Written Answers Nos. 694-718
694. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No.552 of 1 March 2022, the number of the 115 young adults to whom Tusla is providing after-care supports who were received into Tusla's care as children seeking international protection are currently residing in direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14782/22]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, receives separated children seeking international protection into care via two routes: those who have been relocated under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) and those who present independently at ports and other points of entry to Ireland. Currently, there are 95 children seeking international protection in Tusla's care, and additionally, Tusla is providing after care supports to 115 young adults who were received into Tusla's care as children seeking international protection.
Young adults, without a decision on their international protection application, may be referred to International Protection Accommodation Services (Direct Provision) for accommodation.
I can confirm that out of the 115 young people, as referenced above, there are seven currently living in IPAS accommodation. All seven have recently received a positive determination in their asylum applications and are being supported by Tusla’s aftercare team in securing future accommodation.
695. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a national childcare scheme application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14795/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that while the National Childcare Scheme is an initiative of the DCEDIY, a Scheme Administrator has been appointed to manage the operation of the Scheme on the Department’s behalf. Pobal acts in this capacity as Scheme Administrator, and it is their role to follow up on individual cases.
However, officials from my Department followed up on the applicants’ claims with POBAL. The applicant submitted their applications on 7 March, 2022. A follow up email was sent by the scheme administrator that day as part of processing these applications. The applications were progressed on 14 March, 2022. All relevant checks were completed on 15 March, 2022 and awards were created on 21 March, 2022.
The National Childcare Scheme Parent Support Centre were in contact with the applicant on March 21 via telephone and advised the applicant the application process was completed and the NCS awards had been created.
696. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he anticipates the creation of the HAP equivalent payment for refugees as outlined in the White Paper on Ending Direct Provision (details supplied). [14912/22]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to note that A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Service relates to accommodation and supports for International Protection applicants and not for people that have refugee status.
Under the new model of accommodation as set out in the White Paper the sourcing of Phase Two accommodation in the community will be achieved through a multi-strand approach:
- Houses and apartments will be built or acquired through Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) or other not-for-profit organisations. These will be used for families and single people, particularly vulnerable single people.
- Buildings will be repurposed through urban renewal initiatives to create accommodation for single people.
- Rent a room schemes will be used to source some accommodation for single people. This hosting in the community will commence with the development of an International Protection Community Hosting Scheme.
- Private tenancies will be used to source accommodation for families as necessary.
The early part of the project has focused on putting in place the building blocks that will allow AHBs to begin providing accommodation including work to roll out an AHB funding scheme that will be launched in early quarter two. Once this element of the programme is up and running, a focus will then be placed on operationalising other parts of the multi-strand approach including the rent a room scheme and the private tenancies where applicants will be supported financially if they source their own accommodation.
697. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the significant problems that currently exist in the smaller ECCE-only sessional preschools and the fact that this will be exacerbated by the new funding model; his further views on whether these small independent sessional services, the backbone of the early learning sector nationwide, will be heavily impacted by rising input costs, challenges in recruitment, high waiting lists, Government interference in terms of competition and no increase in the standard capitation level since 2018; his plans to address these significant problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14938/22]
View answerECCE is a universal programme which provides 2 years of free pre-school to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. ECCE is not mandatory but has a very high take up rate with 95% of children in the eligible age range attending ECCE services.
ECCE is provided by private early learning and care service providers under funding agreements with my Department. There are currently almost 4, 000 providers contracted to provide ECCE throughout the country.
Under the new funding stream, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase, providers will be supported in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures which includes staff costs. Core Funding will also contribute to cost increases related to non-staff costs (for example, utilities, rent).
Core Funding is equivalent to an increase of at least 14% on the standard capitation for ECCE. At a minimum, for every ECCE child €78.75 per week will be available from ECCE and Core Funding, compared to €69 in ECCE standard capitation only. Because Core Funding is paid in respect of places rather than children, effectively this could mean a greater ‘per child’ marginal increase if the service has unfilled capacity. For example, with an ECCE occupancy of 9 children per staff member, Core Funding and ECCE together will be equivalent to weekly per child capitation of €80.92.
