Written Answers Nos. 109-123
109. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of the 4,550 retrofit and nearly zero energy building standard places to be provided by the end of 2022 that will be one, two, three and four-day courses, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60625/21]
View answer110. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the anticipated opening date for the enrolment for the three additional retrofit centres of excellence in counties Cork, Limerick, Clare, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim; the location and anticipated enrolment capacity in each centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60626/21]
View answer111. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 671 and 672 of 2 November 2021, if he will provide a list of the 50 plus green skills and sustainability programmes already running across the tertiary sector aimed at construction professionals in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60627/21]
View answer113. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the expenditure under the green skills action programme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60629/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 111, inclusive, and 113 together.
Growth in education and training provision in green skills and sustainability is ongoing across the Tertiary Education sector. A range of options are available from short courses targeted at awareness building, upskilling and reskilling programmes to full and part-time academic and vocational programmes. The curricula of many other programmes will also include elements and modules targeted to green skills and sustainability components.
In the further education and training sector, short courses are targeted at upskilling and increasing knowledge awareness for existing professionals. SOLAS is working to develop a strategy to support the Climate Action Plan and associated skills training at further education level. SOLAS’s strategy on green skills is in development and they are actively engaging across a very broad range of internal, external and industry stakeholders to ensure tangible and appropriate FET responses are devised. Expenditure under the Green Skills Action Programme is not available as the programme has not been approved. However the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 committed €29M to the programme to include NZEB & Retrofit and €10M to Green Skills Modules.
Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) training will continued to be delivered in short courses ranging from 1 – 4 Days to provide upskilling opportunities for the existing built environment workforce in for example in:
- NZEB Fundamentals
- Passive House & Airtightness-Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery
- Continuous Mechanical Extract Ventilation
- Intermittent Extract Ventilation
- Installation of ducts, plenums and diffusers
- Intake and Exhaust duct insulation and sealing
Longer training programmes 1 – 3 weeks will be offered to existing skilled, semi-skilled workers, construction professionals and new entrants to the construction/retrofitting sector in retrofitting external cladding, attic & wall insulation along with other areas that will be identified by the Training providers.
The WWETB National NZEB Training Centre is the first facility in Europe to offer a suite of trade-specific NZEB courses. On-site retrofit programmes are currently provided in Waterford Wexford ETB, Laois Offaly ETB and Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre. These training courses introduce participants to the legislative concepts required to meet the standards of NZEB in a flexible, responsive environment.
Currently, there are 648 students enrolled on NZEB and retrofitting programmes across the three centres. The majority of courses are three days in duration and are validated by City and Guilds. WWETB is continuing to develop their offering to meet the needs of the sector and are developing a blended model with 2 days online and one day in the training centre. They have also commissioned the development of a pilot VR programme to support NZEB/retrofit training which is expected to be operational by year end.
The percentage breakdown of the 4,550 retrofit and NZEB standard places to be provided by the end of 2022 will be determined by the uptake in programmes by existing construction professionals and the number of participants upskilling for the construction/retrofitting sector. It is not possible to project the percentages availing of these opportunities at this time.
A further three Centres of Excellence are being established in the Cork, Limerick Clare and Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETBs. The establishment of the centres has been delayed due to COVID-19 impacts on the ETBs and are now due to be in place by Q4 2022. The location for each of the new Centres are:-
- Cork ETB: Fermoy, Co. Cork
- MSLETB: Collooney, Co. Sligo
- LCETB: TBC
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.
In the higher education sector, in addition to core education delivery, funding is provided under Springboard and the Human Capital Initiative to incentivise the delivery of programmes which support the development of professionals in areas such as building analysis and climate adaptation; sustainable building technology and retrofit, conservation and sustainability. Two innovation projects have commenced under the Human Capital Initiative (Pillar 3). These projects are directly supporting increased availability of skills development in the construction sector through the Digital Academy for Sustainable Built Environment (DASBE) in Limerick IT and the REEdl project in IT Tralee which is based on a world leading model of self-directed, project centric learning using Virtual Reality and Augmented reality (VR/AR) in supporting the education of student engineers along with access to world class research centres. Under Springboard+ 2021/22, there are 17 courses available in green skills and sustainability such as Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB), Bio-Energy, Clean Technologies and Electric Vehicle Technology.
Please see details of all the green skill and sustainability programmes running across the Tertiary Education system contained in attachment 1.
Skillnet Ireland also supports the construction sector through two national Construction-specific Skillnet training networks, as well as through multiple regional Skillnet training networks that assist construction businesses located in their respective regions. CIF and Skillnet Ireland, launched the Construction Professionals Skillnet in January 2020 to provide customised learning and development solutions to meet the specific professional learning needs of the construction industry. Programmes are currently available in areas such as Communications, Project Management, Sustainable Construction, Contracts and legal responsibilities. The Construction IT Alliance (CitA) Skillnet also facilitates the advancement of construction firms through digitalisation and the development of skillsets that enable businesses to adopt new and emerging information and communications technologies. The network primarily supports architecture, engineering, construction, and operations enterprises within the construction sector and has provided programmes such as Advanced BIM Management and a Higher Diploma in BIM over the last 12 months.
112. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of removing the exemption of apprenticeships to the National Minimum Wage Act 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60628/21]
View answerApprentices are employees and their rates of pay are agreed between themselves and the employer. Certain sectors such as construction and electrical apprentices are paid agreed rates as set out within sectoral wage agreements to under Sectoral Employment Orders.
The State pays training allowances directly to apprentices in the 25 craft apprenticeships while attending off-the-job training in Phases 2, 4 and 6 of their seven phase apprenticeship. These allowances are paid by the ETBs through the Department of Education Shared Business Services and are funded through the NTF.
The National Minimum Wage is currently €10.20 an hour for adult workers aged 20 and over. However workers under the age of 20 are subject to different rates of minimum pay depending on age as follows
- Under 18 €7.14
- Aged 18 €8.16
- Aged 19 €9.18
Apprentices in Phase 6 and 15 of the 25 Phase 4 cohorts receive training allowances in excess of the adult National Minimum Wage. Taking the current craft apprentice cohort in off-the-job training phase 2 or 4, the cost of training allowances is €2.24m per week. The estimated cost to the State of training allowance payments at the minimum wage at €10.20 an hour is estimated at €2.56m per week across phases 2 and 4, a difference of €310k per week, or in the region of €16m per annum.
It should be noted that 53% of currently registered craft apprentices are below the age of 20 and thus subject to lower minimum wage rates. If the minimum wage rates were used to set training allowance rates, eight of the phase 2 apprenticeships would potentially receive a lower weekly rate of pay than currently, depending on age.
114. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total allocated each year under the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme since it began; the total actual expenditure to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60712/21]
View answerThe Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme was launched in 2020 to support employers to continue to recruit and employ apprentices during the COVID-19 period. Apprenticeship provides a rapid route to employment while gaining a qualification and therefore is an important skills response for workers most impacted by sectoral closures and a potential need to reskill.
The introduction of the scheme was a key element in the Government response to the pandemic and supporting a rapid reopening of the economy. The positive impacts of the support measures is evident in apprentice registrations with 2021 figures to the end of November showing 7,484 registrations – an increase of 29% on figures for the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID).
Given the continued growth of apprenticeship and key economic sectors the AIS will cease from end 2021. The allocation for the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme over 2020 and 2021 was €26 million. Spend has been €13.6 million. A further €1.7m is in final stages of approval for payment. €9m has been allocated to the scheme for 2022 to allow for second tranche payments and payments to employers of apprentices registered in late 2021.
115. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft apprentices currently on waiting lists to access off-the-job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60713/21]
View answerCraft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes. Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the COVID-related shutdown of on-site learning activity in 2020 and 2021 had a significant impact on the ability of craft apprentices to access off-the-job training. As at the end of November, there were 11,382 craft apprentices waiting to start a phase of off-the-job training. Of these, 3,143 apprentices (27%) across the three phases have been scheduled and will begin training in December and January.
€20m capital investment has been supplemented by €17m additional COVID-linked funding in 2022 to deliver an additional 4,000 off-the-job training phases (across phases 2, 4 and 6). SOLAS, the HEA and education and training providers are continuing to work to ensure that craft apprentices are facilitated to complete their apprenticeship in as rapid a manner as is possible. Measures include the reform of Phase 2 off-the-job training to facilitate a third intake per annum, an opt-in rapid employer assessment which is being piloted at Phase 7 (on-the-job) for those apprentices who have completed Phase 6 and who have spent more than four years in their apprenticeship. Further measures are being explored within the context of ensuring that all learning outcomes and quality assurance procedures are in place to ensure that the integrity of the end qualification is maintained.
116. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total capacity of phase to off-the-job training of craft apprentices in 2019; the total enrolled capacity of phase to off the job-training in September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60714/21]
View answerIn 2019 SOLAS delivered training to a total of 9,503 craft apprentices across phases two, four and six off-the-job training in ETBs and Higher Education Institutions.
