Written Answers Nos. 286-293
286. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 1 December 2022, if he will instruct the Higher Education Authority to include a criterion of regional balance as part of the expression of interest for delivering increased numbers in veterinary medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61468/22]
View answerThe Higher Education Authority recently sought expressions of interest from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary.
This process has been designed to respond swiftly to national skills needs, and Expressions of Interest were sought from institutions with capability to expand existing courses or create new courses in these areas from academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26. The closing date for submissions to the HEA was Friday, 18th November 2022.
Two of the key criteria set out in the Expression of Interest form request the institutions responding to give a rationale for the ‘location and regional relevance’ and ‘relevance to institutional, regional and national strategy’ in their responses to the EOI, and the resultant data will be collated, and the spread of regional demand assessed, in due course.
The HEA is currently reviewing applications with a view to moving to the second stage of the assessment process, which will involve review by an expert panel. I understand that the HEA has been in contact with institutions to advise them of the next steps. As the process is ongoing the HEA is not releasing further details at this point in time.
287. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of personal assistants employed, both directly and indirectly, by each ETB in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61469/22]
View answerSOLAS allocates the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) to the Education and Training Boards (ETBs), who independently manage the funding allocations to providers for services and accommodations required to support PLC students with disabilities.
Some ETBs engage external service providers to provide personal assistant services while other ETBs directly employ personal assistants. As noted in the SOLAS Guidelines, where an ETB or Further Education College employs personnel to deliver supports to individual students, responsibility for the terms of employment rests with the individual ETB/ Further Education College.
My officials have compiled the following breakdown on the employment of personal assistants from information provided by the ETBs:
|
ETB |
Personal Assistants Employed Directly |
Personal Assistants via external providers |
|
Cavan and Monaghan ETB |
12 |
N/A |
|
City of Dublin ETB |
N/A |
60 |
|
Cork ETB |
27 |
N/A |
|
Donegal ETB |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Galway and Roscommon ETB |
N/A |
11 |
|
Kerry ETB |
8 |
No |
|
Kildare and Wicklow ETB |
N/A |
None currently |
|
Kilkenny and Carlow ETB |
3 |
No |
|
Laois and Offaly ETB |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Limerick and Clare ETB |
3 |
No |
|
Longford and Westmeath ETB |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Louth and Meath ETB |
15 |
No |
|
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB |
7 |
No |
|
Tipperary ETB |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Waterford and Wexford ETB |
2 |
No |
|
Total |
77 |
71 |
288. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details of all the social care courses available and their status with regard to CORU registration in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61470/22]
View answerThe table below proves a list of all the degrees (ordinary or honours) with the phrase “social care” in the title (all mode of study).
CORU will open the Social Care Workers Register on the 30 November 2023. This will begin a 2-year transition period during which existing practitioners may apply to register with CORU. On 30 November 2025, the title 'Social Care Worker' will become a legally protected title in Ireland. This positive milestone will ensure all service users receive the highest standards of care and empower CORU to act when any deficiencies are identified.
The Social Care Worker Registration Board is currently processing programme approval applications and intends to create an Approved Qualifications Bye-Law in April 2023. This Bye-Law will identify qualifications awarded in the State which are approved by the Social Care Worker Registration Board as attesting to the standard of proficiency required for registration with the Social Care Worker Registration Board.
While CORU cannot comment on any applications currently being processed, individual education and training providers may communicate where they have been notified by the Registration Board of an outcome. My officials wrote to the Presidents of Social Care Providers in receipt of public funding in September 2022 asking for a communication to issue to all Social Care students providing an update on the CORU accreditation status of each course. Higher Education Institutions may also have information in respect of their current status with CORU on the relevant course website page. CORU remain available to support existing practitioners and provide guidance on the entry routes to the Social Care Workers Register.
