Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the increase in the number of apprentices and the number of apprenticeships since 2020; the progress of the national apprenticeship scheme office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12703/22]
View answerThe Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners, to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations across a wide range of programmes by 2025. Expanding apprenticeship across all sectors of the economy has widened its impact in areas of skills shortage such as engineering, technology skills, logistics, and fintech. Under the Plan there will be an increase in online visibility of apprenticeship engagement and apprenticeship development processes for employers/sectors who wish to assess the potential for new apprenticeship development.
The Action Plan sets a target of 10,000 annual apprentice registrations by 2025. In 2021 there were a record 8,607 registrations- up from 6,177 for 2019, the last pre-COVID full year, and the highest annual registrations since the 2006 figure of 8,306, showing the high degree of interest in this career option amongst both employers and potential apprentices.
In 2021, 6,955 registrations were in craft apprenticeships, and largely in the construction sector, which will be vital for realising the ambition set out in Housing for All. There were 1,652 registrations on the newer, post-2016 programmes. At the end of 2021, the overall apprentice population was 24,212.
There are currently 62 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 37 programmes introduced since 2016. Eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic; Arboriculture, Equipment Systems Engineer, Healthcare Assistant, Principal Engineer – Professional Doctorate, Recruitment Executive, Sales, Scaffolding , Supply Chain Associate. A further three programmes are close to launch; Wind Turbine Maintenance, Bar Manager, Transport Operations and Commercial Driving.
There are 17 additional programmes being developed across agriculture, construction, engineering, equine, finance, horticulture, hospitality and food, ICT and logistics. A number of other potential apprenticeships are at an exploratory stage, in sectors such as health, beauty, environmental, engineering, ICT and finance.
Key to the delivery of the ambition set out in the Action Plan is a new organisational architecture, involving a National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA). The Office will have responsibility for all aspects of the management, oversight and development of the apprenticeship system and for implementing the Action Plan. Under the Action Plan the NAO will exercise on a shared and conjoint basis the relevant functions of SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The new National Apprenticeship Office will deliver additional practical supports and information for employers and apprentices seeking to engage with apprenticeship. Dr Mary-Liz Trant, who has extensive experience in education and training, has been appointed as the first Director of the Office.
The NAO Director is currently providing the leadership required to address the next stage of the NAO’s development, including finalising a work programme for 2022, staffing allocations and the development and implementation of solid governance and financial arrangements, aligned with the Action Plan. This is being done in consultation with SOLAS, the HEA, my Department and other key partners and €1 million has been allocated in Budget 2022 for the first year of the NAO’s operation.
103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an analysis has been carried out on an all-Ireland basis in relation to skills shortages throughout the island of Ireland; the proposals to arrange training and the provision of relevant courses on a cross-border basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12867/22]
View answerMy Department is committed to the promotion of collaboration on a North South cooperation and the all-island economy.
In 2008, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), whose secretariat hosted in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, carried out an All Ireland Skills Study. Since then, the skills architecture has changed substantially, including the establishment of two Regional Skills Fora in the border regions (North West and North East). The Fora bring together enterprise, education and training providers and other key stakeholders at local level to facilitate tailored responses to skills needs in these regions. The Deputy may also wish to note that Inter Trade Ireland supports business on both sides of the border to develop their capacity, including through skills development.
My officials are working closely with the Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland on the development of a proposal to address skills needs in the 6 border counties and Northern Ireland, as part of the forthcoming PEACE PLUS programme.
I can assure the Deputy that this programme will facilitate the development of innovative cross-border responses in the area of skills, including re-skilling.
104. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Irish universities are involved in research projects or alliances with Ukrainian universities; if these have been impacted by the Russian invasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12750/22]
View answerI want to start by reiterating the Government’s utter condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine as illegal and immoral. Across Government we are examining the actions that need to be taken to support people affected by this aggression, including students and researchers.
I discussed these issues, including the overall EU response, when I met Commissioner Gabriel in Dublin last week. I have also engaged, together with the Minister for Justice, with the Union of Students in Ireland on issues affecting students. I also had the opportunity to meet, along with the Taoiseach, a number of Ukrainian students In Trinity College to hear first hand of their concerns.
