Written Answers Nos. 426-448
426. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if (details supplied) will be resourced to respond to the demonstrable increase in demand they are seeing or simply to maintain existing service levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58545/21]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Overall policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation for victims of DSGBV, is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
My Department is providing Tusla with core funding of €30 million this year to fund DSGBV services. This includes a €2.7 million increase in core services, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. In Budget 2022, Tusla has been allocated an additional €41 million over the 2021 allocation. I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.
Tusla has recently provided information about mechanisms for domestic, sexual & gender-based violence (DSGBV) organisations to access resources on a short-term basis in order to assure their capacity to respond in the context of the worsening Covid-19 situation.
Domestic Violence support services in Donegal are currently provided by the following organisations:
- Donegal Women’s Domestic Violence Service – 2021 Tusla funding €571,000, which includes €10,000 additional funding to address service pressures
- Donegal Women’s Centre – 2021 Tusla funding €150,000, which includes €36,000 additional funding to address service pressures
- Donegal Rape Crisis Centre is also funded by Tusla to provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, with Tusla funding of €237,711 in 2021
Services are provided across Co. Donegal on an all-county basis, including services provided on an outreach basis to the Inishowen area and responding to crisis situations wherever in the county these occur. Tusla is aware of the pressures overall on domestic, sexual and gender based violence services in the context of the Covid-19 situation, and that there have been increasing demand for services across the country. The particular features of Co. Donegal generally and Inishowen are recognised in terms of challenges in access to services for people living in rural areas.
Overall funding from Tusla for domestic, sexual and gender based services in 2021 is just under €30m, which includes €2m Covid-19 related contingency funding. Funding for 2022 will support maintaining current levels of service provision and address unmet need to the greatest degree possible within available resources. There is an intention to look further at overall domestic violence responses across Co. Donegal in 2022 and any future developments around service provision will be considered in that context. Tusla will be engaged with local stakeholders, including Lifeline Inishowen as part of that process.
427. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding Tusla will be allocating to domestic violence services in 2022. [58696/21]
View answerI was pleased to announce in Budget 2022 that Tusla will be allocated €899m for 2022, which is an increase of €41m over the amount allocated in Budget 2021. My allocation to Tusla for 2021 included €28m in core funding for Domestic Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) services and an additional €2m in contingency funding to support challenges of DSGBV service providers arising from COVID-19.
The specific amount to be used for the purpose outlined by the Deputy is not yet established. However, I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review relating to refuge provision.
I have issued my Performance Statement to Tusla outlining the overall parameters of Tusla's financial resources, and signalling my priorities for the coming year. In response to this, Tusla will prepare its annual Business Plan for 2022 in accordance with section 46 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. This outlines the proposed activities for the year and the details of the proposed allocation of total financial resources.
It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I strongly support the work of Tusla and its funded service providers and I am committed to supporting Tusla in meeting the needs of individuals who experience domestic violence.
428. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a service (details supplied) in County Donegal will be resourced in 2022 by central Government to respond to the increasing demand on its service over recent years. [58697/21]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Overall policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation for victims of DSGBV, is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
My Department is providing Tusla with core funding of €30 million this year to fund DSGBV services. This includes a €2.7 million increase in core services, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. In Budget 2022, Tusla has been allocated an additional €41 million over the 2021 allocation. I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.
Tusla has recently provided information about mechanisms for domestic, sexual & gender-based violence (DSGBV) organisations to access resources on a short-term basis in order to assure their capacity to respond in the context of the worsening Covid-19 situation.
Domestic Violence support services in Donegal are currently provided by the following organisations:
- Donegal Women’s Domestic Violence Service – 2021 Tusla funding €571,000, which includes €10,000 additional funding to address service pressures
- Donegal Women’s Centre – 2021 Tusla funding €150,000, which includes €36,000 additional funding to address service pressures
- Donegal Rape Crisis Centre is also funded by Tusla to provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, with Tusla funding of €237,711 in 2021.
Services are provided across Co. Donegal on an all-county basis, including services provided on an outreach basis to the Inishowen area and responding to crisis situations wherever in the county these occur. Tusla is aware of the pressures overall on domestic, sexual and gender based violence services in the context of the Covid-19 situation, and that there have been increasing demand for services across the country. The particular features of Co. Donegal generally and Inishowen are recognised in terms of challenges in access to services for people living in rural areas.
