Written Answers Nos. 180-199
180. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 888 and 889 of 26 April 2022, when the first of the intradepartmental working group took place the parties present; what was discussed; the outcome of the meeting; when the next meeting is due to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22388/22]
View answerAn intradepartmental working group was established within my Department in September 2021 to progress the work of developing a new policy for Irish-medium Education outside of Gaeltacht areas. This working group consists of officers from relevant units in the Department of Education. It has met on a monthly basis since its establishment.
The intradepartmental working group has focused on developing a consultation process to encourage the widespread participation of interested parties to inform the policy development process. The working group has also progressed work to identify initial research requirements and has agreed an approach to support the procurement of researchers to carry out a review of relevant existing literature on Irish-medium education and international experience in relation to education in minority languages. The working group will continue to meet regularly until the initial work programme has been progressed.
A steering committee has also been established to provide oversight, guidance and support for the policy development process from relevant parties. The steering committee consists of senior officers from the following organisations:
- Department of Education
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY)
- Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM)
- Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS)
- An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG)
- Foras na Gaeilge
- The Teaching Council
- National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)
- National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)
- National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The first meeting of the steering committee was held on 13 April 2022. Committee members were informed of the work carried out by the working group to date. The next steering committee meeting will be held later in the year, at a date to be finalised.
181. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the DEIS appeal for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22395/22]
View answerI recently announced that from next September the DEIS programme will be extended to an additional 310 schools. 37 schools will also benefit from additional supports following reclassification. Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.
My Department is committed to ensuring that all schools are treated equally and fairly in the manner in which they have been identified for inclusion in the DEIS programme. Schools who were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data have been given the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed.
Circular 0019/2022 outlining the details of this appeals process was published recently by my Department and is available at www.gov.ie/en/circular/7e7ca-deis-identification-2022-appeals-process-for-schools/
My Department notified all schools of the appeals process on 30th March 2022. Schools had until 5pm on Friday April 29th to submit an appeal. The school referred to in your question has submitted an appeal and this will be given consideration by my Department. It is my Department’s intention to provide schools with the outcome of their appeal in the coming weeks to allow time for
schools to plan for the 2022/23 school year.
182. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education the best source of public funding that a community group could apply for in order to purchase a defibrillator for a local community, that would be located at the local school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22400/22]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. The decision to install a defibrillator is made at local school level and is a matter for the board of management of each individual school.
The wider question of the need for defibrillators to be made available in public places is primarily a public health matter and would therefore be a matter for the Department of Health.
183. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the proposed amalgamation of a school (details supplied) into a single school based in Ballyconnell, County Cavan; if this project is to proceed; the timeframe for the amalgamation to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22432/22]
View answerFollowing my meeting with local representatives, community group representatives and Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board to discuss post primary provision in West Cavan and the proposed amalgamation of the schools referred to by the Deputy, it was agreed that there should be a collaborative approach to identify a pathway forward to meet the educational needs at post-primary level in West Cavan.
Cavan Monaghan ETB is to undertake a robust analysis of all potential options in this regard, informed by data on projected enrolments provided by the Department of Education and by community need. This assessment will reflect the value of community engagement and will involve all stakeholders. Any application for capital funding submitted to the Department by CMETB will be considered in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code.
184. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the steps she will take to ensure that the criteria for the allocation of funding for traffic wardens is amended to ensure that all schools that require a warden will get access to funding; if her attention has been drawn to the situation in a school (details supplied) in relation to dangerous traffic in the vicinity of the school and their inability to get funding approved for a warden; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22448/22]
View answerThe appointment of a school traffic warden is a matter for the relevant Local Authority and schools are advised to liaise the relevant Local Authority in relation to their concerns.
185. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of the major refurbishment works being carried out at a school (details supplied); and when these works will be completed. [22456/22]
View answerThe School referred to by the Deputy is part of a Schools Campus Project and the new school is currently at construction stage. Works are progressing satisfactorily with a contract duration of approximately 36 months.
The contract amount for the Schools Campus Project is in excess of €24m and the expenditure to date is in accordance with the conditions of the contract.
186. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if he will provide full clarity in relation to the status of the application for additional school accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the latest correspondence between her Department and the school and design team; the date of the said correspondence; the information requested within the said correspondence; if she will ensure that the case officer will correspond with the school as a matter of urgency to avoid further delays in this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22463/22]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to build a one classroom SEN Base. This project is devolved to the Board of Management of the school.
I can confirm that my Department has received a fees uplift request from the school pertaining to its Design Team. Numerous queries have issued from Department officials, to which there has not yet been an adequate response forthcoming.
