Thomas Gould
Question:250. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average wait time for an additional needs payment and an urgent needs payment in Cork city. [45303/22]
View answerSocial Welfare Payments
Questions (250)
Written answers
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. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single additional needs payments.
Under the SWA scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.Payments 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.
The CWS is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Based on the available data, it is estimated that 50% of applications for Additional Needs Payments are finalised within 0-4 weeks and 90% are finalised within 0-8 weeks. We are focusing our resources on reducing our processing times and it is anticipated that these times will reduce over the coming weeks; this will be dependent, however, on the volumes of new applications received. Where an application is not finalised within 0-4 weeks, this is generally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the customer to support their application.
I wish to reassure the Deputy that claim processing is kept under active review and we will continue in our efforts to further improve the service.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (251)
Bríd Smith
Question:251. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of raising all social insurance and social protection payments to €300 per week, excluding disability allowance, invalidity and blind pensions, and all carer’s payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45306/22]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated full year cost of increasing the rate of all weekly social insurance and assistance payments to €300 per week, excluding disability allowance, invalidity and blind pensions, and all carer’s payments, with a proportionate increase for qualified adults is €3.8 billion.
This costing is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2022 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (252)
Denis Naughten
Question:252. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims submitted and the number of persons who have received enhanced illness benefit for Covid-19; the number of persons who were in payment for two, four, six, eight and ten weeks, respectively; the number of persons who transferred to illness benefit after the ten-week payment period had expired; the number of these claims that were in payment for more than two weeks; the number that were transferred to disability allowance after the ten-week payment period had expired; the number of these claims that were in payment for more than two weeks; the number of such claims that were rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45310/22]
View answerWritten answers
Enhanced Illness Benefit (EIB) is a form of Illness Benefit that is payable to self-employed persons or an employee who is told to self-isolate or has been diagnosed with Covid-19. It is important to note that a person may have received Enhanced Illness Benefit on more than one occasion since the payment was introduced, and thus have more than one claim for Enhanced illness Benefit. The number of claims received and the individuals claiming EIB up to 11th September 2022 are provided in Table 1.
Table 1: Number of EIB Claims and EIB Recipients
|
Claims |
Individual Recipients |
|
702,128 |
513,448 |
EIB is payable for up to 10 weeks where a person is diagnosed with Covid-19. In a case where a person continues to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit may be paid for an extended period, based on the person’s continued eligibility. Details on the duration of EIB claims are set out in Table 2. The data in Table 2 refers to the claim duration, based on the certification dates.
Table 2: EIB claim durations
|
Weeks |
Claims |
|
0-2 |
587,326 |
|
2-4 |
81,638 |
|
4-6 |
16,151 |
|
6-8 |
6,307 |
|
8-10 |
3,289 |
|
10+ |
7,417 |
Of the 7,417 claims with a total certification period of 10 or more weeks, these relate to 5,637 individuals of whom 4,056 transferred to Illness Benefit payments, and were certified for 2 or more weeks. 98 persons who had at least one EIB claim of more than 10 weeks duration are now in receipt of Disability Allowance. A total of 73 people had a Disability Allowance claim rejected, while 27 people had Disability Allowance claims pending as of end-August 2022.
Departmental Staff
Questions (253)
Denis Naughten
Question:253. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons within her Department who received the special leave with pay for Covid-19 up to 1 July 2022; the number of workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; the number of persons who availed of the special leave with pay for COVID-19 since 1 July 2022; the number of such persons who have been in receipt of this payment in excess of 14 days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45325/22]
View answerWritten answers
The information sought by the Deputy in respect of my Department is as follows:
From 11/3/20 to 30/6/22: 2,528 officers availed of Covid-19 Special with Pay.
Prior to 01/07/2022: 5 officers availed of special leave with pay for an extended period of 12 weeks or more.
From 01/07/2022: 334 officers have availed of Covid 19 special leave with pay for a period of 7 days only in line with reduced entitlement of 7 consecutive days
From 01/07/2022: No officers have availed of more than 14 days special leave with pay following notification of reduced entitlement to 7 consecutive days from that date in line with HSE self-isolation guidelines.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (254)
Kieran O'Donnell
Question:254. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can qualify for a payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45342/22]
View answerWritten answers
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of DA at a reduced rate. The means currently assessed on the claim are derived from her employment income.The information provided by you has been forwarded to the relevant area to carry out a means review of her entitlement. Once the review is complete, the person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (255)
Bernard Durkan
Question:255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for illness-related payment given that they are unfit for work but are only in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45356/22]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment.My Department has not yet received an application for Illness Benefit or any other illness related scheme from the person concerned. From examining their insurance record, it appears that the person concerned may satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions necessary to qualify for Illness Benefit.
