Matt Carthy
Question:9. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to develop and support further and higher education in County Monaghan. [49541/21]
View answerFurther and Higher Education
Questions (9)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware, there is a broad range of further education and training provision available from Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board. It takes place in a wide range of settings including PLC programmes at Monaghan Institute, a wide range of adult and community education programmes, Youthreach, as well as apprenticeships, traineeships and other upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
Insofar as higher education provision within County Monaghan is concerned, Letterkenny IT has since 2019 collaborated with Monaghan Institute offering a level 7 Degree in Health and Social Care on an outreach basis. My objective of encouraging the development of a more integrated tertiary education system is intended to increase opportunities for this and other types of collaboration between higher and further education in the future.
Recognising the breadth and diversity of provision, the Future FET: Transforming Learning 2020-24 strategy is built around the three core pillars of building skills, fostering inclusion, and facilitating pathways. I am committed to realising the ambition set out in the strategy and the provision in Budget 2022 will support building the required capacity within the ETBs.
The investment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan is expanding opportunities under the Skills to Compete and Green Skills Action programmes while the additional investment in apprenticeships will address the backlog and support the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025.
The Budget provision for Adult Literacy for Life will enable us to establish the partnership structures and initiate focused coordination support which are critical to delivering on the targets set for adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy.
These developments, together with the step up in capital funding in the National Development Plan will strengthen FET provision across the country, supporting learners to gain relevant skills, while fostering inclusion and developing pathways for lifelong learning.
Questions Nos. 10 and 11 answered orally.
Technological Universities
Questions (12)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:12. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to offer new and additional courses at the technological university located in Ennis, County Clare, particularly engineering courses, considering the growing need for qualified engineers vis-à-vis the development of the Green Atlantic programme over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49583/21]
View answerWritten answers
The establishment of the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest is a hugely significant development. A core part of its mission will be to supply the graduate skills to meet the needs of employers in its region, and to support sustainable development.
Of course as an autonomous institution, it’s a matter for their Academic Council and their Governing Body to decide which courses it intends to provide in its different campus locations. That is absolutely the right approach.
I’m very aware of the Green Atlantic programme at Moneypoint. This will be a critical investment, not just for County Clare, but also for Ireland’s ambitions of meeting out net zero targets and of becoming a leader in green energy.
There are a range of programmes, including Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative, which can complement the core education and training system with upskilling and reskilling courses in areas of identified skills needs.
Springboard+ operates via a competitive call process, where Higher Education Institutions engage with enterprise to create proposals for courses in areas of identified skills need. Currently, Springboard+ enables institutions to put forward courses in any skills need that can be evidenced. The Springboard+ call process has concluded for this year, with courses now on offer to students. A new call process will commence in early 2022 for institutions to submit course proposals.
I will forward the Deputy details of the Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 Engineering courses on offer from the new TU for 2021/22. While these programmes aren’t located on the Ennis campus, with the flexible delivery in place through Springboard+ and HCI they are accessible to participants from across the region.
Question No. 13 answered orally.
Third Level Education
Questions (14)
Cathal Crowe
Question:14. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will support proposals to develop a training centre for students of the University of Limerick’s bachelor of science in paramedic studies course at the new Civil Defence building in Ennis, County Clare. [49628/21]
View answerWritten answers
I want to thank the Deputy for raising the matter, but it is not an issue which has previously been brought to my attention.
It’s certainly very positive to see the new Civil Defence headquarters in Ennis open. Taken alongside the establishment of the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest and the fact that Ennis is now a university town, these will be important drivers of development for the town and the wider region.
With respect to this particular issue, as the Deputy knows, Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions under their relevant legislation. That means that they are academically independent and entitled to decide on their particular academic course content and provision, the location of programmes and their resourcing.
That’s the approach which makes most sense and which ensures that educational provision reflects the particular needs and interests of a local area or region.
In this case, the best way forward would be for the Civil Defence and the University and any other relevant stakeholders to speak directly to see if there are mutually agreeable proposals that can be advanced.
Question No. 15 answered orally.
Technological Universities
Questions (16)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:16. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of planned and allocated capital investment for the Carlow campus of the Technical University of the South-East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49805/21]
View answerWritten answers
Should the application for Technological University designation be approved, the IT Carlow campus would become a campus of the Technological University of the South East.
Under the Higher Education Public Private Partnership - PPP - Programme, it is planned to deliver a Science and Health Building of more than 6,000 square metres on this campus. The building will include undergraduate and postgraduate science laboratories, general teaching space and learning resource space. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building is expected to increase the capacity of the institution by approximately 500 students.
The project is in Bundle 2 of the PPP Programme which is currently at procurement stage. Construction of this bundle is anticipated to commence in Q1 2023, with the IT Carlow Science and Health Building due to be completed in Q1 2025.
In addition to this PPP project, €440,000 in capital funding was approved earlier this year under the Higher Education Infrastructure Upgrade and Refurbishment Fund. This is for an upgrade of IT Carlow's primary electrical infrastructure on its main campus.
IT Carlow is also receiving a devolved capital grant of over €1.7 million this year to support small-scale building works, including health and safety works, access works, refurbishment and energy upgrades. This grant can also be used for equipment purchase and ICT investments.
In addition IT Carlow has been approved to acquire suitable lands in Wexford town to facilitate the development of a new campus there. The execution of these plans is a priority for me having regard to IT Carlow's geographic reach and the crucial regional dimension to our technological universities.