Overall funding from Tusla for domestic, sexual and gender based services in 2021 is just under €30m, which includes €2m Covid-19 related contingency funding. Funding for 2022 will support maintaining current levels of service provision and address unmet need to the greatest degree possible within available resources. There is an intention to look further at overall domestic violence responses across Co. Donegal in 2022 and any future developments around service provision will be considered in that context. Tusla will be engaged with local stakeholders, including Lifeline Inishowen as part of that process.
429. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the specific arrangements he is putting in place to assist childcare operators in the voluntary and in the private sectors to manage the current phase of Covid-19 and Covid-19 regulations and the consequences for staff in their operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58798/21]
View answerPublic health experts have confirmed that Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services may continue to operate during the current phase of Covid-19. While no environment is without risk in relation to Covid-19, and this has been the case throughout the pandemic, services can significantly reduce their risk level by closely following the expert guidance provided by the HSE, which was prepared specifically for ELC and SAC services by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
On November 26th, my Department issued a HSE memo to ELC and SAC providers informing them of the latest HPSC guidance along with guidance for testing and close contacts. Updated guidance has also been made available to service providers via my Department’s 'First5' web-page.
In an effort to assist services through the pandemic, my Department has provided a number of supports, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which has been available to employers in the sector since August 2020 with an exemption to the requirement for other employers to demonstrate a 30% drop in turnover.
For over a year, between October 2020 and November 2021, EWSS has been paid at enhanced rates. This amounts to an investment of €34 million per month in the sector and is estimated to cover, on average, 80% of staff costs and 50% of operating costs.
EWSS is due to revert to standard rates between December 2021 and February 2022. This will amount to an investment of €22 million per month in the sector and is estimated to cover, on average, 50% of staff costs and 38% of operating costs.
The additional cost of operating play-pods and other public health measures is estimated to be €12 million per month. This indicates that there has been very substantial funding of the sector, and this funding remains in excess of what is required to adhere to public health guidance.
Support is also available to concerned services through Case Management. My Department oversees a Case Management process through which local City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to ELC and SAC services experiencing difficulties. The case management process can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
A Covid-19 Impact Support funding strand is available in 2021, for both community and private services. The funding is available on a rolling basis throughout 2021 for eligible ELC and SAC services that require further financial assistance in addition to current support measures available and others that may be announced throughout the year.
The CCC should be the first point of contact for any service seeking support. I would therefore urge any SAC or ELC service in difficulty to contact their local CCC as soon as possible if they have not done so already.
Local CCCs may be reached out of hours as well as during business hours. In February 2021 my Department established a national Covid-19 out-of-hours helpline which is hosted by the CCCs. The purpose of this helpline is to provide weekend support to ELC and SAC providers who have a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19 in their service. The 30 CCCs, funded by my Department, are available to provide support and guidance to ELC and SAC providers in respect of a broad range of Covid-19-related matters. The out-of-hours national helpline is an extension of this support for the sector.
I have also convened two sub-groups on the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum - A Covid-19 Sub-Group and a Workforce Recruitment and Retention Sub-Group - to provide an opportunity for information-sharing and discussion between my Department and key stakeholders on Covid-19 issues facing the ELC sector during the current period of high rates of Covid-19 cases and on possible responses, including the planned introduction of antigen testing of close contacts in ELC and SAC, similar to the programme in primary schools.
430. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding Tusla will be allocating to domestic violence services in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58911/21]
View answerI was pleased to announce in Budget 2022 that Tusla will be allocated €899m for 2022, which is an increase of €41m over the amount allocated in Budget 2021. My allocation to Tusla for 2021 included €28m in core funding for Domestic Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) services and an additional €2m in contingency funding to support challenges of DSGBV service providers arising from COVID-19.
The specific amount to be used for the purpose outlined by the Deputy is not yet established. However, I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review relating to refuge provision.
I have issued my Performance Statement to Tusla outlining the overall parameters of Tusla's financial resources, and signalling my priorities for the coming year. In response to this, Tusla will prepare its annual Business Plan for 2022 in accordance with section 46 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. This outlines the proposed activities for the year and the details of the proposed allocation of total financial resources.
It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I strongly support the work of Tusla and its funded service providers and I am committed to supporting Tusla in meeting the needs of individuals who experience domestic violence.
431. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a service (details supplied) in County Mayo will be resourced to respond to increased demand or to maintain existing service levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58912/21]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Overall policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation for victims of DSGBV, is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Tusla informs me that it is actively engaged with Mayo Women's Support & Advocacy Service about their service and funding arrangements for 2022. The service has been invited to submit further information about any particular unmet need or service pressures they identify.
Tusla is aware that recruitment and retention of staff is an additional pressure faced by many services working in the health and social care area which is particularly challenging for this service in the context of the level of demand for services.
Tusla's core funding to Mayo Women's Support Services in 2021 is €396,799, an increase of €10,000 from their 2020 core funding. Due to additional pressures on the service in 2021 due to Covid-19, an additional €20,299 was secured to date for additional relief staff, additional therapeutic services for children and other Covid-19 related expenses.
Tusla has recently provided information about mechanisms for domestic, sexual & gender-based violence (DSGBV) organisations to access resources on a short-term basis in order to assure their capacity to respond in the context of the worsening Covid-19 situation.
My Department is providing Tusla with core funding of €30 million this year to fund DSGBV services. This includes a €2.7 million increase in core services, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. In Budget 2022, Tusla has been allocated an additional €41 million over the 2021 allocation. I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.
432. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times Tusla reported suspected child abuse to the gardaí over the past two years; and if a month-by-month breakdown can be provided on that figure. [59017/21]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
433. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unborn children placed on the child protection notification system of Tusla in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [59018/21]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
434. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of private fostering companies operating in the State. [59019/21]
View answerI am informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that there are six non-statutory foster care agencies currently providing foster care placements.
These agencies are listed below for your information:
1. Compass Child and Family Agency
2. Five Rivers Ireland
3. Foster Care Ireland
4. Fostering First Ireland
5. Orchard Fostering Services
6. Origins Foster Care
435. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the roll-out of Covid-19 antigen tests within the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59020/21]
View answerMy Department is currently working with the HSE to finalise an antigen testing programme for early learning and childcare services. It will be launched in the coming weeks.
The antigen testing programme for early learning and childcare services will be similar to the antigen testing programme which has recently been rolled out for close contacts in primary schools.
436. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current Covid-19 financial supports in place for the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59021/21]
View answerEmployers in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector are currently eligible to access the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) without having to demonstrate the 30% reduction in turnover required of other employers.
EWSS has been a key component of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 crisis. It is an economy-wide scheme that operates across all sectors. The special arrangement for registered ELC and SAC services to be exempted from the turnover test has made substantial financial supports available to the sector since August 2020.
For over a year, between October 2020 and November 2021, the EWSS has been paid at enhanced rates. This amounts to an investment of €34 million per month in the sector and is estimated to cover, on average, 80% staff costs and 50% operating costs.
The EWSS is due to revert to standard rates between December 2021 and February 2022. This amounts to an investment of €22 million per month in the sector and is estimated to cover, on average, 50% staff costs and 38% operating costs.
For March and April 2022 a new flat rate for the EWSS (€100) will apply. This amounts to an investment of €11 million per month in the sector and is estimated to cover, on average, 25% staff costs and 11% operating costs.
With the additional cost of play-pods and other public health measures estimated to be €12 million per month, the EWSS at enhanced and standard rates exceeds what is required by the sector to adhere to public health guidance. The EWSS at flat rates is just marginally below the cost of play-pods.
Sustainability Funding continues to be available to providers where there are sustainability difficulties. The Covid-19 Impact Support funding strand is available for both Community and Private services for eligible ELC and SAC services that require further financial assistance in addition to current support measures available.
As I announced on Budget Day, a Transition Fund will be available for providers in the sector following the cessation of EWSS from May 2022 until the introduction of the new Core Funding in September 2022. €37 million has been allocated for this fund.
From September 2022, a new Core Funding stream will operate. €69 million has been allocated to this funding stream in 2022, equivalent to €207 million full year costs and constitutes a significant and strategic new approach to funding the sector in the longer term.
437. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of registered childcare providers that are in receipt of the employment wage subsidy scheme to assist with the payment of staff wages. [59067/21]
View answerThe Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) has been a key component of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 crisis. It is an economy-wide scheme that operates across all sectors. While the criteria for eligibility for business in general is based on a reduction in turnover, I negotiated a special arrangement for registered Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services to be exempt from this turnover test, thereby enabling services to operate sustainably and consistently throughout the pandemic.
Since the introduction of the EWSS, there has been regular and, where necessary, detailed engagement between my Department and the Department of Finance, who have responsibility for the EWSS, and Revenue who administer the EWSS.
Revenue records from October 2021 show that 87.5% of ELC and SAC providers with a Tax Registration Number (TRN) reported to Pobal were in receipt of the EWSS. The remaining cohort of providers (12.5%) with a TRN reported to Pobal are not in receipt of the EWSS. These are expected to be sole traders with no employees and may also include a small number of providers who are no longer trading.
For over a year, between October 2020 and November 2021, the EWSS has been paid at enhanced rates. This amounts to an investment of €34 million per month in the sector and is estimated to cover, on average, 80% staff costs and 50% operating costs.
The EWSS is due to revert to standard rates between December 2021 and February 2022. This amounts to an investment of €22 million per month in the sector and is estimated to cover, on average, 50% staff costs and 38% operating costs.
For March and April 2022 a new flat rate for the EWSS (€100) will apply. This amounts to an investment of €11 million per month in the sector and is estimated to cover, on average, 25% staff costs and 11% operating costs.
With the additional cost of play-pods and other public health measures estimated to be €12 million per month, the EWSS at enhanced and standard rates exceeds what is required by the sector to adhere to public health guidance. The EWSS at flat rates is just marginally below the cost of play-pods.
Sustainability Funding continues to be available to providers where there are sustainability difficulties.
As I announced on Budget Day, a Transition Fund will be available for providers in the sector following the cessation of EWSS from May 2022 until the introduction of the new Core Funding in September 2022. €37 million has been allocated for this fund. From September 2022, a new Core Funding stream will operate. €69 million has been allocated to this funding stream in 2022, equivalent to €207 million full year costs.
438. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of his plans to extend parent’s benefit and leave to ensure all parents can avail of the scheme including parents of children born through surrogacy and to extend the full available benefit and allowance to lone parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59135/21]
View answerUnder the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to five weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Provision has been made in Budget 2022 to increase this entitlement further to seven weeks per eligible parent with effect from July 2022.
The intention of this leave is to enable parents to spend time with their child in the earliest years. It is deliberately non-transferable between parents to ensure that both parents are encouraged and supported in taking time out from work to spend time with their child. This is further supported through the provision of Parents’ Benefit.
It is important to note that the entitlement under the 2019 Act is for each parent in their own right and is not an allocation per family. This is a requirement of the Work Life Balance Directive. The Act was drafted in such a way as to take account of the broad complexion of family life and allows for an entitlement for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the parent.
This means that each parent of the child, and their respective spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, is entitled to take Parents’ Leave in respect of that child. In effect this means the parents of a child do not have to be a couple in order for each to qualify and that, if in separate relationships, their new partners can also qualify.
Commissioning surrogate parents may be entitled to Parents’ Leave, depending on their circumstances. The father of a child born through surrogacy can qualify for Parents’ Leave if he is the biological father of the child and declared to be the parent of the child. In these circumstances, the father's partner may qualify for Parents’ Leave if they are married to, or in a civil partnership with, the child’s biological father, or have cohabited with the child’s biological father for over 3 years.
At a wider level, policy on surrogacy rests with the Minister for Health, and policy on parentage is a matter for the Minister for Justice. It is important to develop legislation on family leave in the context of the legal situation concerning parentage, including in relation to surrogacy. Any changes in the legal situation with regard to parentage and surrogacy are matters for the Minister for Justice and Minister for Health.
439. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties facing a training centre (details supplied) in renewing its lease; and if his Department will provide assistance to the organisation in this regard. [58365/21]
View answerFrom inquiries made by my officials with Cork Education and Training Board, I understand that the Manager of the Community Training Centre has received a verbal agreement from their landlord to offer a 5 year lease commencing January 2022 and that the ETB expects the matter to be resolved in the coming weeks.
440. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans that will be put in place to address difficulties that sixth-year students may face when trying to gain access to college in September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58765/21]
View answerMy Department will closely monitoring any potential impact that the level of CAO applications or Leaving Certificate grades may have on entry to further and higher education in 2022.
A key goal of my Department is to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to pursue educational pathways which allow them to achieve their full potential. Budget 2022 including funding for additional capacity in the higher education sector, as demographics will continue to drive expansion in that area.
We are also working to promote a broader view of third level education, and to enhance the visibility of further education and training, and apprenticeship options for school leavers.
To help them make the most informed choice possible, school leavers are now able to explore all of the options across the third level system, whether in higher education, further education or apprenticeship options, from the CAO website. I encourage this year's Leaving Certificate students to consider all the paths available to them.
441. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if provision will be made for a person (details supplied) to take their exams. [58274/21]
View answerI am conscious of the concerns some students have about in-person end of term examinations, and on Friday 19th November I met with management, staff and student representatives to discuss a number of key issues, including arrangements for examinations.
Management bodies confirmed that they are actively looking at a range of approaches to ensure that end of term examinations will be safe, and that the requirements of students who may have Covid-19 or underlying health conditions can be addressed.
Universities have advised that they have already issued timetables for in-person examinations taking place before Christmas. Universities had already planned many online exams and contingency plans are being prepared for the remaining onsite exams. Some exams with external accreditation may prove difficult to change to an online format at short notice.
Universities are also seeking to reduce the risk of students attending examinations in person when they should be self-isolating. Procedures for students to self-certify as unwell or unfit to attend and for easier and penalty-free deferral options are being put in place.
Local institutions have discretion and will use their risk assessment and management systems. Timely engagement and communications with their stakeholders will be essential. I encourage students who have concerns to engage directly with their higher education institutions, as the institutions themselves are best placed to provide information on the contingency plans that are in place.
442. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the anticipated timeline for the stakeholder meetings taking place for the national access plan for 2022-2026. [58327/21]
View answerWork on the development of the next National Access Plan (NAP) 2022 - 2026 is currently underway.
The consultation process, which closed on 18th June 2021, invited all interested parties to make their views known on this matter and other matters related to access to higher education particularly for groups who are underrepresented in the higher education population. One-to-one stakeholder meetings around the specific target groups to be supported for the period of the next NAP is almost concluded, with a number of meetings planned up to mid-December. Colleagues in my Department are working closely with the HEA on the development of the new Plan with the intention of publishing the plan in Q1 of 2022.
I am committed to the continued roll-out of supports for students and targeted initiatives to support delivery of the vision and targets within the new National Access Plan 2022-2026.
443. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if bricklaying instructors are needed by Solas at present or in the near future. [58364/21]
View answerThe brick and stonelaying apprenticeship has a standard craft apprenticeship structure of seven phases of alternating on-the-job and off-the-job phases. The off-the-job training for these programmes is delivered in Education and Training Board Training Centres (Phase 2), Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities (Phases 4 & 6).
At the end of October 2021, there were 67 apprentices waiting for Phase 2 off the job training and 21 waiting for phase 4 or 6. 11 of these have been waiting over 6 months. Recruitment for bricklaying instructors, if required, will be undertaken by the relevant employing organisations as set out above.
ETBs nationwide are currently recruiting over 100 new instructors and support staff to work with craft apprentices in Education and Training Boards across the country. Vacancies are available on www.etbi.ie/etb-vacancies/. The positions are mainly confined to those apprenticeships with large waiting lists - namely Electrical, Plumbing and Carpentry & Joinery apprenticeships.
The sanctioning of bricklaying instructors is subject to increasing demand for additional off the job places. Unless a particular ETB requires a Brick and Stonelaying Instructor under general staffing needs, there are no plans in place to sanction additional bricklayer instructors.
444. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure a SUSI grant is issued to a person (details supplied) on appeal. [58469/21]
View answerThe awarding of a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine. With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy submitted an application for the 2021/22 academic year applying as an independent student and was requested to provide evidence of same. The application was refused due to insufficient documentation to prove independent residence. The student submitted an appeal to the SUSI appeals officer on the 4th November 2021 and additional information was requested from the applicant on 11th November 2021. This information remains outstanding, according to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. I would encourage the Deputy to use oireachtas@susi.ie if he requires any additional assistance.
445. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will urgently review the SUSI rate of a student (details supplied). [58470/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Department or the Minister have no role in the awarding of a student grant. For the 2021/22 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the reference period 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020.