With respect to the impact on research, my Department does not maintain a central register of research projects, given that autonomous higher education institutions drive their own research agenda and international collaborations. In terms of funding agencies under my Department’s aegis, Science Foundation Ireland is aware of four academic collaborations involving Ukraine, but there is no assessment yet on what the impact of the conflict is on this work. The Irish Research Council funds individual researchers and does not have information on institutional-level collaborations between Irish and Ukrainian higher education institutions.
My Department is continuing to engage closely with our agencies and stakeholders including the IUA and THEA to monitor developments and work through any issues as they arise.
105. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way he proposes to promote the use of the Irish language in further and higher education institutions. [12710/22]
View answerThe Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services, and the Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) is of high importance to Ireland and the life of the language in this country. It will ensure that Irish speakers can interact with the Government and access public services through a high standard of Irish. Further information on this bill can be found in the following link www.gov.ie/en/press-release/a8eef-official-languages-bill-amendment-2019-before-the-dail/.
The Department will be represented on a new Steering Group being established by the Department of Education to support the development of a Policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. The Department is also open to engaging directly with the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport, Gaeltacht and the Media with regard to the supply of graduates with a competency in Irish.
There is already a broad range of courses available in Irish in higher education institutions that will meet future demand.
The objective of the Advanced Irish Language Skills Initiative, funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, is to ensure the availability of qualified persons with Irish language skills to meet recruitment needs in Ireland and the EU. Under this scheme the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht provides funding for a range of specialised third level Irish language courses in areas such as translation, interpretation and law. Further information on this Initiative can be found in the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/7c05c-third-level-education/.
The North-South Research Programme, which I announced last week with An Taoiseach, is a collaborative scheme funded through the Government’s Shared Island Fund with sixty-two collaborative research projects between academics and institutions in Ireland and in Northern Ireland awarded funding under the first funding call to a total value of €37million. Under this programme, the research project ‘CARTLANN' will focus on activism, language and media: using the archival records of Conradh na Gaeilge to track the uneven development of Irish language policy on both sides of the border.
The Department distributes recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for disbursement directly to the HEA's designated higher education institutions. The HEA distributes this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, payment of this funding, including any expenditure on Irish-language education initiatives, falls to the individual institution.
106. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the take-up of the new employer grant for apprenticeships introduced in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12769/22]
View answerThe introduction of an annual employer grant is a significant deliverable under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. The new Employer Grant is funded in Budget 2022 and will see annual payments to employers of €2,000 per apprentice for those apprenticeships which are not eligible for the payment of off-the-job training allowances. Its introduction means that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices will now have access to some level of financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through the employer grant. The grant is effective from January 2022 with operational arrangements being finalised by the Department and SOLAS.
The grant will be paid for each eligible apprentice for the duration of their apprenticeship with the parent company. This includes apprentices who were registered 2019-2021 and who continue in employment as of 1st January 2022. Two payment points are planned per year; June and December.
Eligible employers do not need to do anything as they will be contacted by the National Apprenticeship Office in May/June and invited to submit their claim online. Further details can be found on www.apprenticeship.ie
New apprenticeships introduced in 2022 and subsequent years will also be included in the grant scheme.
107. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of his plans to support and subsidise further education students to ensure that poverty does not deter them from continuing their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12874/22]
View answerFurther Education and Training (FET) provision is largely free or heavily subsidised and the announcement in Budget 2022 of the removal of the €200 PLC levy, which was introduced in 2011, with effect from the next academic year is particularly welcome. The other improvements announced in Budget 2022 for student grants, including PLC student grants, for the next academic year include:
- an increase to all student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, of €200 per year which will benefit all students entitled to receive a maintenance Grant;
- an increase in the income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant of €1,000; and
- a reduction in the qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 45km to 30km.
Taken together these measures will benefit thousands of PLC students in the further education sector.
Other full-time FET learners receive learner allowances which are equivalent to their underlying social welfare entitlements or may continue to receive their social welfare payment directly from the Department of Social Protection. The FET Strategy for 2020-24 Future FET: Transforming Learning proposes consistent learner support across all FET provision while recognising that the realisation of a common cross-FET student financial support system requires wider welfare and cross-Government, cross-Departmental reform to resolve.
The scope of the Indecon Review of the Student Grant Scheme included the current supports available to FET learners and the costs of attending further education. This Review will help shape decision-making on how we support students over the years to come and my intention to bring the report to Cabinet alongside the Future Funding Model report has been flagged previously.
