Written Answers Nos. 418-437
418. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the scholarships that will be available to PhD candidates for the period 2023 and beyond given the merger of Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council and the announcement of the Innovate for Ireland Initiative. [38230/22]
View answer419. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the stipend provided as part of the new Innovate for Ireland PhD scholarships will be taxable income. [38231/22]
View answer420. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has considered increases to stipends paid to PhD candidates funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Irish Research Council and the Health Research Board and other Government funded bodies as an emergency cost of living measure or commensurate with the announcement of €28,000 stipends as part of the Innovate for Ireland initiative. [38232/22]
View answer421. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide additional detail on the operation of the new Innovate for Ireland PhD scholarships particularly in relation to eligible research areas, industry partner input in the award process and any special requirements that will apply to recipients of the scholarships, for example work placement and industry partnerships. [38233/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 418 to 421, inclusive, together.
Innovate for Ireland (I4I) is an innovative programme aimed at attracting and retaining research talent in Ireland. The purpose of the programme is to attract high achieving world class talent who might not have considered undertaking a PhD programme or, if they had, would not have considered Ireland as a location.
The support package being developed for I4I is designed with comparable international programmes in mind, and will apply only to students qualifying for the programme, i.e., an initial tranche of 400 students. The next step in implementing this proposal will be a competitive call for proposals from consortia of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), this is being developed and should be initiated later this year. Thus, details of the scheme are still under development and the final shape of the scheme will be framed once proposals have been received and fully assessed.
It is similarly too early to comment on what impact a new competitive research funding agency might have in this space, other than to observe that the new agency will be supporting researchers at all career stages, building on the strengths of both of the existing agencies
It is important to note that the stipend is not the only source of funding available to PhD students. My Department also supports students through SUSI at all levels, including PhD.
In relation to whether the I4I stipend will be taxable income, I wish to advise that taxation policy is a matter for the Department of Finance, and that it’s a matter for the Revenue Commissioners to determine tax liability in any individual case, but there is an exemption for stipends given to people in full-time education. I am advised that the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides, in certain circumstances, for a tax disregard for an exhibition, bursary or other similar educational endowment
On the issue of stipends in general, my Department provides funding for postgraduate research through both Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC). Funding is also provided by other statutory funders and, of course, private funders. Some students also self-fund. Stipends are frequently a feature of funding globally, providing an income to the awardee in recognition of the need to devote themselves on a full-time basis to their research
My Department is monitoring the issue of stipends, in the context of the resources available to my Department and the competing needs to which they can be allocated. In that regard, I was pleased to be able to allocate additional funding to the IRC in 2021 to enable it to increase postgraduate scholarship by €2,500 per annum, or 16%. This was made effective from 1 January 2021 and, together with an increase to funding for postdoctoral salaries, benefited close to 1,300 early-career researchers in the system. The move also aligned the stipend level for both agencies within my Department, i.e. the IRC and SFI.
Question No. 419 answered with Question No. 418.
422. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the salary of four roles within his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38297/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached table.
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
|
Role |
Annual salary |
|
Minister |
€183,923 |
|
Minister of State |
€141,657 |
|
Role |
Annual salary or salary scale |
|
Secretary General Level II |
€223,529 (non-PPC) |
|
Assistant Secretary General |
€145,283 €151,885 €159,042 €166,194 (PPC) €138,019 €144,292 €151,088 €157,886 (non-PPC) |
*Salaries are with effect from 01/02/2022
**Salary/salary scales are with effect from 01/07/2022
Notes
Please note that the annual salaries for the Minister and Minister of State include both the T.D. annual salaries, paid by the Oireachtas, along with the additional salaried allowances which apply to Ministers and Ministers of State which are paid by the Department.
PPC - Personal Pension Contribution pay scale. Denotes salary scales applying to staff appointed after 6th April 1995 who are required to make a personal pension contribution.
