Written Answers Nos. 200-222
200. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the qualifications of affordable rents that third level institutions must abide by if they are to receive State funding for the building of student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62540/22]
View answerMy Department has been engaged intensively in the context both of the pressures within the student and residential rental market. This combined with the escalation in building costs which has slowed the construction of purpose built student accommodation by publicly funded higher education institutions, are presenting significant difficulties for students in terms of supply and affordability of accommodation.
In response to these pressures on 29th November I received Government approval to proceed with a dual track approach to respond to the issue of affordable student accommodation. The approach adopted will see the State assist with the cost of building student accommodation so as to ensure increased availability and promote greater access, in particular for priority student groups identified in the National Access Plan which was published in August.
Central to this new policy is promotion of the delivery of additional student accommodation and provision of resources to ensure that those most in need are prioritised.
The immediate priority response is to deliver on projects where planning permission have been activated already exists but where developments have not proceeded due to increasing construction costs. Support for three such proposals is being made available in respect of the University of Limerick, Maynooth University and the University of Galway; subject to the necessary completion of procurement, legal parameters or other requirements of the public spending code. The proposals entail up to 700 additional beds of which it is anticipated that at least 30% will be made available at discounted rates for defined priority groups.
My officials and the HEA are currently working to finalise the details of this short term response and undertake the necessary compliance checks. In addition long term policy responses are being developed which will be informed through a data based approach. This data is currently being co-ordinated for analysis. Further details will be made available once these processes have been formalised.
201. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update into the review of PhD stipends; when a report can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62541/22]
View answerMy Department has begun a national review of State supports for PhD researchers.
In this regard, I was pleased to recently appoint Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney as Co-Chairs for the review.
The scope of the review includes:
- Current PhD researcher supports including financial supports (stipends, SUSI supports and others);
- The adequacy, consistency and equity of current arrangements across research funders and higher education institutions, including equity and welfare considerations;
- The status of PhD researchers (student, employee) including a review of international comparators and models;
- Impact on the funding of research programmes of any adjustments to current supports;
- Graduate outcomes for PhD graduates including return on investment/benefits to the researcher;
- Visa requirements and duration for non-EU students.
The Review, informed by a robust evidence base, will be completed in early 2023. The review will look at issues of adequacy, taking account of costs and other issues, such as the exemption of the PhD stipend from income tax.
A list of the stakeholders that will be consulted as part of the review has not yet been agreed. However, it is anticipated that key stakeholders will be consulted as part of the review including, importantly, those representing PhD research students. It is also envisaged that a public call for submissions will be made.
202. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that students of graduate entry medicine cannot receive funding from private banks or the SUSI grant; if he is taking steps to find alternative funding streams for these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62543/22]
View answerThe loans available for Graduate Entry Medicine students are private arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans. However, I do understand from both students who have written to me and engagement with the relevant higher education institutions that the availability of such loans has been important in supporting people, including mature students, to study medicine.
Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study medicine. Students pursuing graduate entry medicine (GEM) programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants.
The total level of fees charged to graduate entry medicine students is a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy, and it is not open to my Department to intervene in the tuition fee policy of the institutions.
However, the State does provide support directly to higher education institutions for Graduate Entry Medicine programmes in order to widen access and assist the students pursuing these programmes. The balance of appropriate tuition fees, as determined by the institution, is payable by the student.
In July 2022, Government approved a proposal from my Department and the Department of Health to increase the number of medicine places per annum by 200 by 2026, and move the funding of medicine places to a more sustainable basis. This has included an increase of 60 places in 2022/2023; 55 of these places are on direct entry programmes, and five are Graduate Entry Medicine. For new Graduate Entry Medicine places, the State contribution will increase to €14,500 (from the current level of €11,950). For existing places, an increase in the State contribution will be phased in to this level. This measure is designed to strengthen the sustainability of funding of Graduate Entry Medicine places and to increase the number of places on offer to Irish/EU students.
The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP) identifies target groups that are currently under-represented in higher education. These include entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education who would not have considered attending higher education without such supports. The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund is the funding mechanise established to implement the National Access Plan (NAP). There are three strands to the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH). Strand 2 provides bursaries (1916 Bursary) to students who have been identified by their higher education institution as being the most socio-economically disadvantaged students in the target groups under the National Access Plan. I have recently changed the rules so that students who hold a 1916 Bursary may continue their bursary if they wish to participate in Graduate Entry Medicine.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may also be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that 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. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.”
203. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether there is room for progress in the SUSI application process for those students who are estranged from their parents or are from single-parent households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62544/22]
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.
For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1st October. Otherwise, he/she would be assessed as a dependent student, i.e., assessed with reference to parental income and address.