Additionally, the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund (MAEDF), which is managed by SOLAS, has provided funding to support the participation of educationally disadvantaged learners in FET. The Fund places a strong focus on community education as a mechanism to continue to support and engage with disadvantaged learners. It also focuses on building the digital infrastructure of providers, including providing devices and software, and increasing their capacity to deliver online learning/blended learning to meet the needs of learners. The projects funded varied from projects to help support online learning, connect communities and providing social supports to the most disadvantaged. Some €12.63m was approved in awards under the MAEDF in the last two years.
108. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of revised principles for a new higher education staffing agreement to update the current employment control framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12744/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, officials from my Department are engaged on an ongoing basis with their counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Higher Education Authority to agree principles for a new Higher Education Staffing Agreement. This work will include a wider consultation with stakeholders in Q2 2022 prior to any agreement being finalised.
A new Staffing Agreement will update the current Employment Control Framework and give particular consideration to :
- the different categories of staff;
- alignment with new funding streams and contractual commitments in the sector;
- the need for staffing decisions taken in the higher education sector to be affordable and sustainable both from a higher education perspective and also from an Exchequer and wider public service staffing and pension perspective.
The purpose of a Higher Education Staffing Agreement, once finalised, will be to update the existing Employment Control Framework approach which has been in place since 2011 and which is still in place in a number of sectors in the public service.
It is important to highlight that the Employment Control Framework ceilings for the Higher Education sector are updated on an annual basis having regard to the funding decisions made as part of the annual Estimates process, and which is then operationalised by the Higher Education Authority across all Higher Education Institutions. I would highlight that overall staffing in the sector, both core and non-core, has increased by approximately 4,500 or 18 percent since 2016.
My Department will continue to interact with the sector, the HEA and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to make progress in the light of employment data across the sector and the potential to improve the sustainability of arrangements within the resources available.
109. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an update will be provided on which local authorities offer apprenticeship programmes; if there are plans to support the expansion of the programme specifically in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12714/22]
View answer112. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of local authorities that offer apprentice programmes; the detail of the programs; the progress that has been made to roll-out this out nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12869/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 112 together.
A number of local authorities throughout the country employ apprentices, with in the region of 50 apprentices currently employed by these bodies. The majority of the apprentices are employed in craft trades such as plumbing, carpentry and joinery, and electrical. A number of the apprentices are also employed in consortia programmes such as accounting technician and cybersecurity.
A key commitment of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to grow the number of apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to reach 750 annual registrations by 2025.
My Department’s officials have undertaken a numbers of actions in order to make progress towards achieving this commitment:
A number of general and sector-focussed information sessions on apprenticeship were held, including one for local authorities.
A Working Group has been established, representing Government Departments and local authorities, to develop a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan by summer 2022.
More specifically, there has been extensive bilateral engagement with the LGMA, to assist with surveying local authorities in relation to their skills needs.
The survey results will inform the development of the Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan, with the content, level, and duration of public service apprenticeships determined by these identified skills needs.
110. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether the current plans for student accommodation are providing affordable accommodation for third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12875/22]
View answerI am very conscious of the challenges faced by students in relation to student accommodation, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working closely together on these issues.
Fundamentally the underlying issue is one of supply and there is a need to increase the supply of all types of accommodation including student accommodation. That is why Government launched Housing for All led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which sets out a series of actions which will be delivered to address the housing crisis backed by a transformative budget of €20 billion.
Current construction costs are acting as a deterrent to institutions in proceeding with new developments. My Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are continuing to consider options that may be open to us to support increased supply within affordable rental levels.
I have also written to all universities, technological universities and institutes of technology asking them to identify any potential local solutions which could contribute to increased supply ahead of the next academic year. This may involve the repurposing of existing buildings.
On affordability, restrictions have also been put in place to limit the amount that students can be required to pay up front for their accommodation, ending the practice whereby students were required to pay a lump sum up front each term. The total amount that anyone is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy to no more than the equivalent of 2 months’ rent - that is one month’s rent, and one month’s deposit. In addition, student accommodation is subject to Rent Pressure Zone caps.
111. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the planned capital allocation for Cavan Institute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12760/22]
View answer118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made regarding a new campus for Cavan Institute; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12761/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 118 together.
