Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 5 Apr 2022

Written Answers Nos. 565-587

Youth Work Projects

Questions (565)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

565. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of persons employed as youth workers under the Your Place Your Space scheme, by county and by ETB area, in tabular form. [18390/22]

View answer

Written answers

My Department does not collate the information requested by the Deputy.

Funding provided under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme does not directly fund youth worker posts/salaries. Rather, it is allocated on an organisational basis on a 'provision of service' basis to meet the identified local needs of the youth population in an area.

The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme is targeted towards disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable young people. The recruitment and employment of staff including youth workers is a matter for the youth organisations and services themselves.

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Questions (566)

Martin Browne

Question:

566. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a database or other such resource is available on a localised level to assist in the identification of housing availability for Ukrainian refugees; if his attention has been drawn to schools seeking housing for children in emergency accommodation due to the lack of a local resource on housing availability and his efforts to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18402/22]

View answer

Written answers

My Department is focused on providing emergency accommodation to people fleeing Ukraine where requested. Almost 10,000 people have been provided with accommodation by IPAS to date.

IPAS has contracted over 5,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, and local authority facilities.

More than 20,000 people have also pledged accommodation through the Irish Red Cross. My Department has begun to utilise this accommodation, focusing initially on vacant homes and this process will continue.

My Department is working closely with the local authorities on present accommodation needs. Longer term accommodation needs require input for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and these discussions are taking place.

Engagement is also taking place with officials in other Government Departments including the Department of Education of provision of services to those fleeing Ukraine.

Work is underway in my Department to develop data system that will track accommodation being provided by IPAS. Discussions are also taking place across Government on a data solution that will map locations of those fleeing Ukraine to services including schools.

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Questions (567)

Martin Browne

Question:

567. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a structure is being put in place to ensure that services such as the HSE medical card services are notified of the presentation of Ukrainian refugees at their offices in order that preparations can be made to deal with their needs such as ensuring adequate numbers of staff are available and the presence of translators can be arranged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18403/22]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on these matters which are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Questions (568)

Martin Browne

Question:

568. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration is being given to provide publicly funded translation services to assist agencies dealing with Ukrainian refugees given the high costs that are being encountered by Tusla and other organisations that acquire the services of private providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18404/22]

View answer

Written answers

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response to meet the immediate accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict. It is reviewing how best to provide translation services to Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection but has not yet concluded its assessment in this regard.

Education and Training Boards

Questions (569)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

569. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of training companies that have been engaged by the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board as a result of the new round of tendering for the delivery of training packages; the names of the successful companies; the number that have the competency to deliver training in Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18105/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Office of Government Procurement ran a competition in 2021 for a multi supplier Framework Agreement and Services Contracts for the provision of contracted Further Education and Training Services in Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The successful companies under the Galway Roscommon ETB Lot are: Eden Computer Training Limited – trading as Eden Training; Chevron College Limited; FRS Training, Irish Times Training and partners; Klangley Investments (Cork) Limited, trading as Impact Training and KT Business Skills Limited. These companies are responsible for the delivery of training through Irish, should this be required from them.

While GRETB has held introductory meetings with all contractors, drawdown contracts for training programmes have yet to be issued to any successful companies through the new framework. No services have been procured through Irish to date under these frameworks.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (570)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

570. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) regarding a SUSI grant issue. [18384/22]

View answer

Written answers

For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.

A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course, and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1st October. Otherwise, he/she would be assessed as a dependent student, i.e. assessed with reference to parental income and address.

A student’s status for grant purposes is defined at their first point of entry to an approved further or higher education course or at their point of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, and continues to apply for the duration of their studies.

However, there are points at which a student may reclassify from a dependent student to an independent student. These are where he/she:

- Progresses from further education to higher education.

- Is returning following a 3 year break in studies.

- Is returning as a "second chance" student after a five year break in studies.

The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).

Applicants who do not meet the criteria to be assessed as an independent student for grant purposes, or who cannot supply the necessary documentation to establish independent living for the required period, may still apply to SUSI to have their grant eligibility assessed as a dependent student. The relevant information, including details of parental income, would be required by SUSI to determine grant eligibility as a dependent student.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student has exhausted the appeals process. His appeal was heard by the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on 25 January 2022 and the outcome was issued directly to him.