If the person concerned is currently unfit for work they should submit an application for Illness Benefit as soon as possible along with medical certification from their GP for the duration of their absence.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (256)
Bernard Durkan
Question:256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when reconsideration will be given in the case of a child (details supplied) who has been assessed as having ADHD, whose application for domiciliary care allowance has been refused, who has again been expelled from school on the basis of disruptive behaviour but has been deemed by her Department as being equal to any other child of a similar age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45360/22]
View answerWritten answers
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 with a disability so severe that the child requires ongoing (continual or continuous) care and attention substantially over and above that usually required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this extra level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. Eligibility is established primarily on the additional care and attention required by the child rather than the child's disability.
An application for DCA was received from the person concerned in respect of their child on 23rd May 2022. Their application was disallowed on 20th July 2022, as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for DCA.
A request for a review of the above decision was received on behalf of the person concerned, on 17th August 2022.
The new information that has been provided on their behalf, has been associated with the DCA application of the person concerned and will be available for reconsideration by a deciding officer in the review process. The person concerned may also forward any other further relevant documentary or medical evidence that was not previously available to the Department for consideration. Once a full review of their DCA application has been completed, the person concerned will be notified of the outcome in writing.
DCA reviews are currently taking 6-8 weeks to process from date of receipt.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (257)
Bernard Durkan
Question:257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied); if they qualify for the working family payment given that they work six days per week, travel to Dublin for work on a daily basis, have difficulty in meeting their commitments due to the fact that they tried to care for their mother and daughter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45361/22]
View answerWritten answers
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. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single additional needs payments.
Under the SWA scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
Payments 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.
Departmental records reflect the person concerned has not made a recent application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP). It is open to the person to apply for an ENP by completing a SWA1 form and provide all relevant documents in support of her application.
For convenience, an application form has been posted to the person concerned. On receipt of a completed application and any supporting documentation, the application will be assessed and the person concerned advised of the outcome in writing.
The person is currently in receipt of a Working Family Payment of €124 per week.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (258)
Bernard Durkan
Question:258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can qualify for invalidity pension given their health condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45364/22]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity Pension (IP) is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.
Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions (class A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The relevant date is:
(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or
(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed
where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.
A qualifying condition for IP is that a person must be regarded as being permanently incapable of work. A person is regarded as being permanently incapable of work if;
For the period of 1 year immediately before the date of application the person had been continuously incapable of work and a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least another year,
OR
A Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life.
Eligibility for IP can only be established on receipt of a completed application form. The person in question should submit an IP application form and their entitlement can then be determined.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (259)
Bernard Durkan
Question:259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when favourable consideration will be given for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) who suffers from MS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45366/22]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from this person on 10 August 2022.
The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 10 August 2022. The first payment will be made by her chosen payment method on 05 October 2022.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
International Protection
Questions (260)
Matt Carthy
Question:260. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a person (details supplied) will be provided with alternative accommodation in a centre to ensure their safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45218/22]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to assure the Deputy that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by this Department is of the highest priority to myself and my officials.
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, 2018, we cannot comment on individual cases without express consent of the person concerned.
Please be assured, however, that since 1 February 2021 all persons who make an application for international protection to the International Protection Office (IPO) are offered a vulnerability assessment by the Resident Welfare Team in IPAS.
The Resident Welfare Team is aware of this particular case and is engaging with the resident directly to ensure that their reception needs are being met.
I trust this clarifies the matter Deputy.
Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Questions (261)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:261. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made under the commitments set out in An Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45223/22]
View answerWritten answers
Since I published the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions last November, there has been consistent progress in implementing its key commitments. Of the 22 actions, 8 have been completed while another 12 are currently in progress.
Key achievements include:
Dedicated professional counselling support continues to be available nationwide with priority access to services for survivors.
I also established a dedicated Information Management Unit within my Department, with a professional archivist, to manage the Commission of Investigation's archive of records and support access for individuals to their personal information.
My Department has made significant progress on the legislative commitments made to survivors in the Action Plan.