Article 21(3) (b) of the Scheme states candidates who are under 23 can be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address in exceptional circumstances. This is an issue raised with me frequently and I intend to examine it in 2023.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required time frame (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant). Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.
204. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 288 of 8 December 2022, if he will also request the presidents of social care providers in receipt of public funding to provide an update on the CORU accreditation status of each course to his Department to ensure adequate oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62552/22]
View answerHigher Education Institutions provide the pipeline of graduates into social care work and are keen to work with the regulator to assure their programmes and ensure the registration of graduates of social care programmes upon completion of their degrees. I fully respect CORU's role as an independent regulator and also fully support the regulation of the profession.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and manage their own academic affairs including engagement with regulators in relation to professional accreditation of their programmes. These engagements happen directly between CORU and the HEIs. This process is continuing, with engagements ongoing, and should be allowed to continue.
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. The HEIs communicated the status of their programmes to their students and also updated the relevant programme pages on their websites indicating their current CORU status at that time
Higher Education Institutes are responsible for communicating clearly and honestly with their students in relation to the accreditation status of any programmes they offer. HEIs will continue to update the information on their websites as they move through the various stages of the CORU approval process and will update my department at the appropriate time.
205. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 8 December 2022, if six ETBs (details supplied) spanning nine counties have no personal assistants employed either directly or indirectly; the impact that this may have in terms of supporting people with disabilities accessing further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62554/22]
View answer206. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 8 December 2022, the average annual cost to an ETB of employing a personal assistant; the average cost of employing a personal assistant via external providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62555/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together.
SOLAS administers the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) funding to the Education and Training Boards who independently manage the funding allocations to Post Leaving Centre providers for services and accommodations required to support students with disabilities.
These supports include academic/learning support; assistive technology equipment and software; hearing impaired supports; examination supports; and non-medical supports for learners with a disability.
Need assessments determine the supports and accommodations provided for students and the individual ETB / PLC College is responsible for decisions on the most appropriate support to meet the needs of the student, in accordance with the guidelines issued by SOLAS.
Officials in my Department have contacted the ETBs mentioned. As the Deputy will appreciate the individual learner needs, including requirements for non-medical supports, such as personal assistants, varies from year to year. Any PLC learners with a diagnosed disability that requires them to have the support of a Personal Assistant or other aforementioned supports can access these supports under the Fund for Students with Disabilities. Indeed one of the ETBs listed, KWETB, has since procured personal assistant services.
My Department does not have data regarding the average annual cost to an ETB of employing a personal assistant either internally or externally. It is a matter for the individual ETB/PLC college to determine how the personal assistance services are provided having regard to the capacity of each ETB and the demand, range and complexity of learner needs and the level of expertise and flexibility required. I am aware of the claims being made by personal assistants directly employed by ETBs and by FORSA for improved terms and conditions for these workers who are currently paid on an hourly rate basis.
207. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a student (details supplied) who is doing a repeat year of study is entitled to the €1,000 cost-of-living support grant to reduce their college fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62613/22]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes. Funding through this once-off measure is available to full time undergraduate students eligible for the Department’s free fees schemes in academic year 2022 to 2023.
A 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, students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level.
Where students do not qualify for the Department’s free fees schemes, an appropriate fee may be determined by each higher education institution as autonomous bodies.
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 Deputy may wish to be aware that I have also 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.
208. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the college campus on the north side of Cork city. [62657/22]
View answerI have not been made aware of any plans to develop a new campus on the north side of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with all higher education institutions and Education Training Boards on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans.
My Department is currently supporting a number of key ongoing major capital projects in Cork city, including a new Learning Resource Centre on the MTU Cork Campus, which is part of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership Programme, and a major upgrade project to the 1970s Building on the MTU Cork Campus Bishopstown.
UCC is also approved for funding of €25 million under the first phase of the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund to co-fund a custom-built Business School in Cork city centre.
In addition to this, I launched two new programme calls earlier this year for the Higher Education Sector – the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF II) and Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF).
Under the TSSPF programme call, I am pleased to announce that MTU's application in respect of a proposed upgrade, repurposing and extension to facilities at their Bishopstown Campus has been successful in the first stage of the assessment process and will now move to the next stage of proposal development. This proposal will provide core teaching facilities in the areas of Business, Humanities, Engineering, Science, Health and Well-being, Tourism.
UCC have made an application under HESIF II programme call. The outcome of the evaluation process is expected to be communicated to UCC shortly.
I also announced earlier this year a programme call for the Further Education and Training Sector - College of the Future Major Projects Fund. This programme call will support the implementation of the vision set out in the Further Education Strategy.