|
Institute |
Course Name |
Progtype Desc |
Isced Discipline |
|
Athlone IT |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN APPLIED SOCIAL CARE |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Cork IT |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Care Work |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts Social Care |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts Social Care Work |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Dublin Institute of Technology |
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Dundalk IT |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0310) Social and behavioural sciences not further defined or elsewhere classified |
|
(0922) Child care and youth services |
|||
|
Galway-Mayo IT |
BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONOURS) IN APPLIED SOCIAL CARE |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN APPLIED SOCIAL CARE |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
IT Blanchardstown |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Applied Social Studies in Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Leadership and Management in Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care and Social Studies |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Leadership and Management in Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Care and Social Studies |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Care and Social Studies |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts Applied Social Studies in Social Care |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
IT Carlow |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care) |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0920) Welfare not further defined or elsewhere classified |
|
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|||
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Professional Social Care Practice |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care) |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts in Professional Social Care Practice |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
IT Sligo |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0922) Child care and youth services |
|
IT Tallaght |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Applied Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
IT Tralee |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Bachelor of Arts in Social Care |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Letterkenny IT |
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) in Health and Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0910) Health not further defined or elsewhere classified |
|
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) in Health & Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0910) Health not further defined or elsewhere classified |
|
|
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) in Health & Social Carein Health & Social Care/Ageing & Care/Disabilit |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0910) Health not further defined or elsewhere classified |
|
|
BSc Health & Social Care (MN) |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0910) Health not further defined or elsewhere classified |
|
|
Limerick IT |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Advanced Social Care StudiesSocial Care Work |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Care Work |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
Bachelor of Arts Social Care Work |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
National University of Ireland, Galway |
Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Waterford IT |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice |
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|
|
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN APPLIED SOCIAL CARE |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0922) Child care and youth services |
|
|
(0923) Social work and counselling |
|||
|
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care |
Undergraduate General Degree |
(0922) Child care and youth services |
|
|
(0923) Social work and counselling |
289. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 525 of 29 November 2022, if funding allocated to the student assistance fund can be used or applied for to help repeat students cover their fees and registration costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61520/22]
View answerThe Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards the costs of rent, childcare, transport costs and books/class materials.
Students on full or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (NQF level 6-10) in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply for the SAF. Students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding. However, funding is not available to assist students with the costs of tuition fees, registration fees, student loans or any costs that are borne by the HEI. There are no plans to change the current SAF guidelines.
Students who experience financial difficulty should contact the access or student services office in the institution they are attending for further information on how to apply for the SAF.
290. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a student (details supplied) is entitled to the €1,000 cost-of-living support payment for third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61524/22]
View answerA key principle of the design of the free fees initiative and the SUSI scheme is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, with very limited exceptions, students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level.
What this means is that the once off student contribution support of €1,000 therefore does not apply to students undertaking a repeat period of study if that period of study is not eligible for the free fees scheme in this academic year.
The assessment of eligibility under the Free Fees Initiative in individual cases is a matter for each institution to determine within the terms of the scheme and it is not possible for my Department to advise on the determinations made by individual institutions. Where a student requires guidance on the determination of eligibility for free fees it is necessary that a student engage with the fees office of the institution attended.
Where students do not qualify for the Department’s free fees schemes, an appropriate repeat or tuition fee may be determined by each higher education institution as autonomous bodies.
I have allocated over €17 million in funding for the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. This Fund provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution.
291. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding that was provided to Limerick from his Department in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [61579/22]
View answerAs the Deputy requested, please find below the details of the capital funding for projects in Limerick for 2022.
Further Education and Training:
|
|
Location |
Project / Programme |
Amount |
|
Limerick Clare ETB |
Limerick –College of Further Education |
Mechanical and Electrical Works |
€122,966 |
|
|
Limerick NZEB Centre of Excellence |
Capital Grant |
€822,416 |
|
|
FET Organic Campus, Drumcollogher |
Mechanical and Electrical Works |
€39,835 |
|
|
|
Devolved Grant 2022 |
*€580,000 |
|
|
|
Apprenticeship Capital Grant - Equipment |
**€274,792 |
* The FET Devolved Grant for Limerick Clare ETB is at their discretion to allocate across their remit.
