Written Answers Nos. 425-444
425. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of, and position regarding, the mother and baby homes redress scheme; if an update will be provided on his engagement with survivor groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56106/21]
View answerAs part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This Scheme will include a financial payment and a form of enhanced medical card.
An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was set up to develop detailed proposals for the Scheme. The work of the IDG was guided by a human rights focus and informed by consultation with survivors and survivor groups.
I intend to bring proposals on the Scheme to Cabinet this week. Once proposals for the Scheme are approved by Government, I will publish them immediately. My Department will also continue with the significant work necessary and already in progress to establish this Scheme and make it available for applications as soon as possible in 2022.
426. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill to amend the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is scheduled for pre-legislative scrutiny at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56121/21]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis. It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.
The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to commencing the 2015 Act, recognising the importance of the much needed reform it represents. We are working towards a date of June 2022 for full commencement.
Amendments are required to the 2015 Act before full commencement can take place. Work is actively taking place on an Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill and I will shortly seek Government approval for the General Scheme of the Bill. The amendments will streamline processes in the interests of those using its provisions. They will also strengthen the safeguards included in the 2015 Act.
Once Government has approved the General Scheme, I will refer the General Scheme for pre-legislative scrutiny. The scheduling of the pre-legislative scrutiny will be a matter for the Oireachtas Committee.
427. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the 2,650 additional places on retrofit and NZEB courses as outlined in Budget 2022 will be open; the total number of places on retrofit and NZEB courses including these additional places in 2022; the breakdown of the number of places that will be provided for each education and training board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55484/21]
View answer428. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of graduates in each on-site retrofit programme in Waterford, Wexford and Laois Offaly ETB that is targeted at near zero energy building skills training for existing construction professionals and skills to advance programmes related to retrofitting as part of the Just Transition response for Bord na Móna employees in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55485/21]
View answer430. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of trainees currently enrolled in each retrofitting centre of excellence to date; the target enrolment for each retrofitting centre of excellence for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55504/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 427, 428 and 430 together.
There are ten NZEB programmes available at the current time. Five of which are general construction related (NZEB fundamentals, site supervisor, ventilation, retrofit and NZEB for construction workers) and five of which are targeted to skilled craftspersons in specific trades (Bricklaying, Carpentry, Electrical, Plastering and Plumbing).
The numbers of trainees who have undertaken NZEB and Retrofit programmes to date in 2021 are as follows:-
- Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board ETB (WWETB)= 559.
- Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) = 89.
The delivery of the above short courses is demand-led. Increasing demand from construction workers for NZEB and Retrofit qualifications and upskilling is a key element in the National Retrofit Plan, which has been published as part of the Climate Action Plan 2021.
Under the Just Transitions response, LOETB initially focused on responding to the needs of those employees whose jobs were most at risk. Informed through a number of skills audits, 40 upskilling and re-skilling programmes have been rolled out, engaging over 450 Bord Na Móna starters. These programmes have included:
- Retrofit Skills Programme- Thermal Insulation (+ Ventilation & Air Tightness)
- NZEB Programmes
- Renewable Energies – Solar PV
- Bicycle Mechanic
- Renewable Energies- Micro Generator- Micro PV and wind turbine systems
- Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture
- Peatland Rehabilitation Traineeship
SOLAS is actively engaging with the Education and Training Boards to finalise overall FET targets for ETBs under the 2022 Further Education and Training business planning process. The allocation of places for NZEB and retrofitting programmes as outlined in Budget 2022 are under discussion as part of that process.
429. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details of each retrofitting or green building skills related reform to the curricula of construction related apprenticeships in the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55486/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy once the collation is complete.
431. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a new national strategy for research and innovation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55508/21]
View answerThe development of a new National Strategy for Research and Innovation (R&I) is a key commitment in the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan 2021, which sets out the “dual ambition of placing research, development and innovation at the heart of addressing Ireland’s economic and societal challenges, and building capacity and capability across the research and innovation system to move R&I up the value chain.”
My Department is leading the development of this new national strategy, in consultation with key Government Departments, agencies and stakeholders. This new Department has been established with a clear mandate to work with all stakeholders to strengthen Ireland’s R&I ecosystem, drive reform and collaboration, and enhance outcomes which contribute to meeting societal, economic and global challenges.
The Strategy is under conclusion by the Department with a view to final consultation with Government Departments and agencies this year. Following formal Government approval, publication is expected in early 2022.