Core Funding replaces the ECCE Higher Capitation payment which is pays a higher capitation rate of €80.25 for all children attending ECCE classes with a graduate ECCE room lead. Core Funding includes a new a graduate premium which will be to be paid to services with graduate room leads for all early learning and care age groups.
A small number of services, estimated to be approximately 50 in total or 1% of all providers, would receive less under Core Funding than they received in Higher Capitation payments. For this small number of providers, I have issued a funding guarantee whereby, under Core Funding providers will receive the same level of funding as they received from ECCE Higher Capitation, assuming the numbers of children, graduate staff and type of service offered remains the same in the 2022/23 programme year as in 2021/22. Services for whom the Funding Guarantee will apply are higher capitation ECCE services with large groups and high occupancy that are currently in receipt of the highest levels of public funding relative to the staffing levels required for operating those types of services.
With regard to staffing difficulties in the ELC sector, I acknowledge that early learning and care and school-age childcare services can experience staffing and recruitment difficulties and I have committed to supporting service providers in their efforts in recruiting qualified staff.
As the Deputy is aware, the State is not the employer, and my Department does not set wage levels nor determine working conditions for staff in the sector. However, I am doing all that is in my power to address the issue.
On 7 December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028, which aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare. There is no differentiation in Nurturing Skills for the different types of service providers. The plan aims to make improvements for staff in all services, full time or sessional. In additional, a Joint Labour Committee is currently meeting to set pay scales for the sector which, if agreed, will be set out in an Employment Regulation Order. Together these initiatives will improve staff retention in the sector.
Finally, my Department has recently commenced a review of the ECCE programme to assess the value of the programme and to identify potential improvements. ECCE providers, parents, children and stakeholders will be invited to contribute to the review later this year.
698. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the enhanced medical card will be issued regarding the redress scheme proposed for mother and baby home survivors; the treatments and services it will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14988/22]
View answer699. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a compensation payment will impact on pensions or affect means testing in circumstances in which survivors qualify for the fuel allowance and other payments regarding the redress scheme proposed for mother and baby home survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14989/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 699 together.
I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. I intend to bring the legislative proposals in respect of the Payment Scheme to Government for formal approval very soon. As previously stated, I will seek priority drafting of the Bill to ensure that it can be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas as quickly as possible, subject also to any pre-legislative scrutiny process which may take place.
Once the legislation has been passed by the Oireachtas and the administrative infrastructure required to deliver the Scheme has been established, the Scheme will be open for applications for both financial awards and enhanced medical cards. I hope that this will be possible by the end of 2022.
It is intended that the form of enhanced medical card will ensure the provision, without charge, of the following primary and community health services for those eligible:
- GP services;
- prescribed drugs, medicines, aids and appliances;
- dental, ophthalmic and aural services;
- home nursing;
- home support;
- chiropody/podiatry; and
- physiotherapy.
As well as the above health services, it is intended that cardholders are not be required to pay (i) the €100 Emergency Department statutory charge or (ii) the €80 public hospital statutory charge.
Those who are living outside of Ireland will have the choice of of opting for an enhanced medical card or a once off financial payment in lieu of the card.
Ensuring that the financial payments awarded from the Scheme do not negatively impact on survivors entitlements to other means tested supports, including medical cards, GP visit cards and nursing home supports, is very important. My Department is working with the relevant Departments in this regard to ensure, as is the case for previous Schemes of this nature, that these awards are disregarded.
700. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in State care that were referred to hospitals, clinics or general practitioners for suspected sexually transmitted diseases in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15014/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
701. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in State care that reported being sexually assaulted while in care in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022 [15015/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
702. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in State care that reported being physically assaulted while in care in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [15016/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
703. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in State care that became pregnant while in State care in each of the past ten years. [15017/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
704. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the case of a person (details supplied) attending training as a carpentry apprentice with SOLAS will be investigated; if it will be ensured that they are paid the appropriate rate for their level of training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13842/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to the training rate paid to an individual attending training as a carpentry apprentice in Finglas training centre is being investigated and compiled by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
705. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost incurred by his Department for the supply of Covid-19 related face masks and face coverings since March 2019 to date; the name of the supplier involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13893/22]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed on the 2 August 2020. Please see table below which provides the details requested in relation to the supply of Covid-19 related face masks and face coverings for my Department.