The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 was signed into law by President Higgins on 30 June. I commenced the first parts of the Act on 1 July with the establishment of the Contact Preference Register and the launch of a comprehensive Public Information Campaign. On 12 September 2022, I signed the Order paving the way for Birth Information and Tracing Services to be available from 3 October. This long awaited piece of legislation conclusively addresses the wrongful denial of people’s identity rights.
The Institutional Burials Act 2022 came into effect on 15 July and Government has approved my proposal, under the legislation, to establish an independent Office to lead an intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, Co. Galway. A draft Order directing this intervention has been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas for approval.
The General Scheme of a Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill to provide financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card to eligible applicants was published in March. Pre-Legislative Scrutiny was undertaken by the Joint Oireachtas Committee, and the report of this process was published in July. It is my intention to bring the Bill to Government seeking publication and introduction to the Houses of the Oireachtas early in the autumn term. In parallel with the legislative process, my Department is working on the administrative arrangements needed to operate the Scheme.
On 29 March, Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry in Sean McDermott St. in Dublin city centre. A project Steering Group and a number of working groups have been established to oversee the project and advance its constituent elements. In July, Dublin City Council voted to transfer the site to the Office of Public Works, marking another step towards the development of this important national site of conscience. It is anticipated that initial conservation and structural works will commence on site before year end.
With regard to local memorialisation initiatives, my Department continues to offer funding to survivor-centred advocacy groups who wish to organise local commemorative events. My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, established a working group to develop central guidance to assist local authorities in providing services and facilitating local memorialisation in line with the wishes of survivors. A consultative process with survivor advocacy groups and representatives, led by independent facilitators, was conducted to inform the group's work.
In addition to an annual progress report, which will be laid before the Houses towards the end of the year, my Department continues to prepare quarterly progress updates. On 31 May, the second of these updates was issued directly to every person who has provided their contact information to my Department's dedicated mailing list. The third update is due to be published at the end of this month and will also be published on my Department's website.
Ukraine War
Questions (262)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:262. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of home pledges that were received for Ukrainian refugees by county; the current number of pledges (details supplied); the number of refugees who have been housed through a refugee process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45269/22]
View answerWritten answers
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, My Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis.
The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months.
The Department is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 48,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 37,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging.
The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed an incredible level of generosity in their support and pledges of accommodation.
I can advise the Deputy that the attached Table(s) provides the most recent position on pledged accommodation as communicated to us by implementing partners. This data is subject to change on a daily basis. The Department in collaboration with Implementing Partners and Local Authorities continues to promote pledged accommodation uptake and the numbers continue to increase on a weekly basis. This data does not include those pledges which have remained uncontactable or where pledges have been investigated and are unsuitable for various reasons. Feedback from implementing partners continues to be received and will be updated.
Key Abbreviations in Table:
IRC - Irish Red Cross
IOM - International Organisation for Migration
PMVT - Peter McVerry Trust
MWS - Mid-West Simon
Departmental Staff
Questions (263)
Denis Naughten
Question:263. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons within his Department who received the special leave with pay for Covid-19 up to 1 July 2022; the number of workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; the number of persons who availed of the special leave with pay for COVID-19 since 1 July 2022; the number of such persons who have been in receipt of this payment in excess of 14 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45312/22]
View answerWritten answers
150 staff availed of special leave with pay in the period up to 1st July 2022, none of which exceeded 12 weeks. 16 staff availed of special leave with pay from 1st July 2022 to 6 September, none of which exceeded 14 days.
Children in Care
Questions (264)
Colm Burke
Question:264. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if serious consideration will be given to increasing the rate of foster care allowance to take cost-of-living increases into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45337/22]
View answerWritten answers
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 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.?
Tusla are in the process of developing a Strategic Plan on Foster Care 2022-2025 and I am aware that Tusla has recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation to inform the development of the Plan. Through this consultation, foster carers highlighted the need for the foster care allowance to be reviewed in light of inflation and increases in social welfare allowances. Tusla is currently finalising the plan, which will then be considered by my Department.?
Children in Care
Questions (265)
Colm Burke
Question:265. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if serious consideration will be given to increasing the after-care allowance that replaces the foster care allowance in respect of young persons who remain living with foster carers after the age of 18 years and continue in education and training to take the cost-of-living increases into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45338/22]
View answerWritten answers
Tusla has a statutory obligation to prepare an aftercare plan for every young person leaving care who is eligible under section 45 the Child Care Act 1991, as amended. Further, this plan is informed by an assessment of need carried out prior to the young person leaving care. Specifically the Act states that any assessment of need shall include an assessment by Tusla of the needs (if any) of the person being assessed in relation to: education, financing and budgeting matters, training and employment, health and wellbeing, personal and social development, accommodation and family support.