It should be noted that Phase 2 classes are between 20-22 weeks in duration and are run all year round, therefore scheduling of those classes is ongoing throughout the year. Traditionally, ETBs have facilitated two intakes per year. Significant reform efforts by the education and training bodies have resulted in a temporary restructure of Phase 2 craft apprenticeship delivery, delivering 18 week on-site presence, supplemented by additional theory elements of the course being delivered in a flexible manner (evenings/weekends and blended learning). This will allow for a full additional intake for Phase 2 Carpentry & Joinery, Electrical and Plumbing apprentices in the coming year.
Phases 4 and 6 are 10-12 weeks in duration and are delivered in Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities. Scheduling of these phases follow the academic year with intakes scheduled in September, January and April of an academic year.
Additional places are continuing to come on-stream across the ETBs and HEIs as workspaces are becoming available from the 2021 capital investment.
Since July, almost 3,500 apprentices have been brought into training, the majority just about to finish their phase. SOLAS have scheduled another 3,143 apprentices to commence off-the-job training in December and January.
€20 million capital funding was allocated in 2021 to provide structural capacity to support the delivery of almost 4,000 additional craft apprentice places annually across further and higher education. The 2021 budget allocation for apprenticeship is €198.4m which includes the cost of the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme in 2020 and 2021 as well €12m Covid related costs for additional classes in 2021. This compares to a 2020 allocation of €169m which represents an increase of over 7%. A further €19m in COVID-related funding has been allocated for 2022 to deliver increased activity to reduce waiting lists for access to off-the-job training phases.
117. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students returning from placements in healthcare settings such as student nurses will be expected to sit in-person exams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60832/21]
View answerEducation is an essential service and the Government has agreed that it can continue on-site, in line with Safe Return Plan published in June. The Safe Return Plan and the most recent guidance on the current approach advocate and support contingency planning to ensure that institutions remain flexible and adaptable in response to changes in the public health environment.
My Department does not determine sector specific matters at this level and there is no intention to introduce a specific regulation in relation to the holding of in-person examinations in response to COVID 19. However, to address I recently met with management, staff and student representatives and the issue was discussed.
Due to the diversity of our higher education institutions, and the broad range of activities they undertake and the different contexts and requirements applicable to examinations, it was agreed that a uniform or one size fits all approach would not be appropriate across the whole of higher education or indeed the tertiary sector more generally.
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. It was also pointed out that there are some examinations – such as those related to external accreditation - which are challenging to change to an online format at short notice.
The outcome of the meeting was that individual higher education institutions will assess the appropriate approach to examinations consistent with the outcome of their risk assessments of appropriate approach taking into account the significant contextual factors that arise in different instances.
In all instances public health must remain a priority and I know that there will be a continuing focus on the evolving and often quickly changing public health situation overall. The Deputy may wish to know I have recently announced a €9 million fund to allow institutions provide free antigen tests to students.
118. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice if a visa will be made available to general practitioners from South Africa (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60646/21]
View answerAs part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, I have signed an Order that imposes new entry visa and transit visa requirements on passport holders from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, and Lesotho. This order and the associated measures came into effect at midnight, 26 November 2021. I signed a further Order to introduce transit visa requirements on passport holders from Mozambique, who are already entry visa required, which came into effect from midnight, 29 November 2021.
This move is in line with the latest public health advice regarding new COVID-19 variants of concern and is in addition to countries who were already visa required prior to that date.
In consultation with colleagues in the Department of Health, on 6 December 2021, my Department updated the list of exemptions on visa requirements for persons travelling from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe (or persons who have been in those countries within the last 14 days).
Any visa required national that is travelling to Ireland from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique or Zimbabwe, needs to comply with the restrictions on travel provided for in Regulations made by the Minister for Health. The Regulations provide for a number of exemptions. The relevant ones for visa required nationals are set out immediately below. Visa applications will only be accepted and processed where the person comes within one of the following exemptions:
- has obtained or is entitled to apply for a right of residence under EU Free Movement;
- has a valid Residence Permission in the State under the immigration Acts (including persons covered by the interim arrangements that apply from 15 November 2021 to 15 January 2021);
- is a family member of an Irish citizen;
- has not been in one of the following countries (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe) in the previous 14 days prior to the date of travel to the State;
- is a diplomat and to whom the privileges and immunities conferred by an international agreement or arrangement or customary international law apply in the State, pursuant to the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Acts 1967 to 2006 or any other enactment or the Constitution.
These measures will remain in place until further notice. The situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities in the coming weeks.
