Written Answers Nos. 422-443
422. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department possesses projections as to the number of hotels that are not expected to renew State contracts to host refugees in 2023; and his plans to ensure any shortfall in accommodation is made up. [2748/23]
View answerMy Department is now accommodating in excess of 70,000 people, including both those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking International Protection. We have contracted in excess of 42,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The Government decision of 28 October 2022 agreed that a move from an emergency response to a more mainstreamed approach is appropriate in light of the high numbers of arrivals, both those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and those seeking asylum. The high level of demand requires us to maximise all existing capacity, to bring greater consistency and to ensure equity for all who rely on State supports. This includes taking account of the level of income supports being provided by the State in addition to accommodation and access to a range of State services. The decision involved moving to a more standard offer of accommodation, with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection utilising existing state income supports or income from employment to pay for their own food and day-to-day expenses.
To give effect to the Government decision, my Department is in ongoing negotiations, as contracts expire, with a significant number of hotels who have previously been accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPS) on a full board basis. At this time no provider has definitively indicated that they will not provide accommodation for BOTPs under the new contract, but negotiations are still ongoing.
We are also working urgently across Government and with agencies, NGOs and Local Authorities to bring new accommodation on board so that the State’s humanitarian responsibilities can continue to be met. In this regard, my Department is availing of all suitable offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of hotels, office buildings, and sports centres, to address the accommodation shortfall.
In respect of the above Government decision, it should be noted that regular meetings have taken place between my officials and the relevant Department and Fáilte Ireland officials to share learnings and discuss issues as we continue to respond to the challenge of procuring enough accommodation to meet demand. My Department is grateful to the support of those in this sector in responding to date to this unprecedented challenge. Communities across the country have welcomed those from Ukraine during their time of need and this is very appreciated.
My Department is also very aware of the concerns shared by some communities around the absence of tourists in some areas with the consequent impact on local spending. To respond to these and other issues, we continue to work alongside both Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism as we work together as part of a whole of government response, ensuring that key stakeholders have had the opportunity to feed into solutions under development.
I also wish to advise that, as part of the whole of Government response to the increased arrivals, the State is also committed to delivering accommodation solutions beyond tourist accommodation. For example my Department is working with the Department of Housing to deliver accommodