Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:602. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to increase the foster care allowance to families who work with Tusla. [39148/22]
View answerChildren in Care
Questions (602)
Written answers
The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister.
The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in respect of the child and provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child's daily living needs, including food, clothing, basic travel, education costs and hobbies and sports activities. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
If required, Tusla can also provide additional financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments.
Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the fostering allowance. Such additional payments may be made in respect of children or young people who have additional needs that are not covered by the standardised fostering allowance. Additional payments can only be made where a child has additional medical or educational needs and when authorisation has been received from the Tusla Area Manager. Each application for an additional payment will be accompanied by supporting documentation evidencing the need.
Enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be paid in respect of children aged between 0-18 years if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care. This includes children who have been diagnosed with significant special needs and require a high level of personal care and supervision. The purpose of considering an enhanced allowance in these cases is to support foster carers in providing care to these children who have additional needs.
The foster care allowance is in respect of and for the benefit of the foster child and therefore must be used to meet the day to day costs associated with looking after the foster child. In considering any enhanced allowance the assessing social worker is required to evidence that the standard fostering allowance does not adequately provide for the cost of caring for the child.
A request for enhanced supports must certified by the Principal Social Worker and approved by the Area Manager following submission of an assessment of the child’s needs and supporting documentation. A review arrangement for the enhanced allowance must be part of the submission for approval.
In addition to the foster care allowance, foster carers receive a number of targeted supports to ensure they continue to function as a recognised and valued part of the alternative care system. Key elements of this support include a link social worker, access to training and support group meetings and the allocation of a social worker for each child in care. Respite care for children may be arranged if it is part of their care plan.
Pre-assessment and ongoing training are compulsory for foster carers in order to equip them with the skills and knowledge to provide high quality care. Recognising the specific dynamics and the personal nature of relative care, Tusla addresses the training needs of relatives who are foster carers separately. In addition, Tusla provides funding for the Irish Foster Care Association which offers a range of supports to carers, including advocacy, mediation, training and a telephone advice service.
The foster care allowance is one element of the support that Tusla provides to carers when they offer a home and care to children some of whom may have additional, and sometimes significant, needs.
Tusla have advised that they have recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation to inform the development of a Strategic Plan on Foster Care. Through this consultation, foster carers highlighted their view that the foster care allowance should be reviewed in light of inflation and increases in social welfare allowances. When the Strategic Plan on Foster Care is finalised by Tusla, it will then be considered by the Department. Any decision to review the current rate of the foster allowance shall be informed by the Tusla Plan and the consultations that have preceded it.
The rate of the foster care allowance is kept under review by officials within the Department and at present there are no plans to change the rate. However, the Department is undertaking an extensive review of the Child Care Act 1991 and will examine foster care arrangements as part of this review.
Family Support Services
Questions (603)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:603. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to increase the availability of early intervention for families in distress and for family supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39150/22]
View answerWritten answers
Tusla provides a range of family support services both directly and through its commissioned partners. Prevention and early intervention is cost effective. High quality, evidence informed prevention and early intervention services can help to address difficulties such as early school leaving and behavioural problems.
Integrated, high-quality services to children and families must be provided at the earliest opportunity across all levels of need. Tusla family support services are delivered on the basis of low, medium, or high prevention. Tusla is working to embed and develop a consistent national approach to practice across all its response pathways. This aims to ensure families receive consistent service levels across all Tusla areas, at all levels of need.
The Tusla-led Early Intervention National Practice Model, Metiheal, is a case co-ordination process for families with additional needs who require multi-agency intervention but who do not meet the threshold for referral to the Social Work Department under Children First.
When a child and their family need additional supports from several agencies, experience shows they benefit from the agencies taking a collaborative approach. Tusla has established 121 Child and Family Support Networks (CFSN) to support this collaborative approach. CFSNs work in partnership with families to ensure there is ‘no wrong door ‘for families to access support and all families in their locality receive easily accessible, appropriate support to meet their identified needs.