A decision on the fees uplift will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as an adequate response to these queries has been received in the Department from the school via its Design Team. It is the responsibility of the school and its Design Team to provide the Department with the information that remains outstanding.
187. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a new school site for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22488/22]
View answerIn respect of a solution for the permanent school to which the Deputy refers, the Department is examining all options. In order to better inform these deliberations the Department has undertaken a site identification process in the greater Bray area. The site identification process has identified one site with some potential. However to advance to negotiations the Department is currently seeking clarification on a number of issues which would impact on the deliverability of this site in a timely manner.
A second site option has been brought to the attention of the Department which may be suitable as a permanent location for the school. A technical assessment is currently being carried out on this potential site option.
A solution for the school remains a priority for my Department. The school patron will be kept informed of any key developments.
Due to commercial sensitivities the Department cannot provide any further information at this time.
188. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education when the results of the leaving certificate examinations 2022 will be released; when a decision on this matter will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22495/22]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if pupils who are attending their second closest school will be deemed eligible for school transport for the school year 2022-2023 as was in the case in 2021-2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22540/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
As the Deputy is aware, the Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.
The review encompasses the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes in terms of how each element of the schemes currently operate, to include eligibility criteria, trends, costs and cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the schemes. The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also use transport services.
Following commencement of this review the Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school. Following consideration of this report, I approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures for the 2021/22 school year for transport for post-primary students who were otherwise eligible for school transport but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is currently underway. Decisions in regard to measures for the 2022/23 school year will be made shortly. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses.
190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a child benefit application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22367/22]
View answerChild Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
The person concerned and her child entered the State on 31/01/2022. The claim has been awarded with effect from 1st February 2022, the month following the date on which the family entered the State.
Payment, including arrears, will issue to the nominated bank account on 7th June 2022.
The person concerned has been notified of this decision.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
191. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to increasing the threshold for travel allowance as part of the means testing assessment for carer’s allowance on reflection of the rapidly rising prices of petrol and diesel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22370/22]
View answerI am acutely aware that due to the geo-political situation, the increase in consumer prices, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices, has exceeded even the highest forecasts.
Faced with these challenging circumstances, the Government has acted quickly and decisively to introduce measures aimed at offsetting the increased cost of living for social welfare recipients.
In March, a once-off lump sum of €125 was paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment, at a cost of approximately €49 million. A further additional lump sum payment of €100 will be paid to these households in mid-May – a payment equivalent to over 3 weeks additional Fuel Allowance – costing €37 million.
The increase of €10 to the weekly income threshold of the Working Family Payment was brought forward, taking effect from early April 2022 rather than from June. The €10 increase in all earnings Working Family Payment thresholds results in an increased payment of €6 per week.
In addition, every household in the country has benefitted from the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment of €200.
These measures are a continuation of the Government’s policy of targeted social welfare increases which has seen significant increases to ancillary payments such as the Fuel Allowance, Living Alone Allowance and Qualified Child payment over the lifetime of this Government, aimed at protecting the most vulnerable recipients. Research has shown that this approach has been effective in recent years, and Ireland’s system continues to be one of the most effective at tackling poverty across the EU.
As part of the Budget 2022 package, I announced significant improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance, in recognition of the vital role that carers play in society.
The general weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance will be increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for a couple. This will enable more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for the scheme, and those currently in receipt of a reduced payment may now receive a higher payment.
The capital disregard will also be increased from €20,000 to €50,000 for Carer’s Allowance. This will allow carers who have accumulated relatively modest savings, often to provide care for a loved one, to retain an entitlement to Carer's Allowance
In addition to these changes to the means test, all recipients of a weekly carers payment will have seen a €5 increase from January 2022. Those with children will also have seen an increase in the qualified child payment - €2 increase for children under the age of 12, and €3 for children aged 12 and over - bringing these payments to €40 and €48 per week respectively.
These increases, along with the increase in the general income disregard will provide some protection to recipients of Carer's Allowance who face increased travel costs.
Any further changes to the means test for Carer's Allowance would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
192. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of disability and living alone allowances can access any additional help from the State given the current cost of living issues; if a person will be eligible for help in relation to management fees for their apartment and the local property tax; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22440/22]
View answerIn addition to payments under specific social welfare schemes, my Department does provide a number of targeted payments to help people with their household costs including Fuel Allowance, the Living Alone Allowance, Telephone Support Allowance and both Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. However, my Department does not provide direct funding to cover charges or taxes such as management fees or the local property tax.