|
Face Masks and Face Coverings – D/FHERIS |
|
|
Supplier |
Total |
|
Bunzl Cleaning & Safety Supplies |
1,048.18 |
|
Charles Hughes Ltd |
1,589.75 |
|
Cloonans Hardware |
36.40 |
|
Codex Office Products Group |
38.67 |
|
Heavins Hardware Centre Ltd |
24.80 |
|
Grand Total |
2,737.80 |
The onset of the pandemic in 2020 also presented unique challenges across the Higher Education and Further Education Sectors. Early on, a review was conducted by my Department in consultation with the Higher Education Authority and Institutes and Further Education and Training stakeholders to ascertain the impact of the crisis on the sector.
Following on from this review, €316m was allocated to the sector for Covid supports in 2020 which includes funding used for masks and hand sanitiser.
- €100m for a range of labour market programmes and initiatives through SOLAS, Skillnet Ireland and the Higher Education Authority.
- €92m to enable a safe return to work and the re-opening of the Further and Higher Sectors, as well as supporting the Frontline response. This was for the transition to remote and distanced working, and to cover costs of utilising buildings for testing centres and field hospitals.
- €77m to support students and learners, especially protecting access to education for those in vulnerable or target groups.
- €48m to protect and support Irish research and researchers during the pandemic.
Additionally in 2021, €105m was allocated for the safe reopening of the sector.
In the Higher Education sector, this Department allocates funding through a grant to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which distributes the funds to the Higher Education Institutions. In the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are responsible for structuring their funding provision. This is being carried out in conjunction with Strategic Performance Agreements in place between SOLAS and each of the ETBs.
706. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost incurred by his Department for the supply of Covid-19 related hand sanitiser since March 2019 to date; the name of the supplier involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13911/22]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed on the 2 August 2020. Please see table below which provides the details requested in relation to the supply of Covid-19 related hand sanitiser for my Department.
|
Hand sanitiser – D/FHERIS |
|
|
Supplier |
Total |
|
Bunzl Cleaning & Safety Supplies |
€1,397.13 |
|
CCS Media Ireland |
€126.01 |
|
JBS Group |
€98.35 |
|
Newspread Limited |
€712.43 |
|
Roschem Products Limited |
€2,079.47 |
|
Grand Total |
€4,413.39 |
The onset of the pandemic in 2020 also presented unique challenges across the Higher Education and Further Education Sectors. Early on, a review was conducted by my Department in consultation with the Higher Education Authority and Institutes and Further Education and Training stakeholders to ascertain the impact of the crisis on the sector.
Following on from this review, €316m was allocated to the sector for Covid supports in 2020 which includes funding used for masks and hand sanitiser.
- €100m for a range of labour market programmes and initiatives through SOLAS, Skillnet Ireland and the Higher Education Authority.
- €92m to enable a safe return to work and the re-opening of the Further and Higher Sectors, as well as supporting the Frontline response. This was for the transition to remote and distanced working, and to cover costs of utilising buildings for testing centres and field hospitals.
- €77m to support students and learners, especially protecting access to education for those in vulnerable or target groups.
- €48m to protect and support Irish research and researchers during the pandemic.
Additionally in 2021, €105m was allocated for the safe reopening of the sector.
In the Higher Education sector, this Department allocates funding through a grant to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which distributes the funds to the Higher Education Institutions. In the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are responsible for structuring their funding provision. This is being carried out in conjunction with Strategic Performance Agreements in place between SOLAS and each of the ETBs.
707. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the needs of Irish medical and dental students in Ukraine (details supplied); if a support process can be put in place to accommodate these students who will be affected by the crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13979/22]
View answerI aware of this group of Irish students, and a number of others, who were studying Medicine and Dentistry in Ukraine and whose studies have been disrupted as a result of the invasion. I am working closely with the higher education sector to see what can be done to support them and facilitate the continuity of their studies.
My Department is in contact with a group of over 50 individual affected students with a view to establishing, in the first instance their safety, and also to seek certain baseline information regarding their studies. I would urge any other Irish students who were in a similar position in Ukraine, but who have not yet been in contact, to make contact with my Department.