Tusla also provides specific and targeted interventions for families delivered by Tusla and Tusla funded services. Examples can include parenting supports, counselling, and educational supports. Universal services funded by Tusla take a universal preventative approach when working with children and families, to ensure that parents and caregivers build the knowledge and skills for understanding and providing babies and children with what they need to grow, develop, and stay safe. Examples can include parenting programmes, infant mental health programmes, toddler groups, and youth groups.
My Department has provided Dormant Accounts Funding of €619,008 under the What Works initiative this year to roll out effective family support programmes. A spending review of Tusla-funded family support services is currently underway and will inform future priorities for investment in these services.
Childcare Services
Questions (604)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:604. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to bolster the viability of childcare providers, including plans to reduce the cost of childcare to parents, increase wages to workers in the sector and enhance career progression of workers in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39151/22]
View answerWritten answers
In December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, "Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC)". The new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there is a need for greater State investment and greater public management of provision.Core Funding, which begins in September, is the new funding stream worth €221 million in full year costs to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers. Core Funding allows for an estimated 19% increase in the total cost base for the sector to be absorbed without any increase to fees for parents.
Core Funding will support the quality of services by better enabling providers to attract and retain staff; establish career structures; introduce or improve other features of provision that are demonstrated to contribute to quality (e.g. non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation). Staff costs comprise on average approximately 70% of services' operating costs. €138 million has been allocated as part of the Core Funding package to contribute to staff costs. This is in addition to existing income from other funding schemes and parents' fees.The introduction of fee management measures is one of the recommendations contained in 'Partnership for the Public Good'. Fee management will start with the requirement for providers to maintain fees at or below September 2021 levels to access Core Funding in 2022. This will give parents greater certainty about what they will be charged and ensure that increases to National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidies are not absorbed by fee increases. This will be developed further in future years.Under Core Funding, the vast majority of services will see an increase in funding, and no service will see a decrease in funding. For any service that does experience financial difficulties, a Sustainability Fund will be in place. This new strand of the Sustainability Fund, linked to Core Funding, will be designed to provide an extra safety net for providers. This will be open to both private and community providers.
In relation to the workforce, I firmly believe the level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy.
The State is not the employer, and my Department does not set wage levels nor determine staff working conditions. However, I am doing all that is in my power to address the issue.
In particular, I began a process in December 2020 to examine the possibility of regulating pay and conditions and the suitability of a Joint Labour Committee for the sector. This process culminated in the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee for Early Years Services, which began meeting in December 2021. The outcomes of the Joint Labour Committee will be supported by the new Core Funding stream.
In addition, in December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028", which includes commitments to develop career pathways, promote careers in the sector, and strengthen supports for continuing professional development, which will complement efforts to improve pay and conditions of employment in the sector.
Commitments in Nurturing Skills are organised under five pillars:
- Establishing a career framework;
- Raising qualification levels;
- Developing a national Continuing Professional Development system;
- Supporting recruitment, retention and diversity; and
- Moving towards regulation of the workforce.
Successful delivery of commitments under the five pillars will be supported by three "key enablers" that are identified in Nurturing Skills:
- Improvement in pay and conditions of employment;
- Coordination of the quality support infrastructure; and
- Ongoing engagement with the profession.
A Monitoring Committee is being established with the task of monitoring the implementation of Nurturing Skills. A comprehensive Implementation Plan is included within Nurturing Skills and covers the first phase of implementation from 2022-2024.
Departmental Funding
Questions (605)
Seán Canney
Question:605. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the necessary funding to an organisation (details supplied) to source a premises suitable for its needs in Galway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39225/22]
View answerWritten answers
Funding of the nature described by the Deputy is not available within my Department's youth service's budget. For the past number of years, the annual capital budget available to youth services has been approximately €3 million. Decisions around the allocation of these funds are made based on an assessment of need at a given time.
The funding is distributed among 30 national youth organisations, over 250 funded UBU Your Place Your Space youth services, and approximately 1,400 youth clubs which are funded by my Department.
In recent years, capital funding for physical infrastructure has been provided in relation mainly to minor works, equipment, ICT and as a contribution to Local Authorities for the development of playground facilities.