Non PPC - Denotes salary scales applying to staff appointed before 6th April 1995 and who are not required to make a personal pension contribution.
Please note that details of the pay of members of the Oireachtas, including Ministers and Ministers of State, are available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/a8bc7-pay-of-oireachtas-members-and-office-holders/ and Circular 15/2022, which sets out the current salary scales for certain civil service grades including Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General, is available at www.gov.ie/en/circular/f45ad-circular-15-2022-fempi-pay-restoration-1-july-2022/.
423. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if tax relief is available for third-level university fees and for accommodation costs for university students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38314/22]
View answerSection 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 sets out the conditions for tax relief on tuition fees for higher education.
Relief at the standard rate of tax is available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Details on eligibility and further information on how to claim this relief can be found online here: www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/education/tuition-fees-paid-for-third-level-education/index.aspx.
There is no specific tax relief which would apply to accommodation costs incurred by university students.
424. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions that his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department are taking to increase recruitment of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38410/22]
View answerThe majority of staff employed by my Department are recruited via the Public Appointments Service (PAS). I understand that all recruitment activities are undertaken by the PAS in line with the Commission for Public Service Appointment's (CPSA) Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service ensuring equity, fairness, equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion for all applicants. Their recruitment activities are also underpinned by their Equality, Inclusion and Diversity strategy 2021-2023 available at https://www.publicjobs.ie/documents/PASEDIStrategyDocument.pdf which identifies the key strategic priorities of greater knowledge and understanding of diversity in the recruitment market and the Irish public sector and also recruitment and selection processes that encourage and enable access to candidates from diverse backgrounds.
However, I would also note that officials of my Department are in regular communication with PAS on the subject of equality, diversity and inclusion and ensuring that the processes operated by PAS can best support the development of a broad pool of candidates.
The information in respect of the aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with her query.
425. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of reducing the student contribution charge by €1,000 from the start of the coming academic year; the estimated cost of reducing the charge in September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38502/22]
View answerAt the outset it is important to highlight the very substantial financial support, currently well in excess of half a billion euros, provided by the taxpayer towards tuition fees and the student contribution for students in higher education. This comprises State funding of tuition costs amounting to over €357m for more than 146,000 eligible higher education students in 2020/2021. It also includes €190m paid by the Exchequer under the Student Grant Scheme in respect of all or some of the €3,000 student contribution which benefitted over 65,000 or 45% of free fees eligible students.
The student contribution replaced the student registration fees levied by Higher Education Institutions and while the student contribution now stands at €3,000, it is important to recognise that there has been no increase in the student contribution charge since 2014/15.
The estimated cost of providing for a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution [reduce to €2,000] in 2022/2023, after an associated reduction in the student grant support budget, is €85.3million.
The above estimate is based on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding in the academic year 2020/21; taking into account overall projected increases in student numbers and net of the associated estimated reduction in the student grant scheme budget which is paid by the exchequer on behalf of eligible students.
426. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing SUSI grants by 10%, and the income threshold by 10%; the impact of the changes across bands; the number of additional students that would benefit in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38503/22]
View answerOfficials from my Department are currently liaising with SUSI on this matter. Due to the complex nature of the query it is not possible to give the Deputy an answer at this stage. Once the information has been collated it will be forwarded to the Deputy directly in the coming days.
427. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science The number of students that qualify for postgraduate fee grants; the number that applied in 2021; the total funding for same in the 2021/2022 academic year; the estimated cost of restoring entitlement for full maintenance student grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38504/22]
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. Currently Postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible for the postgraduate special rate of maintenance grant. The income threshold for this grant is €24,500, also special rate postgraduate students are eligible to have their post graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. All other postgraduate students who earn below the income threshold of €54,240 in 2021/22 qualify for postgraduate fee contribution of €3,500.
