Written Answers Nos. 94-108
94. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the work-life balance directive was transposed into national law by the deadline of 2 August 2022; and if not, the penalties that will be imposed on Ireland as a result of his Department failing to meet Ireland’s obligations under European law. [46090/22]
View answerOn 21 April the Government gave its approval for the drafting of a Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill. The main purpose of the proposed legislation is to transpose elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and to provide new rights to parents and carers in order to support a better work life balance.
Under the proposed legislation, parents and carers will see a right to request flexible working in line with Article 9 of the Directive and the introduction of five days leave per year for medical care purposes in line with Article 6.
The General Scheme was referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting and was also referred for pre-legislative scrutiny to the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which published its report on 9 June. The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 was brought to Government this week seeking approval to publish and its introduction to the Houses.
Unfortunately it was not possible to finalise this Bill in time for it to be introduced to the Oireachtas and enacted before the summer recess due to the significant volume of current legislative work and the importance in ensuring that the Directive is correctly transposed. However the proposals under the General Scheme were formally communicated to the EU Commission, along with information on how Ireland has transposed other aspects of the Directive, including the extension of the entitlement to Parent's Leave and Benefit to seven weeks earlier this month.
The Bill will be advanced in the Houses imminently. Once enacted, the Commission will be formally notified.
95. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish the conclusions of the review that his Department undertook in 2021 on domestic violence paid leave; and if a copy of this review has been provided to the agencies and organisations that participated in it. [46108/22]
View answerSince its formation, this Government has made it clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a key priority. Conscious of the risk of poverty that those fleeing domestic violence face, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the feasibility of providing paid leave and social protection supports to victims of domestic violence.
The issue of domestic violence leave has been researched by officials in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This research has included consideration of domestic violence leave at international level, identifying best practice and developing a suitable model for roll-out in Ireland.
The Department engaged in a targeted consultation process with relevant stakeholders and social partners to examine how a scheme of leave should operate to address the needs of victims most effectively. This has included consulting with the monitoring committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, employers' groups and trade unions. Stakeholders of the National Equality Strategy Committees have also been consulted.
I have met with a number of employer representative bodies in relation to the domestic violence leave, as well as on the upcoming Work Life Balance Bill, including IBEC, Chambers Ireland and ICTU. A report has been prepared based on this work, which was brought to Government this week. The report includes recommendations on how best to support employees experiencing domestic abuse, including proposals for the introduction of domestic violence leave. I intend to progress this leave as part of the Work Life Balance Bill.
The report will very shortly be available on Gov.ie and shared with all stakeholders who participated in the consultation process.
96. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare facilities registered with his Department that have ceased business in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46123/22]
View answerAs 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.
97. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take fresh initiatives to support the opening of new services in areas where there is a proven lack of adequate supply, confirmed by the local childcare committee. [46133/22]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority.
Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. Every year, more than 100,000 children participate on the universal pre-school programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidises up to 80,000 children.
Before the onset of Covid-19, national data indicated that, on the whole, supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups including children under 3, and in certain areas.
Data gathered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic revealed lower demand for early learning and childcare, and reduced occupancy among early learning and childcare services.
My Department has continued to monitor early learning and childcare capacity, with a particular focus on monitoring Covid-19 impacts as public health restrictions have been lifted and on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families. Data captured earlier this year parallels the pre-Covid-19 context, whereby the supply of early learning and childcare places is meeting demand though there is evidence of undersupply for certain age groups including children under 3, and in certain areas.
The network of 30 CCC across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places. In addition, CCC have been mobilised to engage proactively with services to identify vacant places and to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
In addition to this, a range of steps are being taken to address issues of under supply.
Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places.
Under the National Action Plan for Childminding, I have committed to opening up access to the NCS to parents who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders, which is expected to happen within the first 2-3 years of the Plan.
My Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, is in the process of updating the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings.
Finally, the new Core Funding Scheme, introduced in September, provides funding for services aligned to costs of delivery. This means higher levels of funding is available to services that cater for younger children where costs of delivery are higher. There is already emerging evidence of improved capacity in the sector in response to Core Funding, as demonstrated by a 31% and 261% increase in ‘change in circumstances’ applications to Tusla from early learning and care and school-age childcare services respectively who are seeking to expand the scale and scope of their provision.
98. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider steps to simplify the registration of childminders delivering service from a home; and if he will consider ways of supporting such provision where there is a shortage of registered childcare services delivering under the various national childcare supports. [46134/22]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 sets out a plan for extending State support and regulation to childminding on a phased basis over the coming years, with accelerated access to subsidies for childminders through the National Childcare Scheme. The overall objective of the National Action Plan for Childminding is to improve access to high quality and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare through childminding.
To do this, the Action Plan sets out an incremental and supportive pathway to regulation. This will enable more childminders to access Government subsidies, making their services more affordable to parents. It will also enable them to access a variety of supports to assist them in meeting regulatory and quality requirements. In achieving this overall objective, the Action Plan will contribute to the aims of supporting parental choice, and increasing access to affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare places. It will help support labour market participation for parents, and offer more flexibility for parents who work irregular hours. It will help improve the quality of provision, supporting child outcomes, and provide greater recognition and support for childminders.
The Action Plan has a number of specific objectives including:
- Enable a far greater number of parents who use childminders to benefit from subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme.
- Support quality assurance of childminders and safeguarding of children through extending the scope of regulation and inspection to all paid, non-relative childminders.
- Provide greater recognition of childminders and develop appropriate childminder regulations and inspection processes to reflect the home environment in which childminders work.
- Provide a supportive, phased transition process, to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for this reform.
- Support retention and recruitment of childminders.
A programme of actions is already under way during Phase 1 of the National Action Plan for Childminding to support childminders to come into the scope of regulation and supports. Actions under way include the development of new, childminder-specific regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home environment in which childminders work, as well as the development of new, bespoke training for childminders.
The National Action Plan for Childminding commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements.
99. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the roll-out of a scheme in an area (details supplied) to ensure that the programme is adequate for small-scale providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46149/22]
View answerOn 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare.
Together for Better is underpinned by an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). This new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families.
Together for Better brings together three major elements, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and Core Funding, in line with the Employment Regulation Orders coming into effect.
I am pleased that, so far, 90% of early learning and childcare providers – almost 4,000 services – have become Partner Services under Core Funding, committing to working in partnership with the State for the public good, and to a freeze on parental fees at September 2021 rates.
Core Funding 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 is designed specifically as a funding stream related to the costs of delivery. Core Funding is based on operating hours, number of places offered by services, and the age group of children for whom the places are offered, given the staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for different care categories. It follows that services opening for longer hours or offering more places will receive a higher value of Core Funding than other services. This is because their costs of operation are higher.
For example, ECCE is 15 hours per week over 38 weeks of the year. This amounts to 570 hours per year and is equivalent to 23% of the annual hours of a full day service operating from 8am to 6pm for 50 weeks of the year. ECCE ratio requirements are 11 children to one adult. Services offering places for 1-2 year olds can have a maximum of 5 children to one adult. ECCE therefore has less than half the hourly staffing requirement of a service for 1-2 year olds.
Core Funding allows for an estimated 19% increase in the total cost base for the sector. The vast majority of services will see substantial increases in funding. No service will see a decrease in funding. For any service that does experience financial difficulties, a Sustainability Fund will be put 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.
Together for Better, the new funding model being implemented, aims to transform the sector with a higher degree of public investment and public management. This transformation starts with Core Funding and the new approach will entail a shift in the relationship between the State and providers in relation to delivering ELC and SAC, with new responsibilities on both sides.
Core Funding is open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the funding, including financial transparency and fee management. Some providers take the view that the autonomy of their business is of greater value to them than committing to offering services under the conditions and investment levels on offer through Core Funding, ECCE and NCS.
Participation in Core Funding is, of course, optional. Of the 90% participation country wide, this currently ranges from 82% uptake in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. 148 services Partner Services in Dun Laoghaire have joined the scheme and the remaining 30 may choose to do so at a later point. Providers are encouraged to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for support in understanding the benefits and impacts of Core Funding for their service or if they require any assistance with the application process.
I look forward to working with Partner Services together for better early learning and childcare.
100. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to provide financial support to persons wishing to enter and or remain in third level education. [46300/22]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. It assists over 70,000 students annually to access third level education.