Employment Rights
Questions (606)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:606. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is expected the Employment Regulation Order will be issued by the Joint Labour Commission; if this occur in time for the new school year in September 2022; the measures that he has in place if the Order is not issued by then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39495/22]
View answerWritten answers
An Employment Regulation Order (ERO) is an instrument drawn up by a Joint Labour Committee (JLC), adopted by the Labour Court, and given statutory effect by the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail. The ERO fixes minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for workers in specified business sectors: employers in those sectors are then obliged to pay wage rates and provide conditions of employment not less favourable than those prescribed. The Industrial Relations Act 1946 sets out the process for adopting an ERO. I acknowledge the independent nature of the Labour Court and Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process and the hard work of its members to negotiate pay and conditions for employees in the early learning and childcare sector. I understand that two draft EROs on a number of grades within the Early Years sector have been published by the JLC for the purpose of public consultation. In both cases the consultation processes have now ended, and the JLC is considering the submissions it received during the consultation processes.
Any ERO that comes into force will set minimum rates of pay for the relevant roles within the sector, and it will be open to employers to pay higher rates of pay than the minimums.
The new Core Funding stream I announced in the Budget to begin in September 2022 is designed to support a range of objectives, including the drawing up of EROs to determine minimum rates of pay for workers, as well as supporting career pathways and graduate employment.
Of the €221 million Core Funding budget, approximately two thirds is intended to contribute to improved pay rates across different categories of staff. This portion of the budget cannot be made available without assurances that this funding will be channelled towards achieving this intended objective.
Accordingly, a pre-condition of the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement is that Core Funding will only come into effect and is contingent upon EROs being in effect to cover all roles across the sector as defined in the Early Years’ Service Joint Labour Committee Establishment Order.
In the event that there are no EROs, or an ERO that only covers one role in the sector in effect on 1st September 2022, Core Funding cannot proceed.
Officials in my Department are working with Pobal on the development of an alternative funding arrangement for the sector in the regrettable event that EROs are not in effect in time for the introduction of Core Funding in September.
Without the EROs in place in time, the alternative funding scheme cannot make available the intended funding contribution towards staff costs. Provision will be made to ensure that services do not experience a reduction in income compared to that which they received in higher capitation and programme support payments last year and remain sustainable but the alternative funding scheme will mean that the quantum of funding available to most services will amount to approximately one third of the value that they would receive through Core Funding.
I am fully supportive of improved pay and conditions for this valued workforce and achieved significant investment from Government in Budget 2022 for this purpose. I urge the JLC to continue its negotiations to agree EROs for all grades in the sector, including minimum rates for graduate Lead Educators and graduate Managers. I am hopeful that EROs can be agreed swiftly and that Core Funding can go ahead underpinned by the EROs in September.
Childcare Services
Questions (607)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:607. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to local creches and after-school childcare facilities cancelling childcare spaces due to staff shortages as a result of Covid and the cost-of-living crisis; the efforts that his Department is taking to review the situation and to assist families in need of a childcare place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39496/22]
View answerWritten answers
Services must inform the Department if they close the entire service and they may be given Force Majeure permission to close if the closure is outside of their control, such as power cuts or extreme weather. My Department can, at its discretion, continue to provide funding to services which have closed on Force Majeure grounds.
If a service reduces its hours, and is contracted to provide any of the Department funding schemes, ECCE, NCS or CCSP, they are required in their funding agreements to notify parents and amend their service calendar at least 4 weeks in advance of the change of hours.
If a service has not done so, the parents should, in the first instance, contact their local County Childcare Committee who can escalate the case to the Department if necessary. The CCCs are funded by the Department and act as the Department’s local agents in each county.
If a service reduces it hours without reducing parental fees, they would be considered to be in breach of Transition Funding, which requires providers not to increase their fees over the amount charged in September 2021. The local CCC will consider parents complaints in the first instance.
If the service reduces its ECCE hours, it will be in breach of the ECCE funding agreement, which requires them to provide 3 hours of ECCE a day, for 182 days of the year. If a room closure or reduced hours would result in this level of service not being provided, they will be required to make up the hours.
Parents should contact their local CCC who can escalate the case to the Department if necessary.
Childcare Services
Questions (608)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:608. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of closures of childcare facilities that have been notified by county and based on service provision that ECCE-only, ECCE-full-time and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39497/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.