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. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (571)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

571. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the date that the 2022-2023 round of SUSI funding will open. [17429/22]

View answer

Written answers

SUSI’s online application process for renewal student grant applications for the 2022/23 academic year opened on 10th March, 2022. New applications will be accepted by SUSI from April 28th, 2022.

As part of Budget 2022, I have secured an additional €15m to enhance the existing financial supports under the Student Grant Scheme for implementation in 2022.

For the academic year 2022/23 this will mean:-

- 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. There are currently circa 62,000 SUSI grant recipients receiving maintenance support.

- The income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant has been increased 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, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.

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. These improvements to the student grant scheme have been a priority for me since taking up my Ministerial appointment.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (572)

David Cullinane

Question:

572. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places to be available in 2022-2023 across health and social care disciplines, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17435/22]

View answer

Written answers

My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health and social care workforce. My officials are currently engaging with the Higher Education Authority and representatives from the higher education sector on the provision of additional places for the coming academic year. It is the intention that there will be a focus on areas such as healthcare and social work where there is a need for more skilled graduates. Work is well underway on this, and the places created will be sustainable and aligned with medium term planning. A final number has not been agreed for 2022/23 and as such I am not in a position to provide this as requested by the Deputy in tabular form.

In the longer term, the Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service.

My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare services, and the role which the further and higher education sector can play in meeting those skills needs. I will ensure that there is continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that we deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health sector.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (573)

David Cullinane

Question:

573. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the manner in which additional clinical training places are arranged and co-ordinated to create capacity for additional clinical placements in health and social care disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17436/22]

View answer

Written answers

The provision of clinical placements is a matter arranged by individual HEIs and the HSE and other healthcare providers. My Department does not have a direct role in the provision of placements.

From a nursing and midwifery perspective, there are Local Joint Working Groups (LJWGs) in place across the country aligned to each HEI/University and the associated healthcare partner area. These LJWGs provide the governance for the undergraduate nursing and midwifery training and are composed of representatives from both HEIs/Universities and health service. The LJWGs meet regularly throughout the year and include discussions/negotiations on capacity to increase student intake. If agreement is reached between the partners to increase the intake, the information is submitted to the Higher Education Authority. The HEA and my Department will link with the DoH regarding the proposed increase in student intake. The Department of Health will subsequently liaise with the HSE in relation to required additional supports such as Clinical Placement Co-ordinators. In parallel, exercises are ongoing at LJWG level to source and develop new clinical sites to further enhance the capacity to accommodate additional students.

In the recently published report of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery (2022), it is recognised that the projected increase in nursing and midwifery student numbers will require planning in relation to academic, clinical staffing and placements resources.

In relation to the Health and Social Care Professions, the HSE is required to facilitate practice education under Section 7 (4) the Health Act 2004.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related issues, the HSE has identified critical shortages in practice placements for Health and Social Care Professional students. The focus of the HSE is on supporting practice placement for the domestic supply.

The Health and Social Care Professional education programmes report significant challenges in securing sufficient practice placements for Health and Social Care Professional entry to practice programmes, without which Health and Social Care Professional students cannot complete their programmes, graduate and join the workforce.

The HSE is working with key stakeholders to identify potential solutions and the resources required to address issues relating to sufficient supply of practice placements for Health and Social Care Professionals. The priority of the HSE is to work with the Higher Education Institutes to enable the placements required for the progression of students through their educational programmes and to enable completion, graduation, and registration of the final year students to ensure timely supply of health and Social Care Professionals into the workforce.

My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the medium and long term skills needs of the healthcare services, and the role which the further and higher education sector can play in meeting those skills needs. Capacity for additional placements will form part of this conversation, and where additional places in health and social care disciplines are created it will be ensured that corresponding placements are made available. I will ensure that there is continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that we deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health and social care sector.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (574, 575, 576, 577, 578)

David Cullinane

Question:

574. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of a 1% increase in medical students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17437/22]

View answer

David Cullinane

Question:

575. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of a 1% increase in nursing and midwifery students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17438/22]

View answer

David Cullinane

Question:

576. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of a 1% increase in speech and language therapy students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17439/22]

View answer

David Cullinane

Question:

577. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of a 1% increase in occupational therapy students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17440/22]

View answer

David Cullinane

Question:

578. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of a 1% increase in psychology students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17441/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 574 to 578, inclusive, together.