With regard to the specific issue you raise in relation to general practitioners from South Africa, my Department is operating visa requirements for the southern African region consistent with the current Department of Health Regulations that apply temporary restrictions to travel from that region. My Department is aware of the issue raised by the Deputy, as is the Department of Health, and both Departments are seeking to find an appropriate resolution to this matter, consistent with our public health obligations.
Any updates will be published on our Irish Immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie) at the appropriate time.
119. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if a child who was not born in the State has one Irish citizen parent and another parent with permission to remain from her Department also has to receive official confirmation and identification to remain in the State given that child is in full-time primary level education and has a PPS number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60595/21]
View answerBased on the information provided by the Deputy it is not possible to determine the immigration status or nationality of the child or the child's right to remain in the State. If the Deputy would like to provide additional details I would be happy to have my officials follow up on this matter.
From the details provided, it is noted that the child is in primary school and consequently there is no requirement to register their permission at this time as they are under the age of 16 years. Once a non EEA national reaches 16 years of age, while resident in the State, they are required to attend at their local immigration office, register their permission and receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card in their own right.
If one of the parents of the child is an Irish citizen at the time of the child's birth, then that child may have an entitlement to Irish citizenship and therefore may not be required to register.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
120. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice the reason new entry and transit visa requirements have been placed on all passport holders from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia and Lesotho regardless of their country of travel origin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60621/21]
View answerAs part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, I have signed an Order that imposes new entry visa and transit visa requirements on passport holders from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, and Lesotho. This order and the associated measures came into effect at midnight, 26 November 2021.
This move is in line with the latest public health advice regarding new COVID-19 variants of concern.
As of midnight, 26 November 2021, in addition to countries who were visa required prior to that date, passport holders of the following countries are now also required to apply for an entry visa or transit visa, as appropriate, before travelling to Ireland:
- South Africa (entry visa and transit visa required)
- Botswana (entry visa and transit visa required)
- Eswatini (entry visa and transit visa required)
- Lesotho (entry visa and transit visa required)
- Namibia (transit visa required – this country is already subject to an entry visa requirement and this requirement remains in place)
Visa applications from passport holders of the above countries (and from Zimbabwe and Mozambique which are already visa required) will be accepted and processed where the applicant is a person who:
- has obtained or is entitled to apply for a right of residence under EU Free Movement;
- has a valid Residence Permission in the State under the Immigration Acts (including persons covered by the interim arrangements that apply from 15 November 2021 to 15 January 2021);
- is a family member of an Irish citizen;
- has not been in one of the following countries (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe) in the previous 14 days prior to the date of travel to the State;
- is a diplomat and to whom the privileges and immunities conferred by an international agreement or arrangement or customary international law apply in the State, pursuant to the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Acts 1967 to 2006 or any other enactment or the Constitution.
People in these categories will, of course, have to comply with all relevant health measures in place for international travellers.
The situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities in the coming weeks.
121. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice if she is taking steps to address the acute shortage of appointments with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, Burgh Quay for visa renewals given no appointments are reportedly available until January 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60650/21]
View answerDublin based customers seeking to renew their immigration permission do not need to make an appointment at the office in Burgh Quay. Since July 2020, all renewals of permissions for Dublin based customers are being processed online at: inisonline.jahs.ie. Since then, over 98,000 applications have been processed online.
Additionally, staff in the Registration Office have been working extra hours, including at weekends, to meet the demand for first-time registrations, renewal of permissions, and re-entry visas for minors.
For customers seeking to register for the first time, the public office in Burgh Quay is now open from 08:00 to 20:30 to provide assistance to customers. Customers should continue to apply directly for appointments as they become available without charge, through the online appointments system: burghquayregistrationoffice.inis.gov.ie.
Currently, public health guidance determines the number of appointments that safely be facilitated each day in the public office. Almost 1,000 customers are being registered every week. My staff continue to engage with stakeholders to understand how their needs can best be met.
122. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if the reasoning behind a decision made in 2017 to halt the initial planning stages of possible development of the Old Cork Prison site was ever published; and if she will share this information. [60652/21]
View answer123. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if she or her predecessor met with the Irish Prison Service board to discuss the development of the Old Cork Prison site. [60653/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service opened a new prison in Cork in 2016 to replace the old prison.
I can advise the Deputy that I have not held any meeting with the Irish Prison Service to date to discuss the development of the Old Cork Prison site.
I also understand that my predecessor did not hold any such meeting with the Prison Service on this issue.
Furthermore, I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it has no strategic requirement for the building and any past consideration of the question of its development did not lead to planning or other proposals in this regard.