Childcare Services
Questions (609)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:609. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers that are not engaging in the Transition Fund; the supports that are in place for those families who will not receive capped childcare costs given the rising cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39505/22]
View answerWritten answers
Ensuring the availability and affordability of early learning and childcare for parents is a key priority for Government.
The Transition Fund is a temporary, once-off scheme to support providers between the end of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme in April and the introduction of the new Core Funding Scheme in September. The primary objective of the Transition Fund is to ensure that fees to parents do not increase.
Participation in the Transition Fund is optional, but I am very glad to see that as of 12 July, 4,076 providers, which represents 95% of all eligible providers, have signed up. Only 239 eligible providers are not signed up to the Transition Fund.
The Transition Fund remains open to new entrants to sign-up for the remaining months of operation and City and County Childcare Committees are available to support providers who have not yet signed-up.
The Transition Fund requirement that fees remain at or below September 2021 levels continues in September under the new Core Funding scheme. Under Core Funding, Partner Services will also be required to offer the National Childcare Scheme and/or the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme to parents.
Taken together, this will benefit parents by ensuring that the full affordability effects of the NCS are felt. This will give parents greater certainty about what they will be charged and prevent increases in NCS subsidies being absorbed by fee increases.
The NCS is supporting thousands of families to offset their costs and Budget 2022 has expanded access to the NCS by ending the practice of deducting time in pre-school and school from NCS subsidised hour and by extending universal NCS subsidies for children up to age 15.
A recent review of the NCS showed that:
- 38% families had more than half of their early learning and childcare costs were covered by the NCS;
- 56% families had more money to spend due to the scheme; and
- 28% families were working more because of NCS, with 8% reporting that they would not be in work without it.
I recognise however that the burden on some families remains too high and more needs to be done to ensure affordability.
The introduction of Core Funding in September, combined with developments to the NCS, will improve affordability for parents. Importantly, it provides a platform for additional investment in this coming Budget.
The high uptake of the Transition Fund bodes well for the introduction of Core Funding in September. This is further underscored by the fact that 89% of providers have now completed a survey which is the first step to coming into contract for Core Funding.
While my Department cannot mandate providers to participate in schemes, every effort has been made to carefully design the schemes to meet the policy objectives, including achieving high levels of participation by ensuring that the schemes are attractive to providers. There is strong evidence of this, both through the level of Transition Fund uptake and the early indications in relation to Core Funding.
Refugee Resettlement Programme
Questions (610)
Holly Cairns
Question:610. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that he is taking to assist Afghan refugees (details supplied) to secure their own independent accommodation [39547/22]
View answerWritten answers
Thank you for your question, Deputy. As you may be aware, my Department does not comment on individual cases publicly. The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) is continuing to work to support those admitted to Ireland under the Afghan programme to secure accommodation in the community, including through community sponsorship.
Question No. 611 answered with Question No. 591.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Questions (612)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:612. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to an increase in the allowances for apprentices from rural areas particularly early years apprentices who often have to travel long distances for work and training due to the rising cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39245/22]
View answerWritten answers
The cost-of-living pressures that have been brought on largely as a consequence of the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine are impacting across society in Ireland. This Government is acutely aware of this and is sensitive to the effects in certain pockets of society more than others. I, as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, am working with officials in my Department across all areas under my remit to identify and, where possible, address barriers to participation in education as a result of these pressures.
In relation to your specific question, Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 65 apprenticeship programmes are subject to contracts of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer.
For the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes, the rates of pay applying under the employment contract are either agreed within the relevant sector, or are set out in legally binding Sectoral Employment Orders recommended by the Labour Court.
On that basis, any review of those rates currently payable is a matter for negotiation and agreement under the appropriate industrial relations structures in place. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to be involved in the determination of apprenticeship pay or training rates.
It is important to note that, while rates do vary between occupations and sectors, in all cases craft apprenticeship rates are expressed as a proportion of a qualified rate, increasing yearly from 33% of the qualified rate in year one to 90% in year four. Periods of off-the-job training are funded from the National Training Fund with payments of the agreed rate made directly to craft apprentices by the education and training boards during this time.