** The Apprenticeship Grant award is for apprenticeship equipment across the Limerick Clare ETB region
Higher Education:
|
Higher Education Institutions: |
University of Limerick |
Devolved Grant 2022/2023 |
€3,883,148 |
|
Mary Immaculate College |
Devolved Grant 2022/2023 |
€663,527 |
|
|
Technological University of the Shannon |
Devolved Grant 2022/2023 |
*** €2,991,726 |
*** The HE Devolved Grant dispersed to TUS in July 2022 was for the Limerick and Athlone Campuses. It is a matter for the TUS to determine how the funding is allocated across the campuses.
292. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the action that is being taken by Government to combat the chronic deficiencies in victim identification and referral of human trafficking victims in the Irish fishing sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61368/22]
View answerHuman trafficking is an exploitive crime that preys on the vulnerable. I have been clear that there is no place for it in our society.
We know vulnerable people are trafficked into Ireland for exploitation reasons, including sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced criminality.
The Government is fully committed to working to identify and support victims of this terrible crime.
I strongly refute the unfounded allegations of widespread human trafficking in the fishing industry. All allegations of human trafficking in Ireland are fully investigated by An Garda Síochána and files are submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions where An Garda Síochána considers it appropriate to do so.
As the Deputy will know, the DPP is independent of Government and indeed of An Garda Síochána and decisions made by the DPP regarding prosecutions are made on the basis of evidence.
Human trafficking is a particularly heinous crime, but it does not serve victims to conflate other abuses in the labour market, for example; non-payment or late-payment of wages; paying below the minimum wage; poor health and safety and working conditions with human trafficking
The General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022, published in July, will put a revised National Referral Mechanism (NRM) on a statutory footing, making it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified, and access support.
In addition to An Garda Síochána, it is being proposed that a number of agencies will become competent authorities for the identification of victims of human trafficking. These include the Workplace Relations Commission, as well as the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Justice Immigration Services, the HSE, Tusla and International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS). Some NGOs will also be designated as ‘trusted partners’ and be allowed make referrals to the competent authorities. This will provide an alternative and trusted pathway to recognition by a competent authority.
A review of the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) for non-EEA fishers was recently carried out by officials from my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
As part of its work, the Review Group consulted with various stakeholders involved in the Scheme. Among the submissions received, there was substantial support for a transition of immigration and work permission for this cohort from the Atypical Working Scheme to the Employment Permit system including the opening up of a pathway as a result of such a transition for fishers to eventually receive Stamp 4 permission.
On the above basis, the key recommendation of the report, was for such a transition to take place. This Report was presented to government by Minister McEntee in October 2022 and the recommendations made therein were approved.
Steps have been taken to implement the transfer of permissions to the Employment Permit system including the closure of AWS to new applications on 31 December 2022.
Separately, the General Scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants closed on 31 July 2022. This once in a generation scheme was designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.
293. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the procedures in place that allow a member of the public to object to a barrister being appointed as a judge. [61436/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that there are no procedures in place currently that allow a member of the public to object to a barrister being appointed as a judge. However, the Deputy will be aware that the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022 was published on 8 April 2022, taking into account the outcome both of widespread consultations and key aspects of a comprehensive pre-legislative scrutiny report prepared by an Oireachtas Committee. This represents an important step forward in the reform of the judicial appointments process, as committed to in Justice Plan 2022. I look forward to working with all members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to bring this legislation to enactment.I might also add that the first point of contact for new complaints in relation to the professional conduct of solicitors and barristers is the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA), which is the independent regulator for the provision of legal services in the State under the relevant terms of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. The separate and independent Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal deals with those serious allegations of professional misconduct by solicitors or barristers referred to it by the Authority.