The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has provided the below estimates, based on 2020/21 full-time enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), to provide the Deputy with an indication of the potential costs associated with increased places in the courses queried:

- 1% increase in full-time undergraduate medical students has an estimated cost of c.€936,000 - €982,000.

- 1% increase in full-time undergraduate nursing and midwifery students has an estimated cost of c. €710,000 - €745,000

- 1% increase in full-time undergraduate speech and language therapy students has an estimated cost of c.€35,000 - €37,000.

- 1% increase in full-time undergraduate occupational therapy students has an estimated cost of c.€39,000 - €41,000

- 1% increase in full-time undergraduate psychology (UG Honours Degrees) students has an estimated cost of c.€133,000 - €139,000

- 1% increase in full-time postgraduate psychology students has an estimated cost of c.€23,000 – €24,000.

Please note the above estimates exclude any additional costings which may be met by other agencies or departments and that a 1% increase in student numbers may equate to a very small number of additional students places on some of the programmes highlighted.

Question No. 575 answered with Question No. 574.
Question No. 576 answered with Question No. 574.
Question No. 577 answered with Question No. 574.
Question No. 578 answered with Question No. 574.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (579, 586)

Gerald Nash

Question:

579. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to undertake a review of the pay and conditions and roles and responsibilities of personal assistants who work in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17557/22]

View answer

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

586. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in respect of pay scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18252/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 and 586 together.

The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides funding to higher and further education institutions for the delivery of key services and supports for students with disabilities. It aims to support the personal, educational and professional development of the participating students. While historically administered by the Higher Education Authority, responsibility for the Fund in the further education and training sector transferred to SOLAS during 2020. SOLAS provides FSD funding to the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) who manage the funding allocations to PLC further education providers for services and accommodations required to support students with disabilities. Funding can be used to provide a range of supports and accommodations including non-medical helpers such as personal assistants and notetakers.

Need assessments determine the supports and accommodations requested for students and the individual ETB/ further education college is responsible for decisions on the most appropriate support to meet the needs of the student, in accordance with the guidelines issued by SOLAS.

As noted in the SOLAS Guidelines, where an ETB or further education college employs personnel to deliver supports to individual students, responsibility for the terms of employment rests with the individual ETB/ further education college.

Public Sector Staff

Questions (580)

Michael Ring

Question:

580. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of staff who are currently absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes in his Department and in agencies and public bodies within his area of responsibility; the number who have been absent from work for up to three, three to six, six to 12 and over 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17600/22]

View answer

Written answers

There are no staff at my Department absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes.

Contact details for State Bodies within the scope of the Deputy's question are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them with this querey.

Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Name of Body

Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireacthas

Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members

Higher Education Authority

Oireachtas@hea.ie

Padraic Mellett*

Irish Research Council( Note 1)

Oireachtas@research.ie

Padraic Mellett*

Grangegorman Development Agency

Communications@ggda.ie

nora.rahill@ggda.ie

SOLAS

oireachtasinfo@solas.ie

Maria Walsh maria.walshe@solas.ie

Skillnets Ltd

oireachtas@skillnets.com

t.donnery@skillnets.com

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

ceo@qqi.ie

ceo@qqi.ie

Léargas – The Exchange Bureau

oireachtas@leargas.ie

fbroughan@leargas.ie

Science Foundation Ireland

ciara.cotter@sfi.ie

Ciara Cotter

Note 1 – In regard to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) as the IRC operates under the auspices of the HEA. Mr Mellett will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use Oireachtas@hea.ie and Oireachtas@research.ie respectively to contact Mr Mellett.