Additionally, it is important to note that as employees, eligible apprentices are also entitled to access general employment supports through the social welfare system. This option is open to any employee, apprentice or not, who finds themselves in difficulty.
Regarding the increases in the cost of living, there are allowances paid to craft apprentices such as travel, accommodation, and meal allowances. A copy of the current rates for these allowances are attached. These allowances are being examining in the context of the upcoming Estimates process.
Departmental Funding
Questions (613)
Catherine Murphy
Question:613. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding historically provided to an organisation (details supplied) through the skillnets stream of funding; the way in which this funding is monitored in order to ensure it is used appropriately; if audits are conducted on bodies in receipt of this stream of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39533/22]
View answerWritten answers
Officials are currently compiling the information requested and this will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Education and Training Provision
Questions (614)
James Lawless
Question:614. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to create more spaces on pharmacist college courses due to a severe lack of pharmacists in Ireland which will lead to reduced opening hours in pharmacies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38815/22]
View answerWritten answers
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 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.
Officials in my Department 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.
My Department does not place a quota on the number of places on pharmacy courses 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 an increase in the number of new entrants beginning their studies in 2020, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
|
Year |
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
|
New Entrants |
284 |
276 |
317 |
356 |
392 |
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.
Third Level Costs
Questions (615)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:615. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the income and fee supports that are available to persons who are undertaking university doctorates; the plans to improve these supports given the need to encourage more persons to pursue higher-level fourth level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38821/22]
View answerWritten answers
The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. The Student Grant Scheme supports eligible postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education.
Budget 2021 provided for enhanced postgraduate supports from the 2021/22 academic year including the fee grant amount rising from €2,000 to €3,500 and the income threshold for eligibility for these grants increasing from €31,500 to €54,240. This is an initial step in meeting part of the Government’s commitments regarding SUSI grant support. This increase will allay some of the costs for postgraduate study and give greater certainty for students in terms of supports.
For the academic year 2022/23, there are significant enhancements to the financial supports that students who need them most receive through the Student Grant Scheme; where:
- There will be 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;
- The income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant will be increased by €1,000;
- The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant will be reduced from 45km to 30km.
Under the Student Grant Scheme 2022, a student in receipt of a postgraduate research award where the stipend portion of the award does not exceed €18,500 can apply to the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) for financial assistance. The stipend portion is treated as an income disregard when calculating the household reckonable income (ie. not counted in the calculation of income). In 2021 this support increased from €16,000 to €18,500.
Apart from the student grant a number of supports are available to assist postgraduate research students in their studies. This includes a range of grants from research funders, institutional scholarships, as well as supports through the Student Assistance Fund. Research students in receipt of grants must comply with the terms of their funding award from these bodies, which can vary from funder to funder.
Postgraduate students who meet all of the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are also eligible for a maintenance grant of up to €6,115 and qualifying postgraduate students may also be eligible to have their tuition fees paid up to a maximum fee limit of € 6,270.
The postgraduate office within the higher education institution would also be able to advise on funding supports.
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. Students can be assisted towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) supports participation by students with a disability in further and higher education. The aim is to ensure that students can participate fully in education, or on an equal basis with their peers. The Disability Officers actively promote the ethos of inclusive learning for all students. Recently the FSD has also been used for projects to develop strategic disability services in HEIs and supports for students. Examples include inclusive design in teaching and learning, improving online teaching and learning practices, staff training, improving campus experience for students with disabilities, assistive technology supports and autism-friendly spaces.
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 a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.
Student Accommodation
Questions (616)
Pa Daly
Question:616. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he will take to ensure that third level students can secure student accommodation given the lack of available housing through on or off-campus accommodation or through private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38865/22]
View answerWritten answers
It is clear that as a country we need to dramatically increase the supply of all types of housing and accommodation, including student accommodation. That is why the Government launched Housing for All, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage setting out a series of actions which will be delivered to address the housing crisis. The plan is backed by the largest housing budget in the history of the State to transform our housing system, in excess of €20 billion.