Particular priority is afforded to those on the lowest incomes and social welfare dependents through the special rate of grant, which is payable at the higher non-adjacent rate of €6,115 or the adjacent rate of €2,575, depending on the distance travelled to the college attended.
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. A student may wish to discuss his/her individual circumstances with the SUSI Support Desk by calling 0818 888 777.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). Students can apply for the SAF to help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties and can be assisted towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs, medical costs and books/class materials. This Fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis and assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.
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.
I would also encourage students to review information on the student assistant fund, the fund for students with Disabilities and other financial supports available at www.studentfinance.ie and to contact their Access Office in the third level institution attended for details of any further supports.
At this time, it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome or funding for student support measures in advance of Government's Budget 2023 announcement on 27th September.
101. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm receipt of a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46067/22]
View answerWith the launch of Zero Tolerance the Third National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Strategy, I have been very clear that the tertiary education and training sector must lead the way in changing cultures, behaviours and practices across society to ensure that bullying and sexual harassment are not tolerated. There is a particular responsibility on those charged with educating the next generation in ensuring that their learners are equipped to lead the change more widely across society.
I fully support the core principle underpinning the strategy that we must take a zero tolerance approach. Everyone is entitled to a safe environment to study and work free from violence and harassment, and that informs the policy approaches and interventions that have been adopted across the sector.
Tackling sexual violence and harassment has been and will continue to be a particular policy priority for me and my Department. In fact, one of the very first actions I took after my appointment as Minister in 2020 was to write to all publicly funded higher education institutions outlining my commitment to tackling sexual violence and harassment in higher education and requesting that institutions take a number of actions in this area, including the development of institutional action plans on tackling sexual violence and harassment. All publicly-funded institutions now have such action plans in place.
The Framework for Consent in Higher Education, which was launched in 2019, has had funding of over €400,000 allocated to a number of initiatives since its launch.
In addition, the Higher Education Authority has allocated funding of over €500,000 towards consent workshops, the development of the anonymous report and support tool, and the UCC Bystander intervention programme.
I am committed to ensuring that these initiatives and any further actions required, successfully deliver on the objective of securing zero tolerance of sexual harassment and gender based violence across the entire tertiary education sector.
With regard to the Deputy’s specific query, I wish to confirm that the submission to which he refers has been received by my Department. I will continue to work closely with my colleague Minister McEntee and other ministers; to ensure a coordinated approach that will deliver on the intent of the new strategy to create a culture of zero tolerance to any form of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
102. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work he and his Department are undertaking, if any, to ensure all students have fair and equitable online access to further and higher education in light of the ongoing student accommodation crisis; if he agrees that high-level institutions must be proactive and flexible in providing online and remote opportunities to students where possible in view of the fact that the difficulties students have in securing appropriate accommodation; his plans, if any, to issue updated guidance to higher level institutions regarding remote learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46115/22]
View answerHigher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under this legislation the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes, including the mode of delivery of programmes of study. HEIs have taken significant steps to ensure that teaching and learning is enhanced by the integrated use of digital technologies, both on-campus and remotely.
Many HEIs are and will be developing new blended learning programmes for validation. Such programmes need to be designed, delivered and assessed within an approved quality assurance framework developed by HEIs with reference to the Statutory Quality Assurance Guidelines for Providers of Blended Learning Programmes.
Programmes that are delivered partially or fully online, need to be developed with that mode of delivery in mind rather than merely being translated or transferred from the original face-to-face programme model.
In 2021, key stakeholders from across the higher education sector worked collaboratively to reflect on the sudden move to online/remote learning in higher education, gather related evidence and to agree a way forward post-pandemic. Partners included the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, QQI, USI, representative bodies of HEIs, and others. The resulting report, ‘Next Steps for Teaching and Learning: Moving Forward Together’ was launched in November 2021. The report includes recommendations for the sector with regard to blended/remote teaching and learning and the use of technology to ensure that higher education is as flexible, resilient and equitable as possible for all who learn, all who teach, all who support and lead, and our wider communities.