Education and Training Provision

Questions (581, 589)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

581. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied); if he has considered actions to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17699/22]

View answer

Seán Fleming

Question:

589. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when two students (details supplied) who were studying in Ukraine will be able to continue their medical studies here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18268/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 589 together.

I can confirm my Department has received correspondence from the person(s) detailed and my officials have already been in contact with them regarding continuing their studies in Ireland.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, my Department has received a very large volume of enquiries, from Irish students who were studying in Ukraine, from Ukrainian and students from third countries studying in Ukraine, and from those making representations of their behalf. My officials are dealing with this correspondence as it comes into the Department and are actively engaging with these students, updating them as recently as last week as soon as further information on progress becomes available.

Recently, officials from my Department met with the Deans of the Medical Schools and as a result, the Deans are now undertaking an assessment of the programmes in the medical schools in Ukraine. A key element of this process will be to align the Irish students’ Ukrainian programme with the Irish system of medical and dentistry education, along with other issues arising regarding accreditation by the professional bodies. This exercise will then enable us to see how best we can facilitate these students in continuing with their studies in Ireland.

As recently advised by my officials, this process may take up to two weeks, and at that stage, all persons will be contacted.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (582)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

582. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the occupations that are included under the definition of craft apprenticeship. [18026/22]

View answer

Written answers

The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system, as articulated in the 'Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025', has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skills needs in a manner which presents a valued proposition for apprentices and employers alike.

There are currently 64 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 39 programmes introduced since 2016.

A list of craft apprenticeships currently available and occupations that apprentices qualify as are attached in tabular form.

Apprenticeships

Further information is available on Apprenticeship.ie.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (583)

Robert Troy

Question:

583. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person who is on a stamp 4 and is the dependant of a naturalised Irish citizen can avail of SUSI grant assistance. [18031/22]

View answer

Written answers

The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2022. The candidate's nationality or immigration status in the State determines whether or not she or he meets the nationality requirement outlined in the Act and Regulations, and would be therefore eligible to qualify for a student grant.

The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as requested by the grant awarding authority.

Permission to remain in the State on the basis of a Stamp 4 Visa, of itself, does not meet the nationality requirements of the Student Grant Scheme 2022, however a dependent child of a person who has acquired Irish Citizenship by naturalization, residing in the State is a qualifying category for student grant purposes.

Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2022 provides for a review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year. This includes a change in relation to a student's nationality or immigration status. Where a student acquires Irish citizenship by naturalisation, or is granted one of the permission to remain criterion provided for in the Act or Regulations during the course of their studies, she or he may apply to SUSI to have their application re-assessed.

In instances where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe. Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie

Education and Training Boards

Questions (584)

Michael Ring

Question:

584. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when outstanding claims for incremental credits will be finalised for a person (details supplied) considering that this matter has been ongoing for some time; the progress that has been made since the matter was last queried; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18160/22]

View answer

Written answers

As previously advised, Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) forwarded the incremental credit application for the person concerned to the Department of Education for review in accordance with the relevant Circulars agreed under the auspices of the Teachers’ Conciliation Council. That Department sought additional information regarding the person’s employment history and has advised that on receipt of this information, it will finalise this application and issue a decision letter to LMETB.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (585)

David Stanton

Question:

585. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current policy with respect to remote working options for staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18167/22]

View answer

Written answers

Phased return to a physical attendance in the workplace commenced for staff of my department following the easing of Government restrictions on 21 January and staff are currently attending the office for two days per week and working remotely for the remaining days.

Following the publication last week of the Blended Working Policy Framework for the Civil Service by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, TD, my department is developing its own blended working policy based on the overarching framework, tailored for our department’s requirements. We anticipate that the policy be completed by the end of quarter 2 of this year. This policy will ensure that staff members will have increased certainty and flexibility, where possible, around their working arrangements while ensuring that the business needs are met.

Question No. 586 answered with Question No. 579.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (587)

Patrick Costello

Question:

587. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the new national access plan for higher education 2022-26 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18253/22]

View answer

Written answers

I am happy to report that work on finalising the next National Access Plan (NAP) is at an advanced stage.

Colleagues will soon be preparing a memo for Government with the intention of publishing the new Plan in the coming months.

Top
Share