A key element of this process will be to understand the alignment of the students’ programme with the Irish system of medical and dentistry education, along with other issues arising regarding accreditation by the professional bodies. In line with the overall Government position, my Department and agencies will work together to support students affected by the invasion.
708. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions that his Department has taken to implement the relevant recommendations from the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community report issued in November 2021. [14006/22]
View answerI welcome the publication of the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community last November. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Deputy and other members of the Joint Committee for their work in highlighting issues affecting members of the Traveller community and for the publication of this comprehensive report.
I understand that Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community has now been dissolved and has been replaced with ad hoc Oireachtas group with the Ceann Comhairle as Cathaoirleach. In addition to the Ceann Comhairle, the ad hoc group is comprised of the Cathaoirligh of the Oireachtas committees whose remit mirrors the responsibilities of the Departments to whom the recommendations were submitted as well as members of the former Joint Committee.
The ad hoc Oireachtas group is seeking to make progress in 2022 on the 84 recommendations in the Final Report, including the 23 education recommendations. In this regard, I can confirm that my officials have been in correspondence with ad hoc Oireachtas group recently to update it on the progress made in the tertiary education sector.
The key recommendations for the tertiary education sector include, inter alia, recommendations for: targeted financial supports; affirmative policy actions to encourage more Travellers into the teaching profession; the creation of culturally appropriate apprenticeship and internship schemes; and the development of a “Traveller Graduate Network”. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department is proactively progressing initiatives in all of these areas. These include:
- The Student Assistance Fund is available to assist students who are unable to meet costs associated with day-to-day participation in higher education, including essential travel and childcare costs. Additional financial supports were secured under the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2021 and again in 2022 to address Covid related issues affecting Traveller progression to and retention within higher education.
- The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) includes a targeted initiative aimed at increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in Initial Teacher Education. One of the projects funded under this initiative is the TOBAR project in the Marino Institute of Education/TCD Centre. The TOBAR project focuses specifically on working with members of the Irish Traveller community to access initial teacher education (ITE) on primary, post-primary and further education programmes. A separate initiative under the PATH programme is the Travellers in Education project which is being led by a consortium of higher education institutes in the southern region. One of the key outcomes from Phase 1 is in respect of a Traveller Graduate Network which is currently engaged with 26 graduates.
- The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 was published last April. It has several key deliverables which are relevant to Travellers and other underrepresented groups including commitments to: include the voice of underrepresented cohorts; develop an inclusive apprenticeship access and delivery structure; and monitor and assess targets. My Department has established a National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and the National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA) to oversee this work. The NAA will have an equity of access sub-committee which will ensure that the voice of Travellers and other underrepresented groups are heard.
I look forward to engaging with the ad hoc Oireachtas group over the coming months to progress the recommendations in the Final Report.
709. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he or officials from his Department have engaged in any form of communication with the World Economic Forum or representatives of the World Economic Forum including by phone call, webinar, email or any event organised by the World Economic Forum from 1 January 2019 to date; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14161/22]
View answerAfter an thorough and extensive examination of Departmental records I can inform the Deputy that neither I nor officials from my Department have had any communication with the World Economic Forum or its representatives since 1 January 2019 to date.
710. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is taking measures to ensure that those who had started third-level education in Ukraine can complete their qualifications here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14188/22]
View answer711. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will provide mechanisms for those coming from Ukraine who were due to complete second level this academic year to access third level education in the next academic year here without having to sit examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14189/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 711 together.
The people of Ukraine have had a horrendous war thrust upon them and the Government and the EU have been united and unequivocal in our condemnation of Russia's aggression. I am particularly proud of the generous spirit the Irish people have displayed to those displaced by the war, and this has been mirrored in the response by Government.
There has been an open response from Irish Universities in terms of facilitating the further studies of those arriving from Ukraine. The EU, the Irish Government and my Department are all acting in support of that goal, and we are working on developing our common understanding of the educational and training supports required by Ukrainians coming to the EU.