Tusla provides financial support to eligible care leavers who are engaged in a qualifying educational course or training programme. The ‘aftercare allowance’ amounts to €300 per week and is available to care leavers up to the age of 23. In addition, care leavers may also be entitled to a number of additional financial supports in respect of education which include the SUSI Grant (which is payable at the higher rate for care leavers) and the Tusla Dormant Accounts funded Bursary Scheme.
Care leavers not engaged in education and not in employment are eligible for full Jobseekers Allowance rather than the reduced rate, provided that they were in the care of Tusla for 12 months prior to their 18th birthday.
Eligible care leavers are also entitled to an aftercare grant. This is a once off payment paid to the eligible adult when they leave a placement and is to assist with rent/ deposit and start-up costs associated with initial moving home expenses.
Tusla has advised that following four years of implementation of the Aftercare Strategy, they have fully implemented the agreed standardised Aftercare service delivery model. Tusla has advised that they continue to further develop and enhance Aftercare Service delivery with the aim of meeting identified need while being informed by and in consultation with internal and external stakeholders.
Tusla has advised that they are currently in preparation for and moving towards the next phase in the service improvement plan for Aftercare scheduled to commence in the autumn of 2022. This next phase will set out the Tusla Strategic Plan for Aftercare Services 2022-2025 for care experienced young people and young adults. Tusla has advised that this will involve a wide and comprehensive consultation process in the development of this strategy, which also includes a review of the current Finance Policy for Aftercare.
Further and Higher Education
Questions (266)
Bernard Durkan
Question:266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he remains satisfied that the supply of trade professionals to the building sector remains sufficient; the measures envisaged to address any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45388/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is working with colleagues both in SOLAS, the HEA and other Departments to respond to projections of skills needs in the construction sector and to increase skills supply through the current network of tertiary skills provision. Research into professions linked to tertiary skills has been conducted and is being finalised. SOLAS has drawn up responding action plan and one is being developed to address higher education-sector skills, so that an integrated tertiary response can be delivered to identified and arising skills gaps.
We are increasing the number of apprentices we train and the CAO offering has been changed to ensure that school leavers are aware of all of their options after school. In recent years, annual intake in construction related apprenticeships has steadily been increasing, from a low of 650 in 2010 rising to a record 5,443 new apprentices registered in construction related programmes in 2021. As of August 2022 (the latest full month figures available), there have been 2,907 craft apprenticeship registrations in construction related programmes.
Across Government, several actions are being addressed to ensure that the sector can fully utilise available expertise. For example, the FutureBuilding Initiative was launched last May and aims to spearhead activation and recruitment for the construction sector along with supporting the industry by linking in with education and training opportunities.
Recognising that women are under-represented in the construction sector, measures have been introduced to address this. Last April, for example, the Department announced a new gender-based bursary worth €2,666 for apprenticeship employers. The Department continues to work with SOLAS and other partners to increase the number of women in construction.
Education and training relevant to the skills needed in the retrofitting and construction sector is delivered across the full remit of the tertiary sector system and through mainstream education and training as well as through specific programmes such as Springboard, the Human Capital Initiative and Skillnet Ireland.
A key Government priority is to ensure that we have the skills needed to ensure a sustainable and equitable economy in the future.
Furthermore the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is being implemented to work towards delivering a flexible and responsive system which is a strong value proposition for employers and potential apprentices, is attractive and easy to engage with and delivers high standards and sought after qualifications.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Questions (267)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:267. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current timeframe for apprenticeships to move onto phase two; the steps that are being taken to address the backlog and waiting list for phase two of apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45259/22]
View answerWritten answers
Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector.
The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners, to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations across a wide range of programmes by 2025.
Meeting these targets requires a responsive apprenticeship system that provides a strong value proposition for employers and potential apprentices, is attractive and easy to engage with, and which delivers high standards and sought after qualifications.
We have made important progress to date. Last year saw a record 8,607 registrations. This is an increase of nearly 40% compared to 2019, the last “normal” year. This is a strong foundation on which to build as we advance delivery of the Action Plan, in order to embed apprenticeship as a preferred route to skills development.