On the 14th February last, I announced the parameters of an ambitious new phase of capital investment in the further education and training sector. The investment will include:
- A FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, supporting projects to drive reform of the FET sector, including consolidation of provision in high quality facilities, integration of further education and training, realisation of centres of excellence and unifiedertiary planning; and
- A Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund, supporting smaller-scale investments in existing FET infrastructure which are also aligned with FET College of the Future principles
The Cavan Institute project was previously part of the school building programme, prior to the establishment of my Department. It has been agreed that the Cavan Institute project will now be advanced as part of the new FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, subject to meeting Public Spending Code requirements.
The next step is that Cavan Monaghan ETB must submit a Strategic Assessment Report to SOLAS. The relevant guidance and template has been provided to the ETB.
113. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the role of his Department in facilitating the provision of green cert courses via the education and training board sector; the number of students enrolled in such a course in each of the years since 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12502/22]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
114. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the SUSI review will be published; when he plans to implement the recommendations from the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12849/22]
View answerI recognise that cost can be major factor for many people in accessing higher education, and I am committed to delivering on the Programme for Government’s commitments regarding SUSI. In addition to commissioning a major review of the scheme, I have also prioritised expansion and reform of the scheme in budgetary allocations.
I commissioned a major review of the Student Grant Scheme, which has been conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants under the direction of a steering group chaired by my Department and comprising a number of stakeholders.
It is my intention to bring the final report to Government shortly. It is my strong view that cost and access issues must be considered in tandem with the issues of system funding and reform. If we want the best outcomes, we need a well funded system which is accessible to people regardless of their background. Reform of the student support system can also be a critical enabler of other strategic outcomes across the tertiary system, including enhanced lifelong learning and stronger diversity among the postgraduate community.
Given these interconnections, it is my intention to bring the Student grant review to Cabinet alongside the report on funding and reform of higher education.
I have already initiated improvements to the Student Grant Scheme in the past two Budgets. These have been targeted at alleviating cost of living pressures for students and their families, supporting students who have to travel longer distances to their institution, recognising the need to reflect changes in income levels and expanding supports for postgraduates.
The changes I made in Budget 2022, will mean that from the next academic year:-
- All student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, will increase by €200 per year.
- The income thresholds to qualify for the standard rates of student grant will increase by €1,000.
- The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant has been reduced from 45km to 30km.
I have prioritised these changes for the 2022/23 academic year and they will benefit thousands of students, building on the improvements that have already been made for postgraduate students through this year’s student grant scheme.
115. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the work by his Department on reducing the issue of precarity of employment in the higher education sector. [12851/22]
View answerIn relation to the question of precarious employment there are a number of work streams which are relevant. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) regarding a revised employment control framework. We have also
established a subgroup of the national advisory forum for Ireland’s framework for doctoral education which is considering the overall position as regards PhD students.
The HEA have advised they are undertaking a data collection exercise in conjunction with the sector with a view to establishing the number of hourly paid staff in the Higher Education Sector and the final outcome of this data collection is pending. The HEA have advised that they will share the final outcome of this exercise with this Department.
My Department will continue to interact with the sector, the HEA and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to make progress in the light of employment data across the sector and the potential to improve the sustainability of arrangements within the resources available.
116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of postgraduates with a higher than average qualification currently available throughout the country; the extent to which such students will have access to jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12730/22]
View answer429. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places currently taken up by fourth-level education students throughout the country; the extent to which these numbers incorporate the academic and technical sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13094/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 429 together.
In 2020, the latest year for which data is available, there were 52,513 students enrolled in postgraduate programmes. This represents a 36% increase in postgraduate enrolments since 2016, with particularly large increases in areas of key skills such as engineering, manufacturing and construction (43%) and health and welfare (46%).
This growth in the postgraduate population has been supported by programmes such as Springboard+ which complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free or 90% funded upskilling or reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills needs. In the 2021 academic year there are 13,444 places available under Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative in key skills areas ranging from cybersecurity to sustainability to bio-pharma. My Department will continue to align our policies with what is required in the workplace by working with industry to address current needs. Looking beyond the current world of work, we will equip individuals with the skills they need to succeed in the changing labour market.
A breakdown of postgraduate enrolments by area of student and by programme type is available in the attached spreadsheet. This data is taken from the HEA's student records system (SRS) and further data on student enrolments is available on the HEA's website.
117. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions that he has taken to implement the key recommendations of the surveys of experiences of sexual violence and harassment in higher education reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12369/22]
View answerThere are a number of Programme for Government (PfG) commitments aimed at addressing sexual harassment and bullying. Specifically the PfG commits to “Ensure that every Higher Education Institution commissions a survey for all staff and students on harassment, sexual harassment, and bullying, with a view to informing their equality, diversity and inclusion action plans.”
Following consultation with key stakeholders, a decision was made to undertake separate surveys on sexual violence & harassment and to commission distinct surveys on bullying.
In April 2021, at my request the Higher Education Authority (HEA) conducted national surveys to monitor the experiences of students and staff in relation to sexual violence and harassment in order to create a robust evidence base for further policy and funding decisions in relation to tackling sexual violence and harassment in higher education institutions (HEIs). The HEA established an expert Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in HEIs in January 2021 to support this work.
I met with this HEA Advisory Group on 9th February 2022. I tasked them to review the surveys and to come back to me with actions as a result of the conclusions and recommendations from the surveys. I have also tasked the National Advisory Council (NAC) in the National Women’s Council, to review the surveys and come back to me with actions based on the conclusions and recommendations from the surveys. I expect both groups to report to me shortly; so that an action plan can be developed which will complement the work already underway on the Consent Framework.
My Department is also working closely with the Department of Justice on the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The Deputy will be aware that the public consultation phase is currently underway and will remain open until March 10.
119. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 8 February 2022, the status of the examination by his Department of the economic evaluation of the funding options presented in the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education 2016; when the final economic evaluation report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12796/22]
View answerI am committed to resolving the issue of the funding model for higher education as a matter of priority. This is essential in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and achieve critical outcomes for our economy and society.
I will be bringing forward a proposal on a funding model to Government, which will be implemented as part of forthcoming Budgets. Implementation will entail the sector delivering strengthened performance and enhanced outcomes, based on a robust reform agenda.
This approach will be informed by the comprehensive economic evaluation of funding options which has been carried out under the auspices of the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Programme.
I brought this matter to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery shortly before Christmas. This allowed the key issues to be explored. It was agreed that both I and my Department would engage with Minister McGrath and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to inform Government's consideration, in particular undertaking technical work to update costings reflecting relevant funding decisions in Budget 2022 and other issues, which is nearing finalisation. This work has sought to robustly assess the assumptions underpinning the economic evaluation and to take account of the significant levels of State funding which have been invested in higher education and student support in recent years.
It’s my intention to bring final proposals for funding and reform of higher education arising from this work to Government very shortly. I am very clear that, from a policy perspective, addressing the sustainability of the higher education system must proceed in tandem with measures which address the costs of education as a barrier to accessing higher education. We need to focus on both if we want a system that can be accessed by everyone and that can deliver the talent and skills that our country needs. With that in mind, I will also be bringing the review of the Student Grant Scheme to Government at the same time.
The new funding and reform framework will be provided to the Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, following Cabinet consideration and will be published along with the DG Reform sponsored economic assessment report on sustainability of higher education and the SUSI review.
There have been many reports on Higher Education Funding over the last number of years, and my goal is not simply to publish the economic assessment but for Government to make big decisions that will allow for a multi-annual, inclusive process implementation process to commence. The implementation process will allow for important input from stakeholders and provide much needed momentum on the overdue implementation of key decisions that will guide funding and reform of the Higher Education sector in the years ahead.
120. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 503 of 8 February 2022, if the review by the expert panel on the further education and training model has been received to date by his Department; when the review report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12797/22]
View answerMy Department has not received the report of the expert panel commissioned by SOLAS to review the funding model for Further Education and Training. I understand that the panel undertook extensive research, consulted with a wide range of stakeholders and tested funding ideas and approaches via a series of workshops with ETBs. Although the process has been delayed by COVID restrictions, SOLAS advised that a draft of the Review would be submitted to my Department in Q1 2022.
I understand that SOLAS expects to adhere to this timeframe and forward the draft to my Department this month. Following the finalisation of the draft report, SOLAS will publish the Review report.
This Review is an important enabler for the FET Strategy and I look forward to receiving the report and considering its findings and recommendations.