Cork ETB's application for their Bishopstown campus for the development of a FET College of the future to act as a focal point for all FET services in Cork incorporating a new Digital FET Centre has been successful in the first stage of the assessment process and will now move to the next stage of proposal development.
209. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to reports that there is no park-and-ride service for college students on the northside of Cork city. [62658/22]
View answerMy Department is willing to work collaboratively with all higher education institutions on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans.
However the provision of public transport is a matter which is outside the remit of my Department and would be more appropriate for the Minister for Transport.
210. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of citizen science projects funded through his Department to date in 2022. [62659/22]
View answerI should first say that my Department allocates specific funding for research through Science Foundation Ireland, the Irish Research Council and the Higher Education Authority. In 2021, SFI and the IRC spent €257 million on targeted research funding. Higher Education Institutions also fund research from their block grants from the HEA, in addition to other calls such as the North-South Research Programme.
Citizen science can and does can benefit from this funding. This can be indirectly as a product of a particular research project, or directly, such as through SFI Discover Programme which has invited applications for training and engagement activities of citizen science projects.
For example, the Irish Research Council’s Enterprise Partnership Scheme is a unique national initiative linking excellent researchers in all disciplines to enterprise. Their New Foundations Scheme supports eligible researchers who intend to pursue research, networking and/or dissemination activities within and across the diversity of disciplines. The IRC also operates the COALESCE Research Fund, which funds research at Principal Investigator level that addresses national and global societal challenges and is run in partnership with a number of Government Departments and agencies, which fund specific strands.
Last year I, along with our Taoiseach, launched Creating our Future – a national brainstorm that involved the people of Ireland in a conversation on the role research can and should play in addressing opportunities, challenges and hopes for the future. During the period from July to November 2021 the public was asked to tell us their idea for what researchers in Ireland should explore to create a better future. The Creating our Future team travelled the length and breadth of the country to engage the public in the conversation. Researchers joined the events to speak directly to communities.
One of those events was hosted by Senator Aisling Dolan in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. Representatives from local business and community groups along with researchers living and working in Ballinasloe gathered to discuss what message they wanted to send to Government through Creating our Future submissions. They were joined by Brendan Smith, Education and Public Engagement Manager at Insight, SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics who delivered an inspiring presentation on the impact that research from that Centre is already having and its potential for the future. Insight is also working with the Europe Direct Centre based at the Ballinasloe Library to provide Citizen Science projects to secondary schools in the locality. I am delighted to hear that Insight is now working with a community group in Oranmore to map their streets on the Crowd4Access Project. Crowd4Access is a citizen science project which empowers citizens to map the accessibility of Irish pavements for those with various mobility challenges. It represents a partnership between citizens and professional technology.
This is precisely the impact we had hoped for Creating our Future – local communities coming together to speak about their challenges, having a conversation with researchers on how their work could help address them and ultimately working together through a citizen science project.
SFI has invested in some citizen science projects through the SFI Discover programme and SFI is currently exploring how to stimulate and support more of these activities through this funding programme.
I attach details of the Citizen Science projects funded in 2022 to date for the IRC and SFI.
SFI have no Citizen Science projects that began in 2022, however, a number of citizen science projects are underway in relation to the environment, these are detailed in the EPA site at the following link:
www.epa.ie/irelandsenvironment/getinvolved/citizenscience/nationalcitizenscienceinitiatives/
A mapping exercise for European funded projects has commenced. Some of these can be seen at the link below:
eu-citizen.science/
211. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students from the northside of Cork city attending Munster Technological University and University College Cork. [62660/22]
View answerThis information is not held by my Department. The majority of our statistics on higher education enrolments are drawn from the Student Records System (SRS) of the HEA.
The number of students attending Munster Technological University (MTU) and University College Cork (UCC) from the northside of Cork City is not available to the HEA.
The most information that can be provided is the number of students from Cork attending MTU Cork and UCC. The total number is 20,012 students in the latest year (2021/22). This does not include the MTU Kerry campus.
212. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details of the current pay grades for apprentices; and if he intends to review these. [62661/22]
View answerAs outlined previously under parliamentary question 36772 (Dáil reference 69) and again under parliamentary question 25373 (Dáil reference 156), -
Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 66 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship.
For the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes, the minimum rates of pay applying under the employment contract are either agreed within the relevant sector, or are set out in legally binding Sectoral Employment Orders recommended by the Labour Court. These minimum rates vary between occupations and sectors but in all cases craft apprenticeship rates are expressed as a proportion of the qualified rate, increasing yearly from 33% of the qualified rate in year one to 90% in year four.