In June 2022, the HEA announced €37.62m in funding for the ‘National Technological University Transformation for Recovery and Resilience' (NTUTORR) programme. The programme was informed by the Next Steps report and this funding will enable the technological sector to systematise the learnings from the experience of digitally enabled education and support the provision of digitally enhanced teaching, learning and assessment to meet the needs of staff, students, and enterprise in the regions.
The fourth National Access Plan, 2022 to 2028, which launched last month, places an emphasis on student- centred goals, including flexibility. It aims to support students to study on a flexible basis including part-time and blended learning, and identify connectivity supports for remote learning. This is a seven-year plan with an additional dedicated investment of €35 million over the course of the plan.
Regarding student accommodation I am conscious that some students are struggling to find affordable accommodation but fundamentally the challenge is one of supply of housing supply more generally. As a country, we know that 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 taking up office, both my Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on as ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector and relevant stakeholders on student accommodation issues including within the context of the advancement of the Government's Housing for All policy.
Specifically, in June this year I met with the presidents and chairs of all the traditional universities and technological universities to discuss any immediate proposals they may have identified or be able to identify in relation to any additional student accommodation provision that may be pursued in the short to medium terms and the Department is continuing to liaise with the higher education institutions in this regard. In a welcome development hundreds of additional bed spaces have been made available by higher education institutions this academic year and an additional 674 beds at the University of Galway are due to open later next year.I am also pursuing a new policy on student accommodation. For the first time, this policy would see the State assist with the cost of building student accommodation beds in return for affordable rents for students. Progressing this policy was agreed at the Cabinet Committee on Housing in July and detailed work is currently being advanced with a section dedicated to student accommodation having been established in my Department. Department Officials have met with the HEA and further meetings are taking place with representative bodies and stakeholders this week as well as with individual Higher Education Institutes with a view to developing pathways to accommodation and accelerating their delivery. Meetings with students and stakeholders are also being arranged. My Department is also ready to work with any of the new technological universities to support them to borrow to build student accommodation.
On rent affordability, restrictions have also been put in place to limit the amount that students can be required to pay up-front for their accommodation, ending the practice whereby students were required to pay a lump sum up-front each term. The total amount that anyone is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy is now no more than the equivalent of 2 months’ rent – that is one month’s rent, and one month’s deposit.
Student accommodation is subject to rent pressure zone caps and students now have recourse to the Residential Tenancies Board for dispute resolution. In addition to the extra accommodation which is being put in place this year, amounting to hundreds of beds, I am encouraging homeowners to consider renting out a room in their house for students. A homeowner can rent a room, retain their social welfare entitlements where applicable and earn up to €14,000 in rental income before having to pay tax.
All higher education institutions 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 many also maintain online databases where students can search for and check out accommodation, advertisements for room rentals can be placed and advice on sample rental agreements provided. Institutions are actively promoting this option in their localities.
103. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the dates on which each of the five stages that he referenced with respect to the administrative process in a higher-education policy debate concerning the aspiration to expand the footprint of South East Technological University Waterford in Seanad Éireann on 14 September 2022, were met with respect to the past 10 such projects that have completed all stages in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46171/22]
View answerAll capital projects advanced by publicly funded Higher Education Institutions must comply with the provisions of the Public Spending Code, while site acquisitions must also be conducted in accordance with relevant guidance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
There can be considerable variation in the time it takes to move a property acquisition through the approval stages, taking account of complexity, cost, valuation, identified risks and other site-specific issues and developments.
Since the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in 2020, there has been one site acquisition completed in the technological sector. This was by GMIT (now Atlantic Technological University) in Galway. I would refer the Deputy to my response to PQ45512 of 20 September 2022 in relation to the key milestones relating to that acquisition.
104. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a schedule of financial supports available to persons and or their family household in respect of their ambition to attend and or remain in third level education that are not eligible for SUSI. [46299/22]
View answerThe 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. A student may wish to discuss his/her individual circumstances with the SUSI Support Desk by calling 0818 888 777.
A very important feature of the scheme is the change of circumstances provision. If a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, they can apply to SUSI to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision of the relevant Student Grant Scheme. The income of all parties to the application will be assessed or reassessed on current income and applicants may also be asked to provide evidence of same.