It is the intention that the next strategy will set a vision and ambition for Ireland’s R&I system that all relevant actors will identify with and contribute to, with ambitious national strategic goals and objectives out to 2027. Action-led Work Programmes will map out specific deliverables over shorter timescales. This will enable agility and responsiveness over the full period of the strategy and a strong focus on delivery and reform.
432. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the baseline and target set out in adult literacy for life strategy for literacy, numeracy and digital skills, respectively; the interim targets over the term of the strategy; the estimated impact to the economy of achieving each target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55517/21]
View answerThe Adult Literacy for Life Strategy identifies the following high-level strategic targets compared to the baselines, as follows:
- Decrease the share of adults with unmet literacy needs (Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) level 1 or below) from 18% (2012 data) to 7%.
- Decrease the share of adults with unmet numeracy needs (PIAAC Level 1 or below) from 25% (2012 data) to 12%.
- Decrease the share of adults without at least basic digital skills (as measured by Digital Economy and Society Index) from 47% (DESI 2020) to 20%.
The Strategy recognises that a strategy this long-term in nature must have the capability to continually review progress, and adapt actions and responses to take account of the rapidly evolving environment.
While progress will be measured using the next PIAAC survey, which is due to begin with data gathering in 2022 and 2023, the Strategy recognises that a more regular means of measuring levels of literacy and numeracy needs to be established, with a research body contracted to develop and operate an ongoing benchmarking exercise based on the PIAAC methodology. Progress toward reaching the digital skills target will be measured using the annual DESI reports. The development of a new Well-being Framework for Ireland, which aims to facilitate a well-rounded, holistic view of how the country is performing, alongside the existing economic measurement tools, will also be used to map the impact of the Strategy throughout its lifetime.
Within that context, the Strategy recommends that the oversight structures should also work to agree on an outcomes framework that will formalise a set of indicators for the strategy. An independent mid-term review of progress will also be commissioned five years into delivery, this will allow the second half of strategy implementation to be informed by a timely analysis of targets.
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. Achievement of these targets will have positive economic and social benefits for Ireland, enabling citizens to participate fully in Ireland’s economy and society. With digitalization transforming every aspect of our lives, digital literacy is a prerequisite for an inclusive society and economy.
433. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the laptop grant scheme in the case of a person (details supplied). [55543/21]
View answerThe devolved capital grant allocation for 2021 facilitates higher institutions to address a number of key capital investment priorities including the procurement of additional ICT devices, i.e. laptops and other devices, to support disadvantaged students who have difficulty in accessing a suitable device for their studies. The laptop grant scheme is managed by each institution. Therefore the most effective route for this particular case, is for the student to make contact with the Access Office in UCC www.ucc.ie/en/accessforall/. My office can provide any further specific information regarding the Access Office if the Deputy wishes to make contact directly.
434. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the annual cost of infrastructure projects under the higher education public private partnership are paid directly from the Exchequer or from the core funding of the institution involved in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55558/21]
View answerThere are three higher education projects that have been delivered to date, by way of Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract. The National Maritime College of Ireland and Cork School of Music, which are part of Munster Technological University, are now well over half way through the PPP contract period.
The most recently delivered PPP project is the East and Central Quads at Grangegorman, which has provided state of the art facilities for the TU Dublin Colleges of Sciences and Health, Arts and Tourism and for the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Once a PPP contract has been signed, the cost information is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on www.ppp.gov.ie. These costs include the cost of design, construction and finance, as well as the cost of operating, maintaining and conducting life-cycle works to the buildings over the 25 year operational period of the contract.
As is the case with all higher education PPP projects, the costs are reimbursed by the Department to the PPP Company, as part of the annual Unitary Charge payments. These payments commence once construction has been completed and continue over the 25 year period.
The annual Unitary Charge payments for the Grangegorman PPP Project are co-funded by TU Dublin through its own sources, including via efficiency savings generated by the consolidation of its activities at Grangegorman.
435. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total value collected from the sale of the former DIT campus building; the total amount from the same of former DIT campus buildings use to fund the Central and East Quad at Grangegorman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55559/21]
View answerAt this time, the TU Dublin property disposal strategy has yielded some €172 million, all of which will be reinvested in the Grangegorman development, mostly Programme 3.
The Central & East Quad buildings were delivered by way of a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) PPP contract, and therefore most of the costs will be payable by way of monthly unitary charge payments over the operational period.
An amount of c.€36 million from the property disposals has been allocated to fund the TU Dublin element of overall project costs. TU Dublin is covering 42% of the unitary charge payment, including from savings achieved from the consolidation of provision on the Grangegorman campus.
436. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of Science Foundation Ireland funding that will be ring-fenced for research investment in technological universities in 2022; the amount of Science Foundation Ireland research funding that has been allocated to technological universities and institutes of technology each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55560/21]
View answerA key mission for TUs is the building of research capacity and the promotion of innovation and its diffusion, through support for firm-level innovation, developing research centres and gateways in established and emerging regional clusters and ensuring that the research system in the regions is internationally connected.
In respect of competitive funding calls carried out by Science Foundation Ireland, the position is as follows. SFI does not ring-fence funding for research projects that have not been internationally peer reviewed. The agency only funds research that meets the requisite bar of excellence which ensures that Ireland continues to compete at an international level.
The Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities have been successful in securing multi-annual funding from SFI through this rigorous review process. A total of €1,025,049 is due to be allocated to these investments in 2022.
A summary of investments to IoTs and TUs since 2011 is given in the following table.
SFI is committed to increasing geographical involvement and engagement in research throughout Ireland. The Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology are a critical element of this strategy and are home to significant research talent and infrastructure.
In 2021, SFI launched a new programme - SFI Frontiers for Partnerships which is designed to facilitate more research partnerships between the TU/IoT and University sectors. The key goal of this programme is to support highly excellent, impactful research which benefits from the unique strengths of both sectors. The programme also aims to increase the research capacity of the TU/IoTs and to increase the number of PhD students in the TU/IoT sector.
|
Award Year |
Total Awards |
|
2011 |
€4,757,487.76 |
|
2012 |
€5,179,872.20 |
|
2013 |
€2,778,809.80 |
|
2014 |
€812,951.00 |
|
2015 |
€1,930,052.60 |
|
2016 |
€3,687,609.30 |
|
2017 |
€1,529,861.77 |
|
2018 |
€1,117,275.90 |
|
2019 |
€2,660,097.38 |
|
2020 |
€4,384,973.77 |
|
2021 (to October 2021) |
€1,700,479.94 |
437. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details, including cost, of all non-PPP capital projects currently approved or under way in the technological university and institute of technology sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55561/21]
View answerThere are a number of ongoing (non PPP) higher education investment projects which support the TUs and IOTs. Currently there are 27 capital projects approved or under way in the TU/IOT sector. These projects are approved for €106m in Exchequer funding.
My Department is also reviewing the parameters of the next phase of Exchequer capital investment in the higher education sector in the context of NDP ceilings published last month. It is intended that new funding programmes will be announced in the near future for the higher education sector.
438. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the allocation and expenditure each year for Science Foundation Ireland since 2012, in tabular form; the allocation for 2022; if this includes the €72 million for a national grand challenge announced in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55562/21]
View answerThe information regarding the Allocation and Expenditure each year since 2012 for Science Foundation Ireland is set out in the following document.
SFI funding for next year will be confirmed once the Revised Estimates Volume 2022 has been published. In the meantime, I can confirm that NRRP funding is included in my Department’s overall NDP ceilings as set out in the recent NDP review.
|
Year |
Allocation (000's) |
Expenditure (000's) |
|
2021 |
€204,599,000.00 |
|
|
2020 |
€196,056,000.00 |
€196,056,000.00 |
|
2019 |
€184,315,000.00 |
€192,164,000.00 |
|
2018 |
€177,565,000.00 |
€186,305,000.00 |
|
2017 |
€172,631,000.00 |
€183,131,000.00 |
|
2016 |
€166,662,000.00 |
€193,652,000.00 |
|
2015 |
€166,230,000.00 |
€165,630,000.00 |
|
2014 |
€162,840,000.00 |
€162,440,000.00 |
|
2013 |
€162,300,000.00 |
€161,550,000.00 |
|
2012 |
€169,669,000.00 |
€169,239,000.00 |
439. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a new borrowing framework for the Technological University for the South East Ireland will allow and include borrowing to support capital developments in both teaching buildings and systems and student accommodation units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55916/21]
View answerMy Department is currently seeking to progress a sector wide borrowing framework for TUs in line with the recommendations of the 2019 TURN report. Although at a relatively preliminary stage, it is anticipated that in the first instance any borrowing framework would prioritise the provision of purpose built student accommodation in line with commitments in the Government's Housing for All plan.
440. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the new Technological University for the South East Ireland will be the only third-level designated institution in the region; if the proposed capital funding programme to support the new technological university development will not be capped to the same conditions as others designated under the legislation given that they are supported by national university partners in their regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55918/21]
View answerI remain committed to expanding the imprint of higher education across the south east region. IT Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) have been very clear that the new TU will serve the entire South East region. This will include a larger footprint for higher education in Waterford and the acquisition of a site to accommodate a purpose-built campus in Wexford.