Periods of off-the-job training are funded from the National Training Fund with payments of the agreed rate made directly to craft apprentices by the education and training boards during this time.
Training allowances for apprentices are calculated with reference to gross-wage norms payable in industry for the different trade sectors. The actual allowance received will generally be less as it is based on the net take home pay calculated based on the gross wage norm. The gross-wage norm is per week and the norm to be used will be determined by the industry in which the employer is engaged.
On that basis any review of those rates currently payable is a matter for negotiation and agreement under the appropriate industrial relations structures in place and it would not be appropriate for me to be involved in the determination of apprenticeship pay or training rates.
The training allowance is calculated as follows:
- Weekly gross-wage norm for industry sector €XXX
- Less amount equivalent to the PAYE employee
- PRSI and income levy €XXX (The PAYE deduction is calculated using a single person’s allowance and credits under the PAYE system)
= Net weekly training allowance €XXX
While attending off-the-job training, apprentices are paid a training allowance appropriate to their training phase. Apprentices are not penalised on their training allowances for operational issues that may arise. In circumstances where there has been a delay by SOLAS due to lack of available provision in the offer of a training place the apprentice may be entitled to payment of one phase rate higher e.g. on Phase 2 such apprentices may be paid the Phase 4 rate. On Phase 4 the apprentice may be paid the Phase 6 rate and on Phase 6 apprentices may be paid the fourth year rate. Apprentices may only be paid one phase rate higher than applicable.
In addition to training allowances, craft apprentices attending phases of off-the-job training in an Education and Training Board (ETB) training centre, Institute of Technology or a Technological University are entitled to make an application for either travel or accommodation allowances for the duration of the period of off-the-job training
As employees eligible apprentices are also entitled to access general employment supports through the social welfare system.
213. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices by phase in Cork, both city and county in tabular form. [62662/22]
View answerThe number of apprentices registered in Cork ETB by phase in tabular form is attached.
|
Apprentices registered to Cork ETB (by Phase) |
Craft Apprentices |
Consortia Apprentices |
|
Phase 1 |
1061 |
411 |
|
Phase 2 |
276 |
|
|
Phase 3 |
526 |
|
|
Phase 4 |
150 |
|
|
Phase 5 |
366 |
|
|
Phase 6 |
137 |
|
|
Phase 7 |
84 |
|
|
Grand Total |
2600 |
411 |
214. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount spent on social media advertising in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the amount spent per platform. [62806/22]
View answerThe Department has spent €17,126.90 on social media advertising in 2021 and to date in 2022.
|
Platform |
Amount (€) |
Campaigns |
|
|
4184.08 |
The Right Course; COVID-19 awareness; Student Grant Scheme changes in Budget 2022 |
|
Snapchat |
2710.24 |
COVID-19 awareness; Student Grant Scheme changes in Budget 2022 |
|
Facebook/ Instagram |
9494.58 |
The Right Course; COVID-19 awareness; Student Grant Scheme changes in Budget 2022 |
|
TikTok |
738.00 |
Student Grant Scheme changes in Budget 2022 |
|
Total |
17126.9 |
215. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 630 of 18 October 2022 and 511 of 4 October 2022, when students studying in Northern Ireland and Britain will be able to avail of the once-off €1,000 State financial support towards undergraduate fees; if his attention has been drawn to a commitment that An Taoiseach gave in Dáil Éireann that this issue would be reviewed; if his attention has been further drawn to reports that many of the students studying outside the State, despite excellent Leaving Certificate results, were unable to secure places on their courses of choice in colleges in Ireland; if he agrees that obstacles should not be put in the way of students studying in Northern Ireland, or likewise students from Northern Ireland studying in the State and that one should be encouraging the movement of students on an all-Ireland basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62821/22]
View answerThe main support available to assist students with the cost of higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Students attending an approved undergraduate course in an EU Member State or the United Kingdom can apply for a maintenance grant provided they meet the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme. There is also a special derogation contained within the Student Support Act 2011 which provides supports for postgraduate students attending approved courses in Northern Ireland.
The Budget 2023 cost of living measures include the provision of an additional once-off extra maintenance payment to all SUSI maintenance grant recipients during 2022, including to those attending an approved undergraduate course outside the State. The additional payment is being made this month. For students attending approved courses in Northern Ireland who are eligible for the Postgraduate Fee Contribution, there is a one-off increase in the value of the contribution from €3,500 to €4,500 for the academic year 2022/23, and SUSI will pay the higher amount directly to the student’s college.
In addition, Maintenance Grant rates will also be increasing effective from 1 January 2023, by 14% for those on the Special and Band 1 rate of grant and by 10% for all other Maintenance grant holders.
