Written Answers Nos. 386-405
386. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of State boards under the remit of his Department or its agencies in tabular form; the number of members of each board; the number of women on each board; and the percentage of each board that is made up of women. [49561/21]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in relation to the 8 State Boards that fall within the remit of my Department, is provided in the attached table.
|
Name of Aegis Body |
the number of members of each board |
the number of women on each board; |
% of board that is made up of women |
|
An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS) |
13 |
6 |
46% |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
15 |
6 |
40% |
|
Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
15 |
8 |
53% |
|
Irish Research Council |
12 |
6 |
50% |
|
Léargas |
9 |
5 |
56% |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
10 |
7 |
70% |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
12 |
4 |
33% |
|
Skillnet Ireland CLG |
13 |
7 |
54% |
387. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on removing the residency criteria from the free fees initiative. [49597/21]
View answerIn order to qualify for funding under the Department's Free Fees Initiative students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the separate residency and nationality/citizenship requirements in their own right.
In order to meet the residency criteria a student must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. All students are required to meet the residency criteria of the scheme.
The three out of five year rule takes cognisance of students who wish to take time out to travel or work abroad. Such students can still meet the residency requirement if they have not been outside the countries referenced above for more than two of the previous five years.
There are no plans to extend beyond the current eligibility criteria at this time.
Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee - either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution to determine.
My Department responded previously to concerns about the impact of the Free Fees Initiative eligibility criteria on Irish nationals who had, for occupational or economic reasons, to move abroad, requiring them to take their children out of the Irish education system in the process.
To this end, the Department advised that, with effect from the academic year 2014/15 onwards, higher education institutions should charge the more moderate rate of EU fee for students that commence their first undergraduate course of study in an approved institution here and:
- Hold EU/EEA/Swiss/UK nationality but do not meet the residency clause of the Free Fees Initiative; and
- have completed five academic years of study (at either primary or post-primary level) in an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK State.
388. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will expand SUSI funding to graduate entry medicine. [49598/21]
View answerProgression is a key tenet of the Student Grant Scheme and section 2 of the Student Support Act 2011 defines progression as "the process by which learners may transfer from one course to another course where the award that may be made on the successful completion of the second mentioned course is of a higher level..."
Students accessing graduate entry medicine will, as a matter of course, hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry and completion of a graduate entry medicine degree confers a further level 8 qualification. Students pursuing second degree courses are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants, and therefore graduate entry medicine students have not qualified for these programmes since the introduction of this course.
In order to widen access to GEM programmes, and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU students are partly subsidised by the State via the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Institutions participating in the graduate medical programme have been requested to provide accompanying services and supports to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged students in the programme. Details of these services and supports are available from the relevant institution.
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. The review 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.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available 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
In conclusion there are significant policy, legislative and funding considerations, as well as wider implications for other graduate entry courses, to the current treatment of graduate entry medicine course. These are subject to consideration, including as part of the annual Estimates process, as part of the ongoing consideration of student supports.
389. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will amend the free fees criteria to allow students on graduate entry and integrated masters programmes to access it for the duration of their studies. [49599/21]
View answerUnder the Department's Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including previous education attainment.
In this regard students attending a graduate entry course are not eligible for free fees funding, Students entering such courses are undertaking second degree courses having already obtained a level 8 qualification and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding for any periods of study at the same year level.
As referenced above, funding under the FFI is available for undergraduate awards only. In practice, this means that only the undergraduate portion of an integrated masters programme would be eligible for free fees funding. A full tuition fee is payable by all students for any postgraduate/Level 9 award portion of the course of study. Separately, SUSI grant support is available for those students who meet the qualifying criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. Different supports are available to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Qualifying students attending integrated/intercalated courses, will be initially assessed in respect of the undergraduate portion of the course. A separate application will be required in respect of the portion of the course deemed to be the postgraduate element.
Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of fees to be charged in the case of graduate entry courses or the postgraduate element of an integrated masters course are therefore solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
My Department currently has no plans to provide free fees funding for second degree courses or postgraduate years under the FFI.
390. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of the €105 million for the third-level sector to safely return in September 2021 announced on 21 July 2021 that has been paid to each of the relevant educational institutions and bodies as of 6 October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49600/21]
View answer391. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown of the €105 million for the third-level sector to safely return in September 2021 announced on 21 July 2021 according to the amount each educational institution and body will receive. [49601/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.
In July I announced Government approval for €105 million for the third level sector to safely reopen in September 2021 in line with public health advice.
The package will include financial support for further and higher education to return on-site safely in line with public health advice and additional supports for students in further and higher education.
At this time it is not possible to provide information in relation to allocations that will be paid to individual institutions or bodies and the process to allocate funds is ongoing.
My Department has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree the terms and conditions of the pre-funding arrangements that will apply to the specific initiatives identified in the funding package. In this regard Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanction was provided on the 28th of September and my Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and SOLAS are working with stakeholders to finalise the funding allocation process including appropriate monitoring and control arrangements.
392. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a report has been submitted to his Department regarding a new campus for Cavan Institute, Cathedral Road, Drumalee, County Cavan; and if the plans are advanced. [49680/21]
View answerCavan ETB has identified the development of the site of the former Army Barracks in Cavan as an opportunity to centralise further education and training provision and eliminate the need for various rented accommodation arrangements around Cavan town.
Plans are currently being advanced by the ETB for interim temporary accommodation for Cavan Institute on the Barracks site. Funding was approved in late Summer by my Department for works associated with delivery of the interim accommodation. The project is currently with the ETB to progress.
393. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49731/21]
View answerThe details regarding procurements that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and 2021 for my department are listed in tabular form below. No such contract was placed in 2020 and a single contract was awarded so far in 2021 with a value of €350,000. This cost will be paid in the coming months of 2021.
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science report of negotiated contracts without prior notification
|
Date |
Value -2020 |
Value - 2021 |
Purpose |
|
29/09/2021 |
€0 |
€0 |
Survey and skills review by OECD (value €350,000) |
394. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on a student union food bank (details supplied) running out of food for students due to over demand in less than an hour. [49864/21]
View answerSignificant additional Funding has been made available to support students under recent budgets and through the Return to Education Packages for 2020 and 2021. The principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. The budgetary provision for the Student Grant Scheme in 2021 is €364.5m. The Student Grant Scheme provides grant assistance to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved further or higher educational institution who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria of the relevant scheme.
The Programme for Government contains commitments to review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports and a review of the Student Grant Scheme commenced in March of this year. As part of the overall funding secured for the third level sector to safely reopen in September 2021, an additional €10m is available for the 2021/2022 academic year, providing a doubling of the core Student Assistance Fund bringing the total funding to €17.2m. The Covid Contingency Fund for Access Services of €1.9m has also being continued for a further year. UCC along has been allocated over €1 million from the Student Assistance Fund. The HEA has also been engaging with UCC on this matter and have been assured it is working with students to ensure it is responsive to their needs including establishing their own hardship funding. I spoke with the UCC Student Unions last week too and will meet them again shortly.
In the context of Budget 2022 I am currently giving consideration to the scope, to commence the process of making prioritised improvements to the student grant scheme for the academic year 2022/2023. This would allow early progress in addressing key themes emerging from the Review's consultations and research and recent trends in the cost of living.
395. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if grant aid is available for a person (details supplied) who is a single mother returning to education who does not qualify for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49890/21]
View answerThe main support provided by my Department in terms of financial supports is the Student Grant Scheme. The Student Grant Scheme, administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), provides grant assistance to students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The Student Grant Regulations prescribe that an approved course is a full-time course leading to a major higher education and training award which takes a minimum of two years to complete in an approved institution.
Apart from the student grant scheme the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. 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 (NQF level 6-10) in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply for the SAF. The core allocation for the SAF is €9.1 million per annum which is expected to support circa 14,000 students. This includes €1 million which was added to the fund in 2017 for part-time students who are lone parents or members of the other access target groups. Prior to that the fund supported full-time students only. I have approved the allocation of an additional €8.1m from the Return to Education 2021 funding to top up the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
I also approved the continuation of the €1.9m COVID19 Contingency Fund is designed to address the wider needs of vulnerable students and target groups (pre-entry and post-entry) beyond those already catered for though the SAF.
The student may be eligible for Tax Relief at the standard rate of tax in respect of tuition fees paid for her course. Further information on this tax relief is available from the student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie .
396. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice the status of a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49089/21]
View answerAn application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 25 September 2019. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
397. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice the status of a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49090/21]
View answerAn application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 25 September 2019. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
398. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of text alert groups registered with An Garda Síochána by county in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. [49099/21]
View answerI have requested the information asked for by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, and I will contact him directly when this is to hand.
399. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of text alert groups that applied for funding in 2020, by county. [49100/21]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from Muintir na Tíre and I will contact him directly when the information is to hand.
400. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of text alert groups that have been paid the text alert rebate for 2020 to date by county; and the reason funding issued for the text alert rebate in 2020 has only been paid recently. [49101/21]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from Muintir na Tíre and I will contact him directly when the information is to hand.
401. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the efforts made by an organisation (details supplied) to notify all eligible groups of the text alert rebate scheme. [49102/21]
View answerThe body referred to by the Deputy is a voluntary organisation and registered charity. The body administers the scheme referred to by the Deputy on behalf of the Department of Justice, however, neither I, as Minister, nor the Department play any role in the operations of the body, including efforts it makes in advertising/communicating the scheme to interested parties.
My Department has committed to a review of Community Text Alert Schemes under the Rural Development Strategy. Work on this review is at the early stages within the Department of Justice and no timescale for completion is available at present. However, it is hoped that the Schemes can be moved away from SMS text services to an app based platform in the future, and to extend access to the Schemes.
For the Deputy's information, however, the organisation publishes information on the scheme on its website, including the application process and all relevant deadlines.
402. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the discrepancy between the number of registered text alert groups and the number applying for the text alert rebate. [49103/21]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from Muintir na Tíre and I will contact him directly when the information is to hand.
403. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the amount of funding provided for the text alert rebate in 2020 by her Department; the amount paid to each group; the amount paid to an organisation (details supplied) to administer the rebate; and the amount recouped from successful rebate applicants by the organisation by way of affiliation fees to the organisation. [49104/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover costs incurred by communities in administering the Text Alert Scheme. The scheme is administered on a refund basis whereby communities submit their annual costs to Muintir na Tíre and a maximum refund of up to €350 is provided to the community.
For the last two years, my Department has committed to funding of up to €150,000 toward the costs of the scheme and, based on the number of applications received, it has had an average cost of €120,000 per annum. In January this year, and recognising the increased use of the alert scheme during the pandemic, Minister McEntee approved an increase in the individual cap paid to communities to €450 for the 2020 scheme only.
A further adjustment to the 2020 funding was made to address the fact that the scheme moved to costs incurred between January and December. Previously the scheme ran from September to September. To accommodate this adjustment, I approved an increase to the total budget of the Text Alert Scheme for 2020 from €150,000 to a maximum of €200,000 to cover the additional period between September and end December 2019.
I am advised that my Department provided €188,562.81 in funding for the text alert rebate scheme in 2020. A breakdown of the amount paid to each text alert group is attached. €7,800 was paid to Muintir na Tíre to administer the rebate.
I have sought information from Muintir na Tíre regarding the amount recouped from successful rebate applicants by Muintir na Tíre, by way of affiliation fees to that organisation, and will contact the Deputy directly when that information is to hand.
|
Name Of Group |
County |
Amount to be paid out |
|
Kealkill |
Cork |
€450.00 |
|
Bennekerry |
Carlow |
€450.00 |
|
Aglish |
Tipperary |
€450.00 |
|
Kilbrin |
Cork |
€450.00 |
|
Borris in Ossory |
Laois |
€450.00 |
|
Lyreacrompane |
Kerry |
€450.00 |
|
Caherdavin |
Limerick |
€200.00 |
|
Snugboro |
Mayo |
€445.00 |
|
Dunhill |
Waterford |
€450.00 |
|
Ballymore/Mayglas |
Wexford |
€450.00 |
|
Kilmacthomas Soci |
Waterford |
€450.00 |
|
Pillough |
Offaly |
€450.00 |
|
Ferbane Parish |
Offaly |
€450.00 |
|
Newmarket on Ferg |
Clare |
€390.00 |
|
Kilmurry McMahon |
Clare |
€340.00 |
|
Galbally |
Limerick |
€450.00 |
|
Ballyroe/Clougherb |
Kerry |
€350.00 |
|
Templederry |
Tipperary |
€450.00 |
|
Tullig |
Kerry |
€450.00 |
|
Lisdoonvarna/Dool |
Clare |
€450.00 |
|
Gaggin |
Cork |
€220.00 |
|
Killeedy |
Limerick |
€450.00 |
|
Drinagh |
Cork |
€450.00 |
|
Myshall |
Carlow |
€450.00 |
|
Carranstown |
Meath |
€190.00 |
|
Knockanure Valley |
Kerry |
€450.00 |
|
Coachford |
Cork |
€450.00 |
|
Urlingford & Grain |
Kilkenny |
€434.45 |
|
Glin |
Limerick |
€450.00 |
|
Clonaslee |
Laois |
€450.00 |
|
Rossnaree |
Meath |
€450.00 |
|
Oola |
Limerick |
€450.00 |
|
Blessington |
Wicklow |
€450.00 |
|
Killurin |
Offaly |
€240.00 |
|
Ballyduff |
Wexford |
€450.00 |
|
Skeheenarinky |
Tipperary |
€450.00 |
|
Rathmore |
Kerry |
€450.00 |
|
Ardaghey |
Monaghan |
€190.00 |
|
Ballindine |
Mayo |
€150.00 |
|
Meenleitrim Lough |
Kerry |
€450.00 |
|
Lorrha |
Tipperary |
€450.00 |
|
Ballinrobe |
Mayo |
€150.00 |
|
Rahan |
Offaly |
€50.00 |
|
Emo |
Laois |
€450.00 |
|
Clara |
Kilkenny |
€450.00 |
|
Knockraha |
Cork |
€285.00 |
404. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice if An Garda Síochána evaluated any other models of alerting or seeking the assistance of the public by way of the Garda communications systems or developing a Garda managed application to send out alerts (details supplied). [49105/21]
View answerMy officials have been engaging with Muintir na Tíre in relation to continuing this scheme including reviewing whether newer technologies, including apps, would be appropriate for use.
The Garda authorities have advised that to date, the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau has not evaluated any other models of alerting or seeking the assistance of the public by way of the Garda communications systems.
With regard to developing a Garda managed application to send out alerts, Garda ICT have recently examined the potential of Bulk Outbound texts for community engagement. Work is ongoing between the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau and Garda ICT with regard to the progression of this application.
405. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice the status of a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49088/21]
View answerAn application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 12 May 2021. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