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying households with their energy costs. To help mitigate the increased cost of heating a household, two additional lumpsum payments of €125 and €100 were approved for those in receipt of fuel allowance. This means that low-income households will see an increase of 55% in Fuel allowance support provided during this Fuel Allowance season compared to last season. A recipient household which would have received €735 in fuel season 2020/2021 would see an increase of €404 to €1,139 in Fuel Allowance payments in fuel season 2021/2022.
The Household Benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. The electricity or gas allowance element of the HHB is paid at a rate of €35 a month.
Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a weekly payment of €2.50. People in receipt of certain qualifying payments from the Department as well as the Living Alone Allowance and Fuel Allowance will automatically qualify for the TSA. TSA supports recipients by assisting them with the cost of communications and/or home security solutions. The primary objective of the TSA is to support the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to critical communications infrastructure.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Under the SWA scheme my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. In addition, support can be provided through a supplement under the SWA scheme which can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
Decisions on ENPs and SWA supplements are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
193. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of the household benefits package to the State from 2019 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22526/22]
View answerThe Household Benefits package is comprised of the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Only one Household Benefits package is payable per household.
At the end of 2021, some 484,000 recipients were in receipt of the Household Benefits package. Currently there are some 488,000 recipients.
The total cost of the household benefits package to the State from 2019 to 2021 is as per the table below:
|
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Electricity |
€166,210,000 |
€171,998,000 |
€182,036,000 |
|
Gas |
€21,228,000 |
€21,311,000 |
€22,068,000 |
|
TV |
€60,114,000 |
€70,005,000 |
€70,127,000 |
|
Total Household Benefits |
€247,552,000 |
€263,314,000 |
€274,231,000 |
The Appropriation Accounts for 2021 are currently being audited by the C&AG and therefore the figures above for 2021 are provisional and subject to change.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
194. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider providing specific State pensions for foster parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22531/22]
View answerMatters related to foster caring are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla.
More widely, this Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system includes a range of measures including credits, disregards and home caring periods to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State pension payment.
The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” includes a commitment to examine options for a pension solution for carers, the majority of whom are women, particularly those of incapacitated children, in recognition of the enormous value of the work carried out by them.
The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund. The Commission was an independent body comprised of knowledgeable and experienced academics, pension experts, members of civil society and representatives of workers and employers. The Commission’s terms of reference included consideration of how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependants can be accommodated within the State Pension system. Therefore, the Commission considered policy options to improve access to State Pensions for carers, including the introduction of a standalone pension for long-term carers.
The Pensions Commission’s Report was published on 7th October 2021. The report is a comprehensive report that takes account of an assessment of various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections; an examination of international approaches; and responses to an extensive consultation process. It established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed.
The report set out a wide-range of recommendations in relation to the State Pension system and Social Insurance Fund, including enhanced pension provision for long-term carers. It recommended that long-term carers (defined as caring for more than 20 years) should be given access to the State Pension (Contributory) by having retrospective contributions paid for them by the Exchequer for any gaps in their contribution history arising from that caring. The Commission also recommended that relevant Departments should examine, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, options for the creation of a statutory "Family Carer Register" which could, in time, facilitate the identification of long-term carers for State Pension (Contributory) purposes as well as assisting in the planning and delivery of services for family carers.
In the interests both of older people and future generations of older people, the Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Pensions Commission’s Report very carefully and holistically. My officials are examining each of the recommendations and consulting across Government through the Cabinet Committee system. The views of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands and the Commission on Taxation and Welfare will be considered as part of the Government's deliberations. I intend bringing a recommended response and implementation plan to Government in the coming weeks.
The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland. It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
195. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when all State records on the Magdalen laundries from the McAleese archive will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22470/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government has committed to the establishment of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry in Sean McDermott Street which will stand as a National Memorial to honour all those who were resident in Mother and Baby Homes, Industrial School, Reformatories, Magdalen Laundries and related institutions.
The approved proposals respond to Actions 7 and 15 of the Government Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions which jointly commit to the development of a National Memorial and Records Centre.
Through its design, the National Centre will not only deliver on relevant recommendations of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation but will also fulfil earlier commitments to develop a national memorial and archives for survivors of Magdalen laundries, Industrial Schools and reformatories. It is intended that the McAleese Archive will be part of this Records Centre.
196. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will liaise with his Ministerial counterpart with responsibility for childcare to address the crisis facing HSE employees in trying to access childcare for their children, with mothers unable to return to work after maternity leave due to same, with attendant effects on the health and social care system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22492/22]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.
Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school programme on an annual basis and the National Childcare Scheme subsidises up to 80,000 children.
To ensure that the supply of early learning and childcare places meets demand, my Department has, since 2015, funded the creation of more than 27,000 new places through an Annual Capital Programme.
Before the onset of Covid-19, national data indicated that, on the whole, supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups including children under 3, and in certain areas.
Data gathered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic revealed lower demand for early learning and childcare, and reduced occupancy among early learning and childcare services. Indeed, data captured in June 2021 found significant vacancy rates across the country – with the national vacancy rate averaging at 21%.
|
National Vacancy Rate By Age (June 2021) |
|
|
Up to 1 year (0-12 months) |
20% |
|
1 year+ to 2 years (13-24 months) |
10% |
|
2 years+ to 3 years (25-36 months) |
17% |
|
3 years+ to 4 years (37-48 months) |
17% |
|
4 years+ to 5 years (49-60 months) Non-School-Going |
12% |
|
4 years+ to 5 years (49-60 months) School-Going |
42% |
|
5 years+ to 6 years (61-72 months) Non-school going |
30% |
|
5 years+ to 6 years (61-72 months) School going |
48% |
|
6 years+ to 8 years (73-96 months) |
37% |
|
8 years+ |
34% |
|
Total |
21% |
My Department is continuing to monitor early learning and childcare capacity, with a particular focus on monitoring Covid-19 impacts as public health restrictions have been lifted.
Pobal has, using the data captured in June 2021 and current registration data, recently projected vacancy rates in February 2022. While this analysis shows a fall in vacancy rates from June 2021 to February 2022 – with vacancy rates falling from 21% to 19%, this analysis suggests that there is unused capacity across the country.
Pobal has commenced the new data collection as of 4 April 2022, as part of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey. This will allow for updated information on capacity among early learning and childcare services to be established.
In addition to these efforts to monitor capacity issues across the country, my Department is planning a range of steps to address any issue of under supply. A new funding model, to roll out in September, will provide funding for services aligned to costs of delivery so, for example, greater funding will be available to services that cater for younger children where costs of delivery are higher than older children. Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places. Another important step being taken by my Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government (DHPLG), is to update the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings. In addition, CCC are currently proactively engaging with early learning and childcare services to identify unused capacity and explore the potential for services in increase capacity where there is evidence of unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.
197. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the need for a new pathway for experienced pharmacy technicians to become fully qualified; and if he envisages the introduction of part-time qualification courses. [22518/22]
View answerThe 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 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 workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation and as such the management of their academic affairs, including the courses offered by any HEI, are generally a matter for the institution in question. As such, any course to be offered allowing pharmacy technicians to qualify as pharmacists would be a matter for the institution in question, in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland which is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of pharmacists in Ireland.
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.
198. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the need for an increase in the number of Irish university places for pharmacy. [22519/22]
View answerThe 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 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 workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.
My Department does not place a quota on the number of pharmacy places offered by higher education institutions, and as such the number of places provided each year is determined by the institutions themselves in line with their capacity. A number of additional places have been provided in recent years, leading to the highest number of new entrants beginning their studies in 2020, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
|
Year |
1st Year Enrolments |
Graduates |
|
2010/2011 |
173 |
160 |
|
2011/2012 |
191 |
161 |
|
2012/2013 |
186 |
140 |
|
2013/2014 |
184 |
151 |
|
2014/2015 |
193 |
166 |
|
2015/2016 |
200 |
169 |
|
2016/2017 |
192 |
145 |
|
2017/2018 |
200 |
182 |
|
2018/2019 |
201 |
168 |
|
2019/2020 |
210 |
164 |
|
2020/2021 |
221 |
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.
199. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if the visa change to a stamp 4 will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [22542/22]
View answer200. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average amount of wait time for a person changing from stamp 2 to stamp 4. [22543/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.
I can confirm that an application for a Stamp 4 permission from the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved and was issued to the applicant on 26 April 2022.
A Stamp 4 permission permits the holder to take up employment in the State without the need for an employment permit. They can also work in a profession, subject to conditions of the relevant professional or other bodies and establish and operate a business. The Stamp 4 permission also allows access to state funds and services as determined by relevant Government Departments or agencies.
Regarding processing times; all Irish Citizen Child applications (ICCA) are dealt with in chronological order by date of receipt, however, final processing times may vary due to the complexity of certain cases and the possible need to request further documentation.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