WIT is currently undertaking an appraisal process, in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code, to examine options for expanded provision. This analysis takes account of factors such as the planned population growth in Waterford, regional and national skills needs, and existing campus capacity. The level of capital costs of future campus development can only be determined following a detailed planning and design process and investment is likely to be on a phased basis.
I can also confirm that IT Carlow has been approved, within certain value for money parameters, to acquire suitable lands in Wexford to facilitate the development of a new campus there.
These developments are in addition to two significant building projects, one in Carlow and one in Waterford, being advanced through the higher education PPP programme.
My Department and the HEA will continue to work closely with the institutions involved in relation to the infrastructure required to deliver on the ambitions of the new Technological University.
441. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown of the increased salary costs to be incurred by the Carlow teaching body as part of the semesterisation process with technological university designation now on the horizon for the Technological University for the South East Ireland; the projected increases or decreases his Department is guiding to this cost over the next five years; the way it is budgeted and will compare with the present costs at Waterford Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55919/21]
View answerThe design, including costing, of models of academic programme delivery remains a matter for agreement by the relevant applicant institutes seeking to become a TU and as such, my Department was not involved in the process referred to by the Deputy in the case of the TUSEI consortium comprising IT Carlow and Waterford IT.
Government has demonstrated and I have reiterated on many occasions the ongoing support for the establishment and development of TUs, including for the establishment of a TU in the South East, first through over €30 million in Higher Education Landscape Funding allocations and currently through the €90 million in Transformation Fund allocations. In addition, my Department has secured an additional €40 million for TU education and training reforms programmes under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and is currently seeking up to €100 million under the European Regional Development Fund Programmes 2021 – 2027 for TU research related activity.
As with all HEI, including TUs, future funding requirements will be considered in the context of the overall estimates process and available funding annually.
442. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the further duties required of a consultancy firm (details supplied); the agreed tender costs associated with the contract for its duration to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55920/21]
View answerMy Department has no responsibility for the agreement of any extension of contractual arrangements, should such be the case, as the TUSEI consortium of IT Carlow and Waterford IT is the contracting party for the services of the consultancy firm referred to by the Deputy.
443. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department, not SOLAS or the Higher Education Authority, monitors the transfer rate from further education and training pre-law courses to higher education degree courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56016/21]
View answerMy Department does not hold individualised data of learners in further and higher education. Such data is held by SOLAS in the Programme and Learner Support Systems (PLSS) and by the HEA in their Student Records System (SRS), as well as by the further and higher education institutions themselves. As such, analysis of learner data is typically undertaken by the Statistics Unit in the HEA or the Data Analytics Unit in SOLAS, who have both the expertise to undertake such research, and access to the relevant data.
In terms of the transition rate from further to higher education there are two possible data sources. The first is CAO acceptances. In 2017 7.3% (3,517) of CAO acceptances were by candidates who were offered their course on the basis of a QQI/FET qualification.
The second is an analysis undertaken as part of a working paper on Further to Higher Education transitions. With the assistance of the CSO, data from the PLSS was linked with the SRS. This report found that 12.1% (5,296) of undergraduate new entrants in 2017 had completed a PLC course in the previous year. This represented 18.3% of the PLC cohort from that year.
Both of these data sources provide transition rates at an overall level, and a breakdown by subject area is not available.
The working group which prepared this data was chaired by SOLAS, and consisted of representatives from FET and HE providers (via THEA, IUA and ETBI nominees); the HEA and SOLAS; the Higher education – Equity of Access and Further Education sections of the then Department of Education and Skills; and QQI.
444. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of students who enter higher education on the basis of a further education qualification in each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56017/21]
View answerThis data is not collected on an annual basis. Data on the transition rate from further to higher education was collated as part of a working paper on the topic, published in 2020. Two different measures of the transition rate were identified.
The first is CAO acceptances. In 2017 7.3% (3,517) of CAO acceptances were by candidates who were offered their course on the basis of a QQI/FET qualification.
The second is an analysis specifically undertaken for the further to higher education transitions working paper. With the assistance of the CSO, data from the SOLAS/ETB FET learner database (PLSS) was linked with the HEA enrolments database. This report found that 12.1% (5,296) of undergraduate new entrants in 2017 had completed a PLC course in the previous year. This represented 18.3% of the PLC cohort from that year.