To date there have been 5,266 applications at postgraduate level for the 2021/22 academic year, of which circa 3,900 have been awarded. Of these circa 1,000 have been awarded the special rate of grant, which includes a maintenance payment of up to €5,915. The estimated cost to restore maintenance grants to the remaining grant holders who are in receipt of a "fee only grant" would be in the region of €7.5m for a full year. This would benefit in the region of 2,600 students currently receiving a fee only grant based on 2021/22 awards of which 90% are paid. Not all grant holders who are awarded a grant are paid out for a variety of factors including failure to attend the course. As the 2021/22 application process has not yet been finalised due to issues such as ongoing appeals or outstanding queries to applicants, it is not possible at this stage to give the total amount of funding that has been paid out to this cohort.
428. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of reducing the non-adjacent student grant distance from 45km to 30km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38505/22]
View answerThe eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All proposals made in relation to higher education expenditure, including student grants for the 2022/23 academic year, are considered in the context of the annual budgetary process. In Budget 2022, I reduced the qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 45km to 30km, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.
The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of students whose normal residence is 30km or less from the approved institution which he or she is attending and non-adjacent from 30km upwards.
Taking cognisant of the number of applicants in the previous academic year (21/22) the estimated cost for full year cost of reducing the non-adjacent student grant distance, from 45km to 30km in 2023 is in the region of €12.7m.
429. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of increasing funding for higher education institutions by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38506/22]
View answerMy Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions via the recurrent funding model. The amount provided under my Departments B4 subhead and the National Training Fund (NTF) Enterprise Focused Higher Education provision are included in the overall recurrent grant to the sector.
Separately my Department provides funding directly to the Dublin Dental Hospital (Subhead B6), Dublin Institute for Advance Studies (B7), Royal Irish Academy of Music (Subhead B8) and to certain third level institutions operating free fee approved courses (B9).
The 2022 (2022 Revised Estimates Volume) recurrent funding allocation for the aforementioned institutions is €1,293,147,000; broken down as follows:
- B4 General Current Grants (€1,112,903,000)
- NTF Enterprise Focused Higher Education (€148,352,000).
- B6 Dublin Dental Hospital (€12,519,000)
- B7 Dublin Institute for Advance Studies (€7,503,000)
- B8 Royal Irish Academy of Music (€3,426,000)
- B9 Grant to Certain Third Level Institutions (€8,444,000)
Based on the 2022 allocations an 10% increase in recurrent grant funding would have an estimated cost of c.€129.3m.
Please note that these estimates do not include other funding such as superannuation, third level infrastructure, apprenticeship or research funding. Full details of my Departments 2022 allocation are outlined in the 2022 Revised Estimates Volume.
It is also important to say that public investment in higher education through my Departments allocation is on an upward trend, and now stands at €2.4 billion. Annual current expenditure has increased by 40% since 2015. I am committed to continuing the process of investing in our higher education system and to the development and implementation of a sustainable funding, reform and performance model for the sector. On 4th May I launched the Funding the Future framework which includes the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future of higher education.
The policy sets out the vision and direction of higher education funding, our ambitions to drive reform and support agility and responsiveness in the sector, and the need to ensure that students are supported in accessing education and training. This includes:
- Planned additional investment of €307 million to address core funding challenges for our institutions, that will be made over a number of years through annual budgetary processes. This does not account for future demographic needs or new policy proposals for higher education.
- Plans to consider options to address cost as a barrier to higher education, and how we will pursue funding measures on these issues through the Estimates process, including in respect of reductions to the student contribution and enhancements to the SUSI grant in line with the Student Grant Review.
The provision of Higher Education funding on an annual basis is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy for Government. It is of course imperative that funding is made available to my Department to support these plans and I will be seeking to have the additional funding required to address the identified core funding gap and also to address costs for students of attending higher education as part of the annual Estimates processes over the coming years.
430. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that he is making on supported apprenticeship programmes for persons in contact with the criminal justice system and specifically for Oberstown prison and all prisons and for persons on probation supervision; the estimated number of apprenticeships that could be developed within the prison system; the steps that he is taking to enhance the roll-out of higher education within the prison system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38507/22]
View answerOne of the five overarching objectives of the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ is "Apprenticeship for All" so that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. The Plan promotes general access, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship through targeted actions to encourage participation from under-represented groups including people with disabilities, women, ethnic minorities and those from marginalised and disadvantaged groups in general.
Targets and interventions for specific groups will be detailed through an Equity of Access subcommittee of the National Apprenticeship Alliance to ensure that the voice of under-represented groups is integral to the further development of the apprenticeship system. It is envisaged that the subcommittee will include representation from second-level, community education, youth justice programmes, broader FET provision, and higher education.
The National Apprenticeship Office will increase the visibility of underrepresented groups in apprenticeship literature and promotional material to reflect the participation and positive experience of people from all backgrounds and communities, as well as the availability of assistive supports.
Participation targets for under-represented groups, and additional specific actions to support those target groups, will be set with the Equity of Access Subcommittee and monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that interventions supporting increased diversity within the apprentice population. Indicators are currently being developed which will enable us to best identify target groups and a response will be shaped with input from representatives of these groups.
Work on the development of the new National Access Plan: A Strategic Action Plan for Equity of Access, Participation and Success in Higher Education, 2022 – 2028 is almost complete. The consultation process was an extensive one which received 122 submissions from a wide range of stakeholders.
The consultation process highlighted the importance of recognising and naming additional ‘priority groups’, which are groups considered marginalised or disadvantaged. One such group that arose during the consultation process is students who have experience of the criminal justice system and is being considered as a named priority group in the new Plan. A Memorandum for Government will be brought to cabinet before the summer recess with the intention of publishing the new Plan in Q3.
In 2019, Maynooth University and Mountjoy Prison came together to establish Ireland’s first university-prison partnership. The MJMU Partnership aims to harness the transformative power of education to promote access to third level and support the reintegration of prisoners and former prisoners in society. Maynooth University support engagement by the University within the space of the prison through a range of educational activities and through the creation of shared learning spaces for students in prison and students in university.
Building on the work which has already been taking place between the university and Mountjoy, the partnership provides strategic direction and support for a range of new initiatives, including being the lead institution which has developed the KickStart scholarship for people with criminal convictions on a pilot basis in 2022/2023 academic year. MU is working in partnership with 3 other institutions - Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology and Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest, Athlone Campus. The KickStart Scholarship Fund is an initiative established by the Irish Probation Service and supported by the Irish Prison Service. It aims to support people with a criminal justice history who face financial challenges in accessing Higher Education. This scholarship initiative builds on the existing partnership between Maynooth University and Mountjoy Prison (MJMU Partnership) and the recent successful launch of the Unlocking Potential website and toolkit for fair admissions policies for people with convictions.
The Kickstart Scholarship Fund is considered as an income disregard when calculating reckonable income for the Student Grant Scheme.
431. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated of cost of reducing apprentice fees by 20%, 50% and 100%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38632/22]
View answerAn Annual Student Contribution (ASC) is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and Technological Universities. The amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in the institution during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution required from the apprentice.
For craft apprenticeships, the ASC charged is typically one third of the €3,000 ASC paid by students attending for the full academic year and so amounts to approximately €1,000 per apprentice per period spent in the IoT. In the case of consortia-led apprenticeships the contribution varies for each programme as off-the-job training has a more flexible structure, ranging from periods of block release to one day per week or remote learning options.
If the ASC was removed, with the apprentice paying examination fees only, then the cost to the State is estimated at an average €267 per apprentice per annum. Based on a current population of 23,639 registered apprentices, the estimated cost is €6.3m per annum. An estimated 50% reduction in the ASC to apprentices would cost an estimated €3.15m and a 20% reduction in the ASC to apprentices would cost an estimated €1.26m per annum.
432. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to decrease the qualifying criteria for the non-adjacent rate of the SUSI grant from 30 km to 24 km; the estimated cost involved in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38633/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, in Budget 2022 I reduced the qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 45km to 30km to support students who must travel long-distances to their place of education. These changes will come into effect from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.
The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of students whose normal residence is 30km or less from the approved institution which he or she is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases.
Further decreases in the qualifying distance will be considered in the context of Budget 2023 and the recommendations from the review of the Student Grant Scheme.
In relation to the estimated cost involved in 2023, this is a complex matter given a variety of factors and I am advised that SUSI, the awarding authority, who have details of current applicants' distances, will correspond directly with the Deputy's office in the coming weeks with estimated costings.
434. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider the appeal by a person (details supplied) following the rejection of their application for student supports [38711/22]
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 centralized student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
With regard to this specific application, I been advised by my officials that the student to whom the Deputy refers appealed firstly to SUSI and more recently to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on the basis of reckonable income.
Assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2022 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.
I have been advised by my officials that the student in question has exhausted the appeals process. Her appeal was heard by the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on 5th July 2022 and the determination was issued directly to the student.
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.
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.
435. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on providing fully accessible changing places and toilet facilities open to the public in all buildings which his Department owns and public bodies and agencies under his remit to offer people with disabilities and carers a network of equipped spaces to take care of personal hygiene, in safety and comfort. [38720/22]
View answerMy Department is not the owner of any buildings or offices. The procurement, purchase and rent of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments and offices. The Deputy will be aware that the National Disability Authority (NDA) and the Office of Public Works (OPW) are working closely on the operational review of the effectiveness of Section 25 of the Disability Act 2005 which focuses on the accessibility of public buildings.
I can confirm to the Deputy that new office space was acquired in September 2021 for my Department’s Head Quarters at 52 Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. This building is currently in partial occupation pending completion of building works to be carried out on behalf of the Office of Public Works. As such, facilities are limited and due to the nature and layout of the historic building occupied by my Department the provision of changing, and or, toilet facilities to members of the public are not being considered at this time. I am aware that fully accessible changing areas and toilet facilities provide more space and appropriate equipment for persons who require the assistance of a carer to undertake their personal hygiene, in safety and comfort and my Department will continue to work with the Office of Public Works (OPW) on upgrading any of our existing facilities, where appropriate, to support persons with a disability.
The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query .
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.
436. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way that his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38738/22]
View answerMy Department has put in place a Disability Consultative Committee as mandated under Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. The Committee held its most recent meeting in late May 2022. The next meeting is scheduled for early September 2022.
The committee consists of nominees from the Disability Stakeholders Group, a number of sections within my Department who have responsibility for policies regarding persons with disabilities and representatives from the following organisations: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), National Disability Authority (NDA), Higher Education Authority (HEA), Grangegorman Development Agency (GGDA), SOLAS and Leargas. It is chaired by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion section of my Department.
Separately, I have ongoing engagement with a recently established Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee (DPAC). The DPAC is a group of disabled postgraduate students and academics who have an in-depth knowledge and lived experience of our higher education system and the potential barriers that people with disabilities can encounter.
Students with disabilities are a key target group within the National Access Plan and disability organisations are represented on the National Access Plan Steering Committee. An Equity of Access subcommittee of the National Apprenticeship Alliance will be established shortly to ensure that the voice of under-represented groups, including persons with disabilities are heard.
My Department is also represented on a number of cross-departmental strategies for peoples with disabilities including, inter alia, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities Implementation Group.
437. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has engaged with officials from the Department of Health in relation to the European Union Pharmaceutical Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38793/22]
View answerHealth research policy falls under the responsibility of the Department of Health. My Department has structures in place under Impact 2030 for coordination & consultation on matters of common concern in the research & innovation area. My Department has not had engagement with the Department of Health on the EU Pharmaceutical strategy to date.