I am also aware of 50 Irish students who were studying medicine and dentistry in the Ukraine, and my Department is in contact these students with a view to establishing, in the first instance their safety, and also to seek certain baseline information regarding their studies.
A key element of this any process to facilitate access to further and higher education studies is to align the prospective students’ programme with the Irish education system, and then to see what measures to support their continued study can be deployed.
Officials in Department are working very closely with higher education representatives to achieve this goal.
712. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that he will take to ensure that those with Ukrainian qualifications will have those qualifications recognised in this State by employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14190/22]
View answerQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) hosts NARIC Ireland which provides advice on the academic recognition of a foreign qualification by comparing it to a major award type and level on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The QQI NARIC database currently lists 14 Ukrainian qualifications, comparable to levels 3-10 on the NFQ, including general professional and higher education.
NARIC Ireland is working with the NARIC network across Europe to continue building the list of Ukrainian qualifications. The NARIC Guide has recently been translated into Ukrainian and the Guide is also available in Polish, English and Russian, which many Ukrainian citizens also speak.
The NARIC service also helps to inform employers to determine if an applicant holds the academic qualifications necessary for a particular job or employment opportunity.
SOLAS operates a system whereby individuals coming to Ireland with foreign further education and training qualifications can apply to have these qualifications assessed for equivalency.
On 18 March I signed a statement on behalf of Ireland condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
The key aim of this statement is to signal support for higher education students and staff in Ukraine and to suspend Russia’s rights of representation on all structures and activities of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
Whilst the purpose of the statement is to ensure that those affected by the war can access higher education, there is also a collective agreement that Ukrainian students should be treated as EU citizens and offered the same access and supports to pursue higher education in Ireland as those from Member States.
713. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of all members of the National Apprenticeship Alliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14195/22]
View answerThe Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out a new structure for the management and governance of apprenticeship and provides for a migration to a single apprenticeship model. This is in order to increase engagement with and awareness of apprenticeship as a valued proposition for both employers and prospective apprentices.
As part of the transition, the proposed National Apprenticeship Alliance will take on and build from the previous role of the Apprenticeship Council. This will help ensure for the future that the apprenticeship system is responsive to developments, can evolve, and all the while maintains the quality of apprenticeship training.
Membership of the NAA comprises a balance of representatives from education, partner stakeholders, and industry representatives.
- Education representatives are THEA, IUA, HECA, ETBI, QQI, and my own Department.
- Partner stakeholders are ICTU, USI, the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee and a consortium representative.
- Industry representatives are from IBEC, CIF and other individuals identified through an expressions of interest process.
In terms of next steps, the representatives will meet for the first time on 24 March to agree terms of reference and actions to be progressed by the group.
714. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the SUSI grant department used the Revenue Commissioners net or gross income figure as part of their income calculations for the purposes of determining the reckonable income of an applicant (details supplied); if the pension contributions was used as part of their income calculations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14196/22]
View answerThe main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2021 is based on gross income from all sources, of the applicant and his parents or partner. No deduction is given for outgoings with the exception of pension contributions, legally enforceable maintenance payments and employment related expenses as approved by Revenue. With regards to pension contributions as approved by Revenue the Student Grant Scheme states that these contributions must be made in the reference period, which in this case, is from 01st January to the 31st December 2020.
With regard to this specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student that you refer to appealed firstly to SUSI and more recently to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The appeal was heard by the Board on the 7th December 2021 and the determination was communicated to the student directly.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
715. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the total expenditure on higher education programme B is set to decrease by approximately €59.6 million in 2022 as outlined by the Parliamentary Budget Office in a recent report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14411/22]
View answerIn 2021 the Department secured additional temporary funding during the Supplementary Estimates. Within Programme B, voted higher education, the Department secured €227 million additional temporary funding in 2021:
- €147 million for University pension schemes and to strengthen University balance sheets
- €80 million for the safe re-opening of the higher education sector in the 2021/22 academic year
This investment was for one year only and temporary, making the 2021 figure look unnaturally high and skewing the analysis published by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Removing temporary funding in both 2021 and 2022, the increase year on year for core Voted higher education funding, Programme B, is 7%, or €125 million. The detail is set out in the attached table.