However, a very important feature of the scheme that I would point to is the change of circumstances provision. If an applicant or a family member has experienced a change in circumstances during 2021, then they can apply to SUSI for their application to be assessed or reassessed under a change in circumstances. The change of circumstances provision is a well-established procedure and it can also operate at scale. For example, over 10,000 applicants declared a change of circumstance in the 2020/21 academic year and some 40% of these applications related to COVID-19.
With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy applied to SUSI and then requested a review of her application due to a change of circumstances in 2021. The student has been awarded the maximum rate of grant available to her for her Postgraduate studies as the income for both 2020 and 2021 is over the Special Rate threshold. A dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.
446. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of apprentices registering on both craft and consortia-led apprenticeships had already attained a level 8 qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58478/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collected by SOLAS. There are currently 62 apprenticeships leading to qualifications at level 5-10 of the National Framework of Qualifications. Three of the existing apprenticeships and five of the apprenticeships known to be in development are at level 9 or 10 of the framework. These may well necessitate a qualification at level 7 or 8, or equivalent experience, for entry to the apprenticeship.
A survey of registered apprentices was undertaken in September 2020 to inform the development of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship. From a response rate of 20% of the apprentice population 3.5% of respondents (124) reported having a level 7 or 8 qualification before entry to their apprenticeship. 28 of these were on consortia-led apprenticeships and 89 on craft apprenticeships.
447. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the energy efficiency and decarbonisation pathfinder programme in the higher education sector and plan to develop a similar programme for the further education and training sector as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58479/21]
View answerEight higher education institutions were approved in 2020 to progress projects under the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme 2020 co-funded with SEAI. These projects will test and demonstrate energy retrofit approaches, build scale, and inform key stakeholders. Please see table attached below with the current status and expected completion dates for the projects in question.
A further eight projects have been successful at 'Expression of Interest' stage and have been approved to progress to Stage 2a design under the EEDPP 2021 Programme. Following the development of stage 2a designs, an Assessment Team will be convened to evaluate the projects and identify those which will proceed to implementation, cognisant of the funding envelope available.
My Department is currently reviewing the parameters of the next phase of Exchequer capital investment in the further and higher education sectors in the context of NDP ceilings published last month. It is intended that an Energy Efficiency & Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme will be rolled out to the FET sector in the near future.
Table 1: EEDPP 2020
|
HEI |
Project Description |
Expected Completion |
|
TCD |
Moyne Institute – Part Window Replacement, Roof Installation, LED Lighting and Base Load Heat Pump |
Q2 2022 |
|
NUIG |
Áras De Brún – Energy and Carbon Efficient Upgrade |
Q4 2021 |
|
IADT |
Energy Efficiency Upgrades - Atrium Building |
Q3 2021 |
|
UCC |
Decarbonisation of the O’Rahilly Building Heating System as a pathway to B2 Certification |
Q4 2021 |
|
MU |
John Paul II Library – solar panels, heat decarbonisation and insulation |
Q4 2021 |
|
UCD |
Belfield Campus DHS Heat Pump |
Q3 2021 |
|
DCU |
Marconi Building Deep Retrofit and BER Upgrade |
Q2 2022 |
|
LYIT |
Phase 1 Extension Retrofit |
Q3 2022 |
448. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has conducted an analysis in relation to the number of college places available in the context of grade inflation. [58492/21]
View answer449. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has conducted an analysis in relation to the number of college places available in the context of grade inflation; and if she has consulted with the State Examinations Committee and or the CAO on this matter. [58493/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 449 together.
My Department will closely monitoring any potential impact that the level of CAO applications or Leaving Certificate grades may have on entry to further and higher education in 2022. It should be noted that Leaving Certificate grades do not impact the number of places available in higher education, although they may lead to changes in the CAO points required for courses.
A key goal of my Department is to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to pursue educational pathways which allow them to achieve their full potential. Budget 2022 including funding for additional capacity in the higher education sector, as demographics will continue to drive expansion in that area.
We are also working to promote a broader view of third level education, and to enhance the visibility of further education and training, and apprenticeship options for school leavers.
To help them make the most informed choice possible, school leavers are now able to explore all of the options across the third level system, whether in higher education, further education or apprenticeship options, from the CAO website. I encourage this year's Leaving Certificate students to consider all the paths available to them.
