parental support for children with ASD in the Ballincollig community. The funding is intended to also allow 20 frontline support workers to participate in a bespoke foundational program delivered on Autism Spectrum Disorders.

A further €20,000 has been allocated to the South West Inner City Network (SWICN) to fund its #HeadStr8 programme. This programme is a collaborative project to respond to the need for a nurturing trauma informed approach to services in Dublin 8. Their services aim to support a wide range of young people and their families, including young people with mental health issues and co-occurring disabilities.

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Questions (144)

Holly Cairns

Question:

144. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a subject access request from survivors seeking personal information from the archive of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be facilitated without the requirement for a nominated general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45701/21]

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Written answers

Currently, under Data Protection Regulations, a data controller who is not a health practitioner is required to consult with an appropriate health practitioner before supplying any health data to the data subject concerned. My Department, as a data controller, must apply the Regulations when records contain health data. The Regulations do not enable the exercise of any discretion by the data controller and require consultation with an appropriate health practitioner in all cases.

What this means in practice, for the moment, is that where health data is included in the data due to be provided to a data subject, my Department is releasing all other non-health related information in the first instance, but, to give effect to the Regulations, is asking the requestor for the details of their health practitioner in order to consult him/her, before releasing the health data. Once the requestor’s health practitioner has reviewed the health data and has determined that it can be released, my Department will release the personal data in question to the requestor. My Department has already done this for a number of requestors.

I am not satisfied with this requirement and am working in conjunction with the Minister for Health, to amend the regulations.

In the interim, and in order to facilitate the timely release of information, my Department is also making requestors aware that Freedom of Information legislation, which is separate to the General Data Protection Regulation, provides an alternative route or additional route by which they may also access the health data concerned. Under that legislation, the involvement of a health professional in relation to releasing health records is discretionary rather than mandatory.

My Department is seeking to ensure that individuals are aware that it is open to them to make a request under both GDPR and FOI if that is their wish and my Department provides health data to individuals in accordance with each legislative framework.

Asylum Seekers

Questions (145)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

145. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the postnatal supports that are available to asylum seekers who give birth in Ireland; the policy that is currently available for the postnatal care of both asylum seeker mothers and their babies in direct provision centres or hotel accommodation; if his attention has been drawn to the particular case of a woman (details supplied) who was transferred to another centre with a newborn baby; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45728/21]

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Written answers

I am aware of the particular case referred to by the Deputy. It is my policy to move families out of emergency accommodation into dedicated International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres as soon as possible. In this particular case, I am advised by IPAS officials that they were in contact with the mother and her representatives to assure her that ongoing supports would be available to her and her baby at her new accommodation centre.

Dedicated IPAS accommodation centres are generally better equipped to meet the needs of applicants and their families than temporary emergency centres and employ appropriately trained staff more familiar and experienced with providing services to protection applicants. I am conscious, however, of the need to ensure the welfare of families living in IPAS accommodation.

As the Deputy may be aware, the provision of all medical services, including post-natal care are mainstreamed through the HSE. Any International Protection applicant accommodated in IPAS accommodation is entitled to a medical card and can access medical care through the GP referral process or emergency services. I'm also advised that an official from the HSE Social Inclusion Department works full time with the IPAS Resident Welfare Team to assist IPAS in its efforts to ensure residents are able to access whatever health services they may require during their time in IPAS accommodation.

I trust that this information is of assistance to the Deputy.

Childcare Services

Questions (146)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

146. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the anomaly whereby parents who do not work or study cannot access the national childcare subsidy for after-school care during term-time; if he has carried out a poverty impact analysis on the new national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45730/21]

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Written answers

The National Childcare Scheme provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. The schemes objectives are to promote (i) a reduction in child poverty, (ii) positive child development outcomes, (iii) labour market activation and (iv) improved quality.

The NCS is designed to be highly inclusive and to meet the needs of those families who need it the most. The NCS is based on the principle of progressive universalism and has regard to the best interests of children.

By making this fundamental shift away from the legacy schemes where subsidies are grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families, the NCS aims to improve children’s outcomes, improve labour market participation and reduce child poverty. It is a central policy component of the NCS to poverty proof and assist people in exiting the poverty trap.

Within this framework, an income-related subsidy is payable for children up to 15 years of age. The subsidy level is determined by the family’s income and the child's age. The number of hours subsidised is determined by the parent's employment or education arrangements.