With regard to the once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee, it is important to note that this relates only to the contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under the Department’s Free Fees schemes. Courses provided outside the State are not approved courses under the Free Fees schemes and therefore the once off student contribution support of €1,000 in 2022/23 cannot apply to students undertaking study in Northern Ireland or other jurisdictions. The Deputy may wish to be aware that provision of supports to Irish citizens based on nationality alone – such as to Irish nationals studying outside this jurisdiction – with the exclusion of other EU nationals would be contrary to EU law.
The Deputy may also wish to note that nationals of the EU/EEA, UK and Swiss Federation studying in the State meet the specific nationality requirement of both my Department's Free Fees schemes and the Student Grant Scheme and therefore are eligible for supports under those schemes once they also meet the other scheme criteria.
216. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the terms of reference in respect of a review of reports of Dóchas conducted by a person (details supplied). [62374/22]
View answer217. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 165 and 166 of 25 May 2022, if any persons either inmate or prison officers are now the subject of Garda and or internal IPS investigations arising from issues highlighted in the original unpublished reports regarding Dóchas prison staff and inmates; the number of unpublished reports in respect of the Dóchas centre that are in her possession since 2019; and if she will publish those reports. [62375/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.
On the basis of legal advice received by the Department from the Office of the Attorney General, it is not proposed, at this time, to publish or to comment on a three day monitoring report or a section 31(2) report undertaken by the Inspector of Prisons in relation to the Dóchas Centre which were received in August 2020 and February 2022 respectively.
The Department of Justice has also received (July 2022) a supplementary report requested by the Minister in relation to matters arising from the section 31(2) investigation. As consideration of the reports is ongoing, it is not proposed to comment further on their contents at this time.
I can advise the Deputy that these are the only reports on the Dóchas Centre that have been received in my Department and which are not yet published.
218. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the age profile of the Garda vehicle fleet in the Galway division. [62389/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of resources, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of
The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the breakdown of the age profile of the Galway division fleet as at 30 November 2022.
|
AGE OF VEHICLE |
NUMBER OF VEHICLES |
% OF VEHICLES |
|
< 1 YEAR |
7 |
6.1% |
|
1-2 YEARS |
10 |
8.7% |
|
2-4 YEARS |
31 |
27% |
|
4-6 YEARS |
23 |
20% |
|
6+ YEARS |
44 |
38.2% |
|
TOTAL |
115 |
100% |
For the Deputy's information, the table below, also provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the breakdown of the age profile of the overall Garda fleet as at 30 November 2022.
|
AGE OF VEHICLE |
NUMBER OF VEHICLES |
% OF VEHICLES |
|
< 1 YEAR |
241 |
7.3% |
|
1-2 YEARS |
390 |
11.8% |
|
2-4 YEARS |
874 |
26.5% |
|
4-6 YEARS |
553 |
16.8% |
|
6+ YEARS |
1240 |
37.6% |
|
TOTAL |
3298 |
100% |
219. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide details of all fines, including the amounts, that her Department or agencies under the remit of her Department, have paid since the start of the 33rd Dáil term to the European Commission relating to cases for infringements of European Union law or failure to transpose EU law in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62425/22]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that there has been one fine imposed on my Department by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in relation to a delay in transposing Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing. On July 16, 2020, the ECJ imposed a €2 million lump-sum fine for this delay. The Court accepted that the Directive has now been fully transposed by Ireland.
220. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider extending the remit of her Department to Cork city coroner given the large caseload of the coroner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62455/22]
View answerThe Coroner Service comprises of a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose function under the Coroners Acts 1962-2020 is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can issue.
The administrative arrangements in regard to the Cork City Coroner are a matter for the relevant local authority. The Department of Justice is committed to bringing forward proposals for the comprehensive reform of the national coroner service. Changes to the administrative arrangements will be considered in that context.
221. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to proposals to establish a legal services commission; and the status of these proposals. [62490/22]
View answerThe Deputy will wish to note that, in October 2016, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority was established under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 as the independent statutory regulator for both branches of the legal profession - barristers and solicitors.
The Authority’s remit includes the maintenance and improvement of standards in the provision of legal services and it also accepts and investigates complaints which relate to the provision of legal services by barristers and solicitors, including solicitors’ firms.
Further details can be found in the Authority's Annual Reports, annual accounts, and other publications, which are publicly available on its website www.lsra.ie.
222. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the number of public order incidents recorded in each county in each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62509/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.
The table attached, drawn from the published data available at data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06, provides the number of Public Order and other social code offences by Garda Division for 2015 - 2021, and for Q1 and Q2 of 2022 (the latest published statistics available).