Technological Universities
Questions (17)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:17. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress of delivery of technical university status; the details in relation to Dundalk Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49878/21]
View answerWritten answers
It’s important to say at the outset that it is very much a matter for the governing bodies of autonomous Institutes of Technology to choose their own strategic direction in the higher education landscape.
There have been very significant steps made by Dundalk Institute of Technology in this regard, which I welcome.
DkIT has published its vision to become a dynamic, accessible, student-centred campus of a multi-campus regional TU. This marks meaningful progress on the proposed trajectory towards achieving TU status, enabling staff, students and wider stakeholders to be assured of the direction of travel. Furthermore, they have established a Project Steering Group and an operational project group, which will be important in driving on developments.
DkIT is being assisted in this area by the Higher Education Authority. This includes funding under the Transformation Fund. It also includes technical advice and support from a highly respected HEA special advisor on higher education policy, Dr. Ruaidhri Neavyn, who continues to assist the Institute as an external advisor.
On 8 September the HEA announced the second tranche of transformation fund allocations, bringing to €60m the level of Exchequer support through the fund since 2020. While DkIT has made significant progress in advancing its TU ambitions, it still has funding available from its 2020 transformation allocation. However, should further funding be required in 2022 it can of course engage further with the HEA.
I can assure the Deputy of my and my Department’s continued support and the continued assistance of the HEA for DkIT to make progress towards achieving TU designation in due course.
Third Level Fees
Questions (18)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:18. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way the distances for adjacent and non-adjacent third-level SUSI grants are set; the progress that has been made on the current review of SUSI; if recommended changes will be implemented for 2022-2023 applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49831/21]
View answerWritten answers
The student grant is an absolutely critical support for the students who receive it. That is why, following taking up my Ministerial appointment, I initiated a Review of the Student Grant Scheme to see where improvements would be most effective. The importance of this Review has been underlined by the rise in the costs of living across society. This has impacted students who have been affected by the increasing costs of accommodation and a range of other costs.
I am happy to give an update on the Programme for Government’s commitment to review the student grant scheme. The review is at an advanced stage, and is in the process of finalisation by the consultations and the steering group. There was significant public interest in the Review, with around 280 submissions and over 9,000 survey responses from students. The final Report will be presented to me later this year and I intend bringing it to Government for approval. It is the intention that this review will inform policy priorities and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.
The student maintenance grant is payable at either the adjacent or non-adjacent rate. The distance to be measured is the shortest non-tolled most direct route from the student’s residence to the institution attended. Under the terms of the scheme for the 2021/2022 academic year, the adjacent rate of maintenance grant is currently 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.
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.
Third Level Education
Questions (19)
Thomas Gould
Question:19. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase the uptake of third-level STEM courses by girls and women. [49850/21]
View answerWritten answers
Maintaining and developing a strong supply of STEM graduates is critical to Ireland’s growth as a world-class centre of innovation and research. Ensuring that we have good gender balance in STEM is a key part of meeting this supply. It is also a worthwhile policy goal in its own right, given all that we know about the importance of diversity in STEM, as well as our desire to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to pursue courses of study that will interest and engage them, and give them the skills to pursue a productive career.
This is an issue which requires action at all stages of the educational and career journey. Getting a good gender balance in the higher education system is an issue that depends on people being engaged and interested in STEM at a much earlier stage in their education.
The STEM Education Policy Statement was published in 2017 and seeks to raise awareness and interest in STEM. The first pillar of the strategy is "Nurturing learner engagement and participation" and focuses on increasing the uptake of STEM related subjects for learners of all backgrounds, ability and gender. The strategy targets a 40% increase in the number of females taking STEM subjects for Leaving Certificate
On 18th May Minister Foley and I announced a new partnership to support education and public engagement in STEM. This partnership contributes funding to projects under the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme. This programme aims to support effective interventions in early STEM education, help students engage with science subjects at an early age and foster interest in STEM careers especially among young women. This includes programmes which support awareness of STEM careers including by role models.
More widely, the promotion of gender equality in higher education is also critical. This is an area that I have prioritised, including through support for initiatives including the National Gender Equality Dashboard for Higher Education Institutions; the Athena SWAN Charter and the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative which is increasing the number of women involved in decision making roles in higher education.
Science Foundation Ireland
Questions (20)
Matt Shanahan
Question:20. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the changes he is proposing to the allocation of research funding though Science Foundation Ireland in view of the fact that significant new money was awarded in 2020 despite existing and previous grant approved research projects being bypassed nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49587/21]
View answerWritten answers
I assume the Deputy is referring to the research infrastructure calls that Science Foundation Ireland make from time to time. I should explain at the outset that the management of such calls is a matter for SFI, based on their own processes and having regard to appropriate advice and expertise, including from international experts.
The Infrastructure Call is a very important programme. It supports the research community in building and sustaining the required capacity to deliver high quality, high impact and innovative research in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Proposals that are received on foot of the Call are reviewed by an international panel of experts. For budgetary reasons, some of the proposals that are deemed by the panel to be fundable, have to be placed on a reserve list. This reserve list is time-bound and expires after a certain date. This is to ensure that any infrastructure that is funded is technically state of the art and reflects the most up-to-date priorities.
SFI reviews its priorities and procedures on an ongoing basis to ensure they deliver on strategic objectives and value for money. There are no current plans to fundamentally change the competitive call systems that have generated excellent research and impacts of international significance and repute.