Any student who believes his/her student grant application has been assessed incorrectly may also avail of the opportunities to appeal to SUSI and subsequently to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
My department provides funding for students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need, through the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). Students can apply for the SAF to help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties and can be assisted with the cost of:
- books and class materials
- rent and other utility bills
- food
- essential travel
- childcare costs
- medical costs
This Fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis and assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.
The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) supports participation by students with a disability in further and higher education.
I would also encourage students to review information on the student assistant fund, the fund for students with Disabilities and other financial supports available at www.studentfinance.ie and to contact their Access Office in the third level institution attended.
105. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of his engagement with third level education providers to reduce fees and make access to third level education a viable option for all. [46301/22]
View answerOn 5th of September, in advance of the Budget, I published, for the first time, a costs of education paper which will set out the possible policy options, and their indicative costs, to aid public discussion on how we should prioritise any interventions to address costs of education. The paper “Funding the Future, an annual options paper on reducing the cost of higher education can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/28c9d-funding-the-future-an-annual-options-paper-on-reducing-the-cost-of-higher-education/
This paper is further step in deepening my commitment to the progressive consideration and implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education.
I have already taken a number of significant steps in this regard, including major changes to the SUSI student support scheme and the elimination of participation fees for PLC courses from this September.
As the Deputy will be aware, fee levels vary across the institutions, disciplines and mode of delivery. Publicly funded Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The level of registration fees and tuition fees to be charged are therefore a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
Under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students. All students eligible for the scheme receive state support whereby the Exchequer pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution. Any proposal to amend EU undergraduate tuition fees rates of eligible courses and charged to eligible students would have a budgetary impact on the exchequer and any change would require prior agreement between the sector, HEA, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In this regard the last agreed amendment was in 2008/2009.
It is important to highlight the very substantial financial support provided for students by Government. This is currently well in excess of half a billion euro, provided by the taxpayer towards tuition fees and the student contribution for students in higher education. This includes State funding of tuition costs amounting to €357m per annum for 146,000 eligible higher education students and €190m paid by the Exchequer under the Student Grant Scheme in respect of all or some of the €3,000 student contribution which benefits over 65,000 eligible students.
It is important to recognise that the overall funding provided by the student contribution, which is shared between the students and families and the State, is a significant element of the income of our higher education institutions. The student contribution rate therefore requires consideration not just in the context of costs of education for families but also in terms of implications for the sustainable model of funding higher education.
I have, however, been clear and consistent in stating that I believe the value of the student contribution share, as paid by students and families compared to the states contribution, is too high and that a priority for me in the forthcoming Estimates process will be to seek a reduction for student and families with an increase in the funding provided by the state, particularly in the context of the cost of living challenges being experienced by families.
My policy position in this regard was articulated in Funding our Future, the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future funding of higher education. Sustainable funding for the sector and measures to address the cost of education must proceed in tandem if we are to meet our ambition of improved outcomes for learners and the system as a whole.
As I look towards the next budgetary cycle, I will be examining all the levers I have to address the cost of education in a way that has impact for students and families and that applies broadly and fairly across society. Unfortunately at this time it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome or funding for student support measures in advance of Government's Budget 2023 announcement on 27th September.
106. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice to confirm receipt of a submission (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46068/22]
View answerThe Government's budgetary strategy has been outlined in the Summer Economic Statement, which is published on gov.ie, and all matters in relation to additional funding proposals are being considered within the parameters set out.
The budgetary process is currently underway and Estimates for all votes will be published on Budget Day.
107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if members of the uniformed Prison Service who took part in recent centenary commemorations did not receive the appropriate commemorative medals that were awarded to others; if there was a particular reason for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46132/22]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to the recent events to commemorate the centenary of the founding of An Garda Síochána. While the Irish Prisons Service was represented at the recent centenary celebrations, the Irish Prisons Service had no role in the event or any associated medal giving ceremony.
108. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice when a family (details supplied) in County Longford can expect a date for an inquest from the Coroner’s Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46165/22]
View answerCoroners are independent, quasi-judicial office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. The exercise of these statutory powers by a Coroner during an inquest is entirely a matter for the relevant Coroner.
My Department does not have a role in directing the work of coroners or in individual death investigation cases.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made of both the Longford Coroner and the Dublin Coroner. Both Coroners have informed me that there is no record of death on 22/04/2022 for a lady of the description furnished.