The scheme is also built to ensure that families are supported to access a minimum level of early learning and childcare provision to support positive child outcomes.

During term time, the child's development needs are generally met through school participation.

Households on incomes of less than €26,000 NET can access full subsidies of up to €225 per child, per week, covering up to 45 hours week. To access 45 hours rather than 20 hours, the parent must be in some type of employment or be engaged in training.

The definition of work or study is broad, covering all forms of work or study arrangements: full-time, part-time, week-on/week-off and zero hour contracts. Moreover, the minimum hours required to engage in work or study to qualify for up to 45 hours per week is very low – at just two hours per week. In this way, the NCS encourages parents to exit poverty and deliver better outcomes for their children.

Underpinned by this approach is strong evidence that shows how growing up in poverty negatively impacts on child outcomes. Taking up work or engaging in training, even a very low number of hours, is key to enabling families to break that cycle and that is what the NCS is designed in part to support.

It also reflects the need to ensure that our systems recognise the critical role of family in children’s lives. Particularly where those families are available to care for their children.

Alleviation of poverty was at the heart of the development of the scheme. Much of the research concentrated on the direct impact it would have on low income households.

The 2016 policy paper which formed the basis for the National Childcare undertook an extensive analysis of the how the scheme would impact this in poverty and in low income households. It highlighted the dangers of poverty traps in childcare schemes, particularly where there is a risk of steep rises in childcare costs where a parent returns to work. Such traps undermine the incentive to take-up or increase employment. Therefore the NCS was designed to counteract this disincentive effect, through a smooth taper rate across the income assessed subsidies, and also through a transition from unemployment to work/study which increases the number of hours available.

The policy was informed by national and international evidence and advocacy on measures to prevent poverty (including inter-generational poverty). The policy sought to strike the right balance between enabling early learning and care services or indeed school age childcare services, to meet the needs of children in terms of their positive development and tackling a significant contributor to poverty and poorer outcomes for children of non-work households.

There is strong evidence that growing up in poverty has negative impacts on child outcomes. For example, according to the ESRI study Understanding Childhood Deprivation in Ireland (Watson et al., 2012), the longer-term impacts of poverty among children include lower levels of educational achievement, emotional and behavioural problems, and poorer health outcomes.

The research evidence suggests that parental employment is a key factor in protecting children from poverty and deprivation. The ESRI / Watson study concluded that parental unemployment is a significant risk factor in determining deprivation rates among children, with particularly high deprivation rates where a parent has never worked, or in lone parent households, or where the mother has no educational qualifications.

Childcare costs in Ireland (prior to the NCS) have been found to be a significant factor in contributing to low levels of participation in employment, education and training for mothers, particularly for lone parents. The NCS makes childcare much more affordable, and in some instances free to parents.

Research by Melhuish et al. (2015) and Sylva et al (2004), in the NCS policy paper indicates that positive children’s outcomes are for the most part met through part-time participation. This research has been used internationally in the design of various interventions. (DCEDIY is extremely grateful to have one of those authors, Prof Melhuish from Oxford University, on the Funding Model Expert Group.)

Melhuish and Sylva's research points to the fact that young children do not need to be in early learning and care for full time hours to meet their child development needs. As such, many schemes around the world are based on 15 to 20 hours per week. In Ireland's case, the State is now providing two years of free pre-school to all children before they start school for 15 hours per week. The NCS provides 20 hours of subsidised early learning and care per week where a parent is available at home, for children aged from six months, or 20 hours of school age childcare in non- term/ non ECCE time.

The OECD’s study Faces of Joblessness in Ireland, which included an ex ante analysis of the impact of the National Childcare Scheme, stressed the impact of work incentives on joblessness. It reported positively on the likely impact of the NCS.

Whilst recognising these general principles, for children living in exceptional circumstances of disadvantage or need, the NCS sponsorship arrangement is designed so that they can access free early learning and care or school age childcare for longer or full time hours where required.

The DCEDIY is committed to keeping the scheme under review and to assess whether it is meeting its objectives. I have contracted Frontier Economics to undertake a review of the National Childcare Scheme in line with Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act.

Variations on the concept of a work/study test is widely used around the wold and I have also requested that Frontier review the usage and evidence of efficacy of this approach in other countries.

This work is due to be finalised in the final quarter of this year and will inform in an evidence based manner the future development of the scheme.