Since becoming Minister, both I and my Department officials have engaged intensively with both the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the wider higher education sector and stakeholders on student accommodation issues, within the context of overall housing policy. In a welcome development, my recent engagement with the sector indicates that hundreds of additional bed spaces are to be made available by higher education institutions (HEIs) for the start of the forthcoming academic year. In addition, a major development of 674 additional bed spaces underway at NUI Galway is expected to be delivered later in the academic year.
Additionally, in the wider context as many HEIs continue to support their students to find accommodation in the private rental sector through, for example, the encouragement of room rental or ‘student digs’ in family homes and maintain online databases students can access to search for and check out accommodation, where advertisements for room rentals can be placed and advice on sample rental agreements provided.
Both I and my Department officials will continue to work with both the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the wider higher education sector and stakeholders on student accommodation issues, within the context of overall housing policy.
Student Accommodation
Questions (617)
Pa Daly
Question:617. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the use of student accommodation for emergency housing during term time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38866/22]
View answerWritten answers
Primary responsibility for securing accommodation for persons fleeing the war in the Ukraine rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Minister O'Gorman.
It is my Department's understanding that as of 1 July Minister O'Gorman's Department has contracted over 4,900 beds in student accommodation in this context with some of this accommodation being provided by Higher Education Institutions and some by private providers.
It is a matter for individual accommodation providers whether or not they contract with Minister O'Gorman's Department for provision of such services and for the duration of any such contracts.
Furthermore, it is my Department's understanding that student accommodation owned by Higher Education Institutions that is being provided to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine is being provided on a time limited basis only and that such accommodation will be made available for primary student use ahead of the forthcoming academic year.
Since becoming Minister, both I and my Department officials have engaged intensively with both the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the wider higher education sector and stakeholders on student accommodation issues, within the context of overall housing policy. In a welcome development, my recent engagement with the sector indicates that hundreds of additional bed spaces are to be made available by higher education institutions (HEIs) for the start of the forthcoming academic year. In addition, a major development of 674 additional bed spaces underway at NUI Galway is expected to be delivered later in the academic year.
Student Accommodation
Questions (618)
Pa Daly
Question:618. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to any quota for accessible or adapted student accommodation on-campus to ensure that all students with disabilities can access suitable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38867/22]
View answerWritten answers
The 2015 HEA Report on Student Accommodation: Demand and Supply noted that the supply of accommodation for students with disabilities was insufficient, and recommended that any future developments should comply with the recommendations for enabled access as published by the Department of the Environment. The report further recommended that HEIs should consult with relevant stakeholders including students with disabilities on adaptation of existing stock and design for new builds.
The National Student Accommodation Strategy highlights the issue of students with disabilities, noting that HEIs should be encouraged to consider allocating additional bed spaces for students with disabilities as additional on campus bed spaces are delivered and become available.
Thee Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science understands that all institutions which own student accommodation do ring-fence a proportion of this accommodation for students with disabilities. However, in this context and in accordance with the Universities Act 1997, higher education institutions are autonomous bodies as regards independent and own resourced PBSA provision.
Public Sector Pensions
Questions (619)
Dara Calleary
Question:619. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38953/22]
View answerWritten answers
There are no staff members currently employed in my Department where abatement is in place under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. The requested information in respect of the Department’s aegis bodies 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.
Third Level Costs
Questions (620)
Kieran O'Donnell
Question:620. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the grant supports either through SUSI or other schemes that are available to postgraduate students enrolled in level 9 programmes that are delivered online only (details supplied); if there are plans to introduce provision for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38965/22]
View answerWritten answers
The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. 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.
Approved courses for the Student Grant Scheme 2022 are prescribed in Regulations 3 and 4 of the Student Support Regulations 2022 and in the Student Support Act 2011. In order to be considered for a grant a student is required to be pursuing an approved full-time course under Section 8(1)(b) of the Student Support Act 2011 in an approved institution. Regulations prescribe that an approved course requires attendance by a student on a full-time basis at an approved institution, therefore courses that are online are not currently approved for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme and therefore students attending these courses do not qualify for grant assistance under the Student Grant Scheme.
The issue of potentially expanding part-time delivery of tertiary education in Ireland is a complex one and significant planning will need to be conducted at both national and institution level to manage the significant supply-side impacts on educational institutions. Funding the Future has committed the Government to financially supporting part-time, blended and postgraduate learning in the medium term, once existing reform commitments are embedded within the sector.