Regarding the development of apprenticeship and upskilling educational and or retraining facilities:
- Capital funding of €20m was provided in 2020 to extend and upgrade facilities.
- Further funding of €17m has been provided to SOLAS and the HEA to address Covid-related backlogs, €6 million of which is being invested in additional instructors, with over 100 additional posts approved
- To ensure that there is capacity to meet the training needs of rapidly increasing numbers of apprentices, expansion of the apprenticeship system is continuing in 2022, with further major investment in workshops and staff is planned for this year.
Specifically, the funding includes:
- The development of two large training hubs dedicated to electrical training for the next three years;
- Expansion of electrical, plumbing, and carpentry programmes across further and higher education;
- The construction of electrical workshops at Kilkenny and Carlow ETB and the development of a training facility in Donegal;
- A call for additional phase 2 capacity in craft programmes that include carpentry, plumbing and refrigeration Expansion of electrical apprenticeships in ATU Donegal and MTU Kerry.
I am confident that these measures will contribute to the further development of the apprenticeship system, so that it continues to make a valued contribution to our skills response.
At the end of August there were 7,130 apprentices waiting for off the job training. This is down from nearly 12,000 apprentices who were waiting last August which shows that significant progress has been made.
Officials in my Department are in continuous engagement with SOLAS, the HEA and other partners on the matter of the backlog and it is expected that the majority of craft apprentices waiting for off-the-job training over the coming months.
Further and Higher Education
Questions (268)
Paul Murphy
Question:268. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of adding an additional 1,000 level 8 places at third level. [45282/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department allocates funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to designated Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The HEA provides block grant funding to the Higher Education Sector, from within the allocation available, through the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which is driven by overall student numbers. The grant is allocated as a block grant as a contribution towards teaching, research and supporting activities. The internal allocation is a matter for each institution.
It is also important to note that HEIs are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation, as such the management of the academic affairs, including the curriculum and instruction and education provided are generally matters for the relevant institution, In this regard it is open to individual institutions to increase the number of places offered at level 8 without an increased cost to the Exchequer necessarily arising.
As the deputy will appreciate the costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought.
To provide the Deputy with an indication of the potential costs associated with increased places the HEA have estimated potential costs to the Exchequer based on existing levels of funding provided by the HEA towards such places. In this regard the full-year cost of adding an additional 1,000 level 8 places at Third Level is estimated to be approximately €8.5m.
Please note the following:
- The approximated amount represents the estimated additional cost to the HEA (excluding the €3,000 student contribution – some students may be eligible to have this paid under SUSI). The estimate is based on the 2022 standard resource.
- There may be other costs that fall to DFHERIS – e.g. student supports – SUSI grants, etc.
- This amount excludes other additional costings which may arise or may be met by other agencies and Departments.
- The above amount is the cost for one cohort of additional 1,000 Level 8 students.
Further and Higher Education
Questions (269)
Paul Murphy
Question:269. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of adding an additional 1,000 level 6 and level 7 places at third level. [45283/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department allocates funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to designated Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The HEA provides block grant funding to the Higher Education Sector, from within the allocation available, through the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which is driven by overall student numbers. The grant is allocated as a block grant as a contribution towards teaching, research and supporting activities. The internal allocation is a matter for each institution.It is also important to note that HEIs are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation, as such the management of the academic affairs, including the curriculum and instruction and education provided are generally matters for the relevant institution, In this regard it is open to individual institutions to increase the number of level 6 and 7 undergraduate places without an increased cost to the Exchequer necessarily arising.
As the deputy will appreciate the costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought.
To provide the Deputy with an indication of the potential costs associated with increased places the HEA have estimated potential costs to the Exchequer based on existing levels of funding provided by the HEA towards such places. In this regard the full-year cost of adding an additional 1,000 places across level 6 and level 7 places at Third Level is estimated to be approximately €6,000,000.
Please note the following:
- The approximated amount represents the estimated additional cost to the HEA (excluding the €3,000 student contribution – some students may be eligible to have this paid under SUSI). The estimate is based on the 2022 standard resource.
- There may be other costs that fall to DFHERIS – e.g. student supports – SUSI grants, etc.
- This amount excludes other additional costings which may arise or may be met by other agencies and Departments.
- The above amount is the cost for one cohort of additional 1,000 Level 6 and Level 7 students.