Third Level Education

Questions (147, 148, 153)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

147. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he will take to ensure that in-person lectures at a university (details supplied) recommence in alignment with other third-level institutions. [45287/21]

View answer

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

148. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will engage with the provost of a university (details supplied) to ensure that in-person lectures at the college recommence in a similar way to other third-level institutions. [45288/21]

View answer

Neale Richmond

Question:

153. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with representatives from a university (details supplied) on its decision to delay the return of in-person learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45466/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 147, 148 and 153 together.

Following Government approval, I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22 on 15th June. The Safe Return Plan can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bcd91-a-safe-return-to-on-site-further-and-higher-education-and-research/

The plan, which emerged following extensive discussions between university representatives, public health and other relevant stakeholders, provided a framework for higher education institutions to proceed with planning for a return to on-site campus learning that would be in line with public health guidance.

In that context, institutions and providers have undertaken their own detailed planning and work for a comprehensive return to on-site activity. At a minimum, on-site activity this year will include laboratory teaching and learning, classroom based teaching and learning, tutorials, workshops, smaller lectures, research, return to work-spaces and access to libraries with appropriate protective measures in place. As part of the safe return to on-site learning, other on campus non-educational activities and facilities such as sports, bars, canteens, clubs and societies will operate in line with prevailing general public health advice for those activities.

The Higher Education Institutions have committed to maximising the on-campus experience available for all students, in line with public health advice. Due to the diversity among education providers, each institution will implement the return to campus in their own way. It is not for me to determine the exact way in which any institution implements the return to on-campus learning.

My Department and I have engaged with Trinity College and we understand the amount of face-to-face teaching will increase significantly over the coming weeks. I encourage students to engage with Trinity College directly on this matter, as the university itself is best placed to provide information on how the return to campus will progress throughout the academic year.

Question No. 148 answered with Question No. 147.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (149)

Imelda Munster

Question:

149. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department’s IT infrastructure is monitored for security breaches on a 24/7 basis; the guidance provided from Government on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45312/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department implements multiple Cybersecurity protocols and measures including 24X7 IT Security Monitoring, User Awareness, Perimeter Security, Anti-virus/Anti-Malware, Email and Web filtering, System Patching, Risk Management, Policies, Regular Vulnerability Assessments/Penetration Testing, Mobile Device Management, Access Management, Incident Management, Event Monitoring, Information Security Governance, GDPR Awareness, Disaster Recovery, Offline backups, Supplier Management and Encryption

In relation to guidance from Government, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) which is located within the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is the primary cyber security authority in the State. The NCSC provides a range of cyber security services to operators of Critical National Infrastructure, Government Departments and Agencies. My Department's cyber security protocols are supported by the work of the NCSC and the national computer security incident response team, CSIRT, which provides early warnings, alerts, announcements and dissemination of information about risk and incidents to my Department.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (150)

Emer Higgins

Question:

150. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps taken by his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within his Department who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; his plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45369/21]

View answer

Written answers

Staff of my department have been working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which had provided for home working to continue where possible with the exception of roles where the nature of the work did not lend itself to remote working. Following the Taoiseach's announcement on the 1st of September, my department is now in the process of introducing a phased return to the workplace.

In relation to the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work in my department, a central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each department and Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas.

Staff of my department have the ability to participate in video and web conferencing meetings on multiple platforms and can join a meeting on a desktop, laptop, mobile phone or landline. Between my department and the Department of Education* , we have approximately 700 Cisco Webex seats to enable staff members to host meetings on the Webex platform. The Webex seats were procured in accordance with the Office of Government Procurement’s guidelines for procuring goods and services.

*The Department of Education ICT unit provides ICT shared services for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (151)

Emer Higgins

Question:

151. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps taken by agencies under the remit of his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within these agencies who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; if there are plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45386/21]

View answer

Written answers

The information sought in relation to the aegis bodies under the remit of my Department is not held by my Department. Contact details for the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.

Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Name of Body

Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas

Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members

Higher Education Authority

Oireachtas@hea.ie

Padraic Mellett*

Irish Research Council

Oireachtas@research.ie

Padraic Mellett*

Grangegorman Development Agency (note 1)

Communications@ggda.ie

nora.rahill@ggda.ie

SOLAS (Note 2)

oireachtasinfo@solas.ie

Nikki Gallagher*

Skillnets Ltd

oireachtas@skillnets.com

t.donnery@skillnets.com

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

ceo@qqi.ie

ceo@qqi.ie

Léargas – The Exchange Bureau

oireachtas@leargas.ie

fbroughan@leargas.ie

Science Foundation Ireland

ciara.cotter@sfi.ie

Ciara Cotter

Note 1 – In regard to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) as the IRC operates under the auspices of the HEA. Mr Mellett will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use Oireachtas@hea.ie and Oireachtas@research.ie respectively to contact Mr Mellett.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (152)

Robert Troy

Question:

152. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current requirements with regard to apprenticeship programmes (details supplied). [45407/21]

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Written answers

Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes. They comprise of a standard seven phase programme of alternating on-the-job and off-the-job phases delivered in Training Centres, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities.

Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the shutdown of on-site learning activity in 2020 and 2021 had a significant impact on the ability of craft apprentices to progress through their course. This has increased the average programme duration for the current cohort of craft apprentices.

In addition to the general activity surrounding a return to on-site learning across the further and higher education sector a number of specific actions were put in place to support craft apprentices to progress in their training in a timely manner:-

1) COVID-19 recovery measures

- Craft apprentices were prioritised for a return to on-site learning on 8 March 2021.

- Delivery of off-the-job phases continued over the summer, subject to public health advice and with restricted numbers. This approach assisted institutions and providers in preparing and organising the safe return of larger numbers in the autumn.

- An additional €12 million was allocated for 2021 to support additional classes and teaching capacity to ameliorate COVID-19 measures at higher education level (Phases 4 and 6).

- A three-step plan to tackle the backlog in craft apprenticeship off-the-job training over the coming period by SOLAS and further and higher education providers is under way. Step 1 of the plan includes an increase in the number of training workshops available across further and higher education from September 2021 onwards under a structural response. Steps 2 and 3 involve tailored emergency approaches to accelerate the throughput of apprentices at Phases 2 and 6 for a designated period of time.

- Phase 2 apprentice commence off-the-job training throughout the year. An update issued to ETBs on 20th September on an agreed response to maximise and expand provision to clear the waiting lists for phase 2 training, with a number of information sessions for staff due to take place over the coming weeks. A communication will also issue to apprentices over the coming days.

- Phase 4 and 6 intakes are currently scheduled three time per year – September, January and April. Additional capacity coming on stream at phase 4 and 6 from September has resulted with in the region of 2,500 phase 4 and 6 apprentices scheduled to commence off-the-job training in September, up from 2,100 per intake immediately pre-COVID.

2) Structural increase in capacity

- €20m in capital funding has been provided to increase training capacity in the system with SOLAS and HEA allocating this to ETBs and HEIs. This will facilitate an additional 4,000 craft apprenticeship places, assisting significantly with the immediate backlog issues but also more broadly increase training capacity in the apprenticeship system as the sector caters for higher demand.

Further updates will be published over the coming weeks on www.apprenticeship.ie.

Question No. 153 answered with Question No. 147.

Third Level Admissions

Questions (154)

Richard Bruton

Question:

154. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the number of students who have failed to get any CAO offers due to errors in the student exam number; if there is an adequate system for alerting schools as well as students to the presence of such errors; and if there is a way in which students can be facilitated to participate in courses for which their results demonstrate they should have been selected. [45507/21]

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Written answers

Universities and Institutes of Technology determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf.

Decisions on admissions are made by the Higher Education Institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO.

Where the CAO is notified of an error in an application after Round One offers have issued, they update the account information and ask the higher education institutions to consider them for Round Two. The higher education institutions will then do their best to accommodate applicants with offers on Round Two. A portion of the offers that are issued in Round Two every year are to applicants who need to be accommodated after adjustments have been made due to applicant omissions or errors, or administrative errors caused by the higher education institutions or the CAO.

I appreciate that it can be quite upsetting for an applicant to realise their examination information was incorrect, and it is my understanding that every effort is made by the CAO and the higher education institutions to facilitate such applicants in Round Two.

If the issue is not resolved the applicant’s satisfaction, the option to appeal is available. The CAO has an Independent Appeals Commission, to which recourse may be had by applicants who believe that they have been treated unfairly by the CAO, and whose complaints have not been resolved by the CAO. The function of the Appeals Commission is to ensure that the rules are applied fairly.

Third Level Admissions

Questions (155)

Michael McNamara

Question:

155. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be accommodated in either of two colleges in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45508/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and admissions to third level courses is a matter for the institutions concerned and not for my Department to intervene.

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