I have convened a Higher Education Reform Implementation and Review Group to support the development, implementation and review of a reform agenda at national and sectoral level to meet the ambition contained in the funding and reform framework. The first meeting of this group took place on May 25 2022 and I am excited to hear from the sector representatives in relation to the reform agenda including flexible and lifelong learning.
Upskilling and reskilling provision in higher education is available through Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1, providing a combined over 13,500 places in over 350 courses available in the 2022/23 academic year. Almost 95 per cent of the courses provided will be delivered in a more flexible format. As well as aiding participation for those in employment, increased online and distance learning provision will allow people from all across the country to access programmes in regions other than where they reside.
The Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 programme is managed by the Higher Education Authority, on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Springboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free and subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. Springboard+ courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and are delivered by public and private higher education providers around the country.
HCI Pillar 1, Graduate Conversion Programmes was launched in June 2020. Approval has already been granted for courses under HCI Pillar 1 to run for the 2022/23 academic year, as part of the approval process in 2020. These courses are one year, full time conversion courses at levels 8 and 9, in areas of identified skills need, building on experience of the ICT Conversion Courses under Springboard+.
Over 150 courses are available at NFQ level 9 under Springboard+ 2022 and HCI Pillar 1 for the 2022/2023 academic year. 31 of these courses relate to either Science or Engineering. Full details on Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) courses, the eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the website: www.springboardcourses.ie.
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. Students can be assisted towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) supports participation by students with a disability in further and higher education. The aim is to ensure that students can participate fully in education, or on an equal basis with their peers. The Disability Officers actively promote the ethos of inclusive learning for all students. Recently the FSD has also been used for projects to develop strategic disability services in HEIs and supports for students. Examples include inclusive design in teaching and learning, improving online teaching and learning practices, staff training, improving campus experience for students with disabilities, assistive technology supports and autism-friendly spaces.
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 a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie
The postgraduate office within the higher education institution would also be able to advise on funding supports.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Questions (621, 622)
Catherine Murphy
Question:621. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of applicants to the commis chef apprenticeship level 6 programme since it was launched to date by education and training board; the number that have dropped out of the programme on an annual basis; and the number that successfully completed the course. [38974/22]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:622. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount expended on the commis chef apprenticeship level 6 programme since it launched to date in 2022. [38975/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together.
The Commis Chef Apprenticeship Programme was established by lead industry stakeholders such as the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland. It is a two year programme and successful apprentices become a fully qualified Commis chef, with a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Culinary Arts.
The numbers registered for the programme from 2017 to this year are as follows:
- 2017 – 25 apprentices registered
- 2018 - 112 apprentices registered
- 2019 - 62 apprentices registered
- 2020 - 16 apprentices registered
- 2021 - 75 apprentices registered
- 2022 - 43 apprentices registered to date as of June
Registrations were impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and the associated shutdown of educational and training facilities.
However, registrations rebounded strongly in 2021 supported by the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme exceeding the numbers registered pre-pandemic.
Numbers in 2022 indicate that the recovery in apprentice registrations is continuing, with 43 new registrations in the first half of the year.
Regarding the number that have dropped out of the programme on an annual basis, the below table provided by SOLAS shows the numbers of apprentices who left the programme, successfully completed the programme and finished unsuccessfully since it was established.
|
- |
Left the programme |
Completed programme successfully |
Finished unsuccessfully |
Total |
|
2018 |
1 |
1 |
||
|
2019 |
3 |
3 |
||
|
2020 |
8 |
16 |
24 |
|
|
2021 |
4 |
11 |
1 |
16 |
|
2022 |
13 |
33 |
11 |
47 |
|
No date |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Total |
30 |
60 |
12 |
Regarding the data on those who successfully completed the programme, it should be noted that, there is a deviation in the figures between those who successfully completed the programme and registrations.
The hospitality and education sectors were very badly affected by Covid and this had an effect on apprentices in the sector.
Regarding the amount expended on the Commis chef apprenticeship level 6 programme since it launched to date in 2022, this information has been requested from SOLAS and will be sent on to the Deputy as soon as it is available.