Written Answers Nos. 254-263
254. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the total increased expenditure on apprenticeship in 2022 will be €34 million; the breakdown of expenditure of the €17 million to address the backlog in craft apprenticeships; the breakdown of the remaining €17 million in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51832/21]
View answerMinister Harris and I recently announced that an additional €34 million has been allocated for the continued support and development of the apprenticeship system. This funding which is essential for the new post Covid world of work is a fundamental part of a €122 million skills package under Budget 2022 and will ensure people will be equipped with the skills to help meet demand in areas such as housing, climate change and digital transformation.
€17 million has been set aside to address the backlog in apprentices off the job training; €5 million for the provision of additional places in training facilities and to assist with the emergency response to the training backlog for phase 2 training as announced by SOLAS on 23rd Sept, and €12 million for the Higher Education Authority for additional places in phases 4 and 6 training delivered by the Higher Education Institutes.
The current backlog for off-the-job, or workshop-based, training is being addressed and is underpinned by this further Government investment. Over 4,800 apprentices currently on a waiting list (40% of those waiting) for off-the-job, or workshop-based, training are on track to commence their training by the end of 2021. 100% will be returned to workshop-based training in 2022.
€9m will be used to fund additional payments to employers under the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme. In order to drive increased employer participation in apprenticeship €7 million will be ring-fenced for a new employer grant for employers who do not already benefit from the payment of training allowances available for craft apprentices on off-the-job training. The balance i.e. €1 million will be set aside for the establishment of a new Apprenticeship Office to lead planned reforms to the Irish apprenticeship system.
A breakdown of these figures in tabular form is attached.
|
Backlog |
Allocated funding (millions) |
|
HEA |
€12 |
|
SOLAS |
€5 |
|
Total |
€17 |
|
Balance of funding |
|
|
AIS |
€9 |
|
Employer grant |
€7 |
|
NAO |
€1 |
|
Total |
€17 |
|
Overall total |
€34 |
255. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will confirm that €22 million has been allocated from Budget 2022 for Green Skills Action Programmes; the breakdown of expenditure under this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51845/21]
View answerAs part of Budget 2022, €22 million is being provided for the Green Skills Action programme. This programme focuses on providing training to address climate and low carbon economy issues and is being funded under the SOLAS Recovery Skills Response Programme under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The Programme includes a focus on provision in Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) and Retrofitting as well as the development of new modules in green skills. €17m of the Budget provision relates to the Retrofit and NZEB expansion and will provide for an additional 2,650 places, bringing the total number of places to 4,550 by the end of 2022. NZEB and retrofit programmes are provided in Waterford Wexford ETB, Laois Offaly ETB and Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre with work ongoing to establish a further three centres of excellence in Cork, Limerick Clare and Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETBs.
The remaining €5m is for the provision of green skills modules being made available to all FET learners with Green Skills Trainers identified as part of this approach. The overall Programme target is for 60,000 learners to be offered green skills modules.
256. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding allocated to the Work Based Education Fund each year since it commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51846/21]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
257. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown of the budgetary allocation that corresponds to the €181 million committed to in the NRRP Priority 3: Social and Economic Recovery and Job Creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51847/21]
View answerThe €181m outlined under NRRP Priority 3 includes:
1. SOLAS skills - €114m
2. Technological University Transformation Fund ("TUTF") - €40m, and
3. The Department of Social Protection ("DSP") Work Place Experience Programme - €27m.
For the SOLAS Skills – the €114m includes
|
Programme |
2021 |
2022 |
Total |
|
Skills to Compete |
€35m 7,800 places |
€40m 8,900 places |
€75m 16,700 places |
|
Green Skills Action programme Retrofit & NZEB expansion |
€12m 1,900 places |
€17m 2,650 places |
€29m 4,550 places |
|
Green skills modules made available to all FET learners with Green Skills Trainers identified as part of this approach (see breakdown in Milestone and Target related tables above) |
€5m 25,000 Learners |
€5m 35,000 Learners |
€10m 60,000 Learners |
Skillnet Ireland along with SOLAS will work with employers to deliver 20,000 training places to support jobseekers and address key skills areas of the economy. Initiatives funded through the National Recovery & Resilience Plan (NRRP) and include:-
- SOLAS Green Skills Action Programme: 2,650 additional retrofit and Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) training places plus 35,000 learners to avail of Green Skills modules in 2022, and
- SOLAS Skills to Compete providing an additional 8,900 training places in 2022 for those most affected by the pandemic.
Under the Technological University Transformation Fund, €20m is allocated per year in each of 2022 and 2023.
Please also find document attached outlining measures within Ireland's National Recovery & Resilience Plan (page 8 & 9 relates to Priority 3).
258. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details on the budgetary allocation for the National Grand Challenges Programme of mission orientated funding to be rolled out by Science Foundation Ireland as part of the NRRP Priority 1: Advancing the Green Transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51848/21]
View answerThe National Grand Challenges Programme is a €71.6M programme running until the end of 2026 which is included in Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (funded under the EU Recovery and Resilience facility). The programme will incentivise and facilitate researchers and innovators to employ interdisciplinary RD&I approaches to tackle national and global societal challenges in support of green transition and digital transformation objectives. The overarching goals are to enhance impact from research that is informed by the end-user, ultimately leading to translation, adoption, and behavioural change. It is anticipated that challenge-based funding initiatives will be launched in several rounds and will involve extensive stakeholder engagement in scoping and delivery.
Science and innovation for societal benefit represents a key component of Science Foundation Ireland’s strategy - Shaping Our Future - and is central to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals globally. Seven challenge-based funding calls have been launched by Science Foundation Ireland to date and there is significant ambition to grow these activities further, through capacity building and funding instruments such as the National Grand Challenge Programme.
Although this is a larger scale initiative, the design of the programme will be based on Science
Foundation Ireland’s expertise and experience to date in challenge research - www.sfi.ie/challenges/
259. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total expenditure on the Transformation Fund for technological universities for 2020, provisional expenditure for 2021 and the allocated expenditure for 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51849/21]
View answerThe TU Transformation Fund (TUTF) is a €90 million fund (over 3 years), announced by government in Budget 2020, to assist the development and progression of TUs. The Fund was introduced in response to a recommendation in the report of the TU Research Network (TURN), Connectedness and Collaboration enabled by Connectivity (2019), which highlighted the importance of Exchequer investment to realising the ambitions of the TU agenda. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) are responsible for the design and implementation of the fund.
On 8 September 2021, the HEA announced funding of €25.67m to higher education institutions to support them in their progression towards Technological University status and in post-establishment development.
This funding builds on the €34.33m awarded in 2020 and represents the second tranche from the TUTF. A total of €90m will be awarded over a 3-year period to assist the development and progression of technological universities.
It is anticipated that the creation of technological universities will significantly enhance progress towards national priorities, particularly in the areas of access to higher education, research-informed teaching and learning, supporting enterprise and enhancing regional development.
In addition to the allocations, the HEA supports the ongoing work of both DkIT and IADT as they pursue separate journeys toward TU status. DkIT has made significant progress on its three-year developmental pathway with the support of a special advisor appointed by the HEA, and IADT continues to advance exploration of its options under the TU Act, 2018. Funding to support further progress by both institutes will be provided in 2022.
The HEA meets regularly with the fund recipients and consults at a sectoral level via the TU Research Network (TURN), to oversee the use of the fund and to best serve the needs of each institution or consortia at its current stage in the TU trajectory.
Considerable progress has been made towards the objectives of the fund since initial disbursements were made in 2020, as evidenced by the robust monitoring systems put in place to track progress. The latest round of funding allocations was determined on the basis of assessed capacity and progress evidenced in meeting the objectives and ambitions outlined in the TURN Report.
There is €30m of available funding to support projects in Year 3 of the TUTF. This funding will be allocated by the HEA on the basis of the analysis of updated year 3 project plans and an assessment of progress to date.
A breakdown of year 1 and 2 allocations for the TUTF is attached for your information.
260. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of businesses in Ireland that availed of the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51853/21]
View answerThe Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme was established to ensure that apprenticeship will play a key part in supporting economic recovery following COVID-19. It comprises a €2,000 payment when employers register a new apprentice, followed by an additional €1,000 payment one year later where that apprentice is retained. The scheme has supported the continued recruitment of apprentices over the COVID-19 period, with almost €11m approved for payment in respect of 5,471 apprentice registrations by the first of October. Since the beginning of 2021 2,387 unique employers have availed of this incentive scheme.
The establishment, funding and success of the scheme is a strong demonstration of the Government's commitment to the development and growth of apprenticeship in Ireland, which will be sustained and intensified through the implementation of the Action Plan on Apprenticeship.
261. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that is being made to reduce the proportion of adults in Ireland without basic digital skills from 47% to 20% as is set out in the Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy 10-Year Strategy for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51854/21]
View answerI was delighted to launch the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy on International Literacy Day, 8th September. This is a 10 year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy which takes a whole of Government action orientated approach. It is underpinned by one simple vision, to create an Ireland where every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their full potential. The Strategy sets out range of commitments to make people more aware of the services; to increase uptake of existing capacity, to expand the range of provision and to target resources on those who need it most.
A specific website www.adultliteracyforlife.ie has been launched with details of 210 local contact points and access to a national freephone for anyone who wishes to avail of one of the 100,000 places currently available across the country. In addition, a national awareness campaign has commenced and will continue for until the end of the year.
The Budget 2022 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, including the target of reducing the proportion of adults in Ireland without basic digital skills from 47% to 20%. This will also include the recruitment of regional literacy co-ordinators and the establishment of a new collaboration and innovation fund.
Within the further education and training (FET) sector, as part of the annual funding arrangements, SOLAS and its funded partners will provide integrated digital literacy training to match needs identified in all local areas.
I would encourage anyone wishing to avail of one-to-one or group digital literacy training to contact their local Education and Training Board or freephone 1800 20 20 65.
262. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the funding for capital works and equipment at UCC and the Munster Technological University will be disbursed; if the funding will be put to use in the current academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51855/21]
View answerIt is a priority for my Department to support Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including University College Cork (UCC) and Munster Technological University (MTU), in their critical role as drivers of social and economic development in their regions. Funding for capital works is generally distributed through the HEA to HEIs in the form of project-specific grants or devolved grant type funding.
The recently launched National Development Plan confirmed overall capital allocations for the period to 2025. I expect competitive programmes to be launched in the coming months that will allow HEIs including UCC & MTU to put forward additional proposals that address strategic priorities for the sector.
Projects which are currently approved in UCC and MTU include;
- A new Learning Resource Centre is planned for MTU Cork and a new STEM building is planned for MTU Tralee under the Higher Education Public Private Partnership (HEPPP) Programme. Both of these projects are part of Bundle 1 of the HEPPP Programme. This Bundle is currently at procurement stage and construction is expected to begin in Q2 2022.
- MTU Cork has also received approval for funding for upgrades to the main 1974 campus building under the Higher Education Refurbishment and Upgrade Fund. The programme of works will be phased over a number of years to minimise disruption to students and staff. The roof upgrade phase was completed in 2020 and further works are planned under this funding.
- In addition MTU has been approved funding in 2021 for three apprenticeships projects - electrical and metal fabrication apprenticeships (MTU Cork) and electrical apprenticeship (MTU Tralee).
- UCC has been approved for funding of €25m under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund to co-fund a new custom built Business School building in Cork city centre. CUBS was established in 2014, produces almost 1,000 business graduates each year and is committed to enrolling an additional 980 students over the next decade.
- UCC was also among eight higher education institutions approved in 2020 to progress projects under the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme co-funded with SEAI.
The first tranche of the 2021 Devolved Grant funding was also paid out in August of this year with the second tranche to be paid by year end. This funding issued to the higher education sector allows eligible HEIs, including UCC and MTU the flexibility to advance minor capital works (including health and safety works, access works, refurbishment and energy upgrades) and equipment purchase or renewal, including ICT. It is the responsibility of individual HEI to prioritise the works against which the funding will be deployed.
263. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the recent HEA survey which found that ethnic minorities in higher education more likely to be on lower pay; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51881/21]
View answerIn recent years, the Higher Education Authority has undertaken an extensive programme of work to address issues of gender inequality in higher education. In August 2020, I expanded the remit of the HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality to cover all areas of equality, diversity and inclusion. As part of this extended remit, the HEA has been working with stakeholders to advance work in the area of race equality. In order to build a strong evidence base for future policy and funding decisions, the Higher Education Authority conducted this national survey of staff in higher education to develop a picture of race equality across the Irish higher education sector.
This report is extremely important as it gives us, for the first time, data in relation to the experience of staff from minority ethnic groups in Irish higher education. It highlights that higher education institutions have an opportunity to play a critical role in relation to racial inequalities in wider society. There is an opportunity for higher education to become a beacon of good practice in this area. This report is the first of its kind in this area and will help HEIs to keep pace with wider demographic changes in Irish society. Through the implementation of the recommendations of this report, the HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will continue to advance race equality in higher education in collaboration with HEIs, their representative bodies and other key stakeholders.
A central recommendation of this report is the systematic collection of data which will provide the necessary evidence base regarding staff and student representation, access and outcome by ethnicity. From December 2020, as part of the HEA’s ongoing work in the area of staff equality, diversity and inclusion, HEIs have been requested to return staff ethnicity data to the HEA. This is in addition to the collection of data on HEI staff by gender. To foreground this request, the Athena SWAN Ireland Intersectionality Working Group was established in 2019 by the National Committee for Athena SWAN in Ireland in conjunction with the HEA, with an initial goal to develop a cross-sectoral approach to collecting data on staff and student ethnicity in the Irish higher education sector. The group is open to staff members from HEIs with academic or professional expertise in this area as well as representatives from the HEA. This current focus on ethnicity data and race equality was specifically called for by HE stakeholders (particularly in relation to Athena SWAN requirements).
In May 2020, the Intersectionality Working Group produced a statement (hea.ie/assets/uploads/2020/07/Intersectionality-WG-Statement-on-Ethnicity-Categories-in-Irish-HE.pdf ) to provide staff in HEIs with information on the rationale for collecting ethnicity data and the complexities of categorisation. The statement also provides some context for race equality work in higher education, as well as recommended actions for HEIs to consider. The statement has been endorsed by 25 HEIs, as well as by the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Higher Education Association. In their statement the working group recommended that “the Irish higher education sector moves to create an evidence base regarding staff and student representation, access and outcome by ethnicity with the explicit purpose of recognising and tackling institutionalised racism and advancing equality in higher education.”
The findings of this survey highlighted potential variances in earnings across different ethnic groups. The next step is to ensure we have a comprehensive data set in relation to the ethnicity of HE staff. Due to the historical absence of such data, the HEA is working proactively with HEIs to ensure that such data is collected and provided to the HEA on an annual basis in order to monitor progress in this area. The proposed HEA legislation will allow for better collection of staff data across all equality grounds, including information on the ethnic breakdown of staff across our institutions.