Table: True core ncrease in Voted higher education funding from 2021 to 2022
|
Supplementary Estimate 2021 |
Revised Estimate 2022 |
Movement from 2021 to 2022 |
Movement from 2021 to 2022 |
||
|
€ |
% |
||||
|
Higher Education Funding |
€2,147,051 |
€2,087,421 |
-€59,630 |
-2.78% |
|
|
Less |
2021 once off funding |
-€147,000 |
|||
|
Less |
Temporary Covid |
-€80,000 |
-€20,000 |
||
|
Less |
Temporary National Recovery and Resilience Plan |
-€19,000 |
|||
|
Less |
Temporary Brexit Adjustment Reserve |
-€3,500 |
|||
|
Core Higher Education Funding |
€1,920,051 |
€2,044,921 |
€124,870 |
6.50% |
Higher education investment in 2022 is over €2 billion (€2.4 billion including investment through the National Training Fund).
716. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he has taken to reintroduce tiling apprenticeships under the remit of SOLAS given the high demand for adequately qualified tilers in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14481/22]
View answerApprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of apprentices being registered is determined by employers in the sector.
The number of new apprenticeship registrations for wet trades, the family of apprenticeships to which this programme belongs, dropped sharply during the last economic downturn and has not recovered at the same rate as other construction trades.
Unfortunately, the tiling apprenticeship has been closed for registrations for a number of years due to these low registrations.
While there is no current apprenticeship dedicated to tiling, floor and wall tiling is included as a module in the Plastering Apprenticeship. More information in relation to this apprenticeship and the other apprenticeships that are currently available can found on www.apprenticeship.ie.
The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led and it is open to employers to work with education and training providers to develop new apprenticeships if there is sufficient demand from the sector. Again, further details can be found on www.apprenticeship.ie.
717. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that his Department is taking to address the current backlog for phase 2 electrical apprentices, wherein a four-year electrical apprenticeship may now take up to six years to complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14504/22]
View answer719. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that his Department is taking to address the current backlog for phase 2, phase 4 and phase 6 craft apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14506/22]
View answer720. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for when craft apprentices currently waiting for off the job training will be called in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14507/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 717, 719 and 720 together.
Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the existing 64 apprenticeship programmes. Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the COVID-related shutdown of on-site learning activity over the last two years had a significant impact on the ability of apprentices to access off-the-job training. The other apprenticeships have not been delayed but may have had disruption to recruitment in, for instance, hospitality.
The waiting list is tackled in order of those apprentices who have been waiting longest.
Capital funding of €20m was provided in 2020 to extend and upgrade craft apprenticeship facilities across further and higher education institutions. Classes that were running at half capacity under COVID 19 measures are now back at their full intake of 14-16 apprentices since last September.
Additional funding of €17m was provided under Budget 2022 to further facilitate the SOLAS and HEA’s response to the backlogs. €6m is being invested in additional instructors, with over 100 additional posts approved.
Changed delivery structures for Phase 2 off-the-job training, facilitating a third intake of apprentices per annum have been introduced and an opt-in rapid employer assessment 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.
These changes are now running through the system with increasing numbers of apprentices being called to their off-the-job training. More than 7,500 apprentices who were delayed have now progressed in their off-the-job training.
SOLAS and the HEA are actively working with the education and training providers to identify additional solutions that will address the waiting lists for off-the-job elements of craft apprenticeship to ensure that apprentices are enabled to complete their training as quickly as possible.
718. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships taken up in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to 31 December 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14505/22]
View answerThe Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 aims to ensure that the apprenticeship system will contribute to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025.
In 2021, a record 8,607 new apprentices were registered- an almost 40% increase on the figures from 2019, the last “normal” pre-pandemic year. Of those registrations, 6,955 were in craft apprenticeships with 1,652 registrations in consortia apprenticeships
Strong registrations means that we have a solid source of apprentices coming on stream in housing, retrofitting and infrastructure related programmes to help meet needs in these areas.
In addition, there is a programme of work set out in the Action Plan aimed at continuing to increase apprenticeship numbers to ensure that we meet workforce demand.
The number of apprenticeships taken up in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to 31 December 2021, in tabular form is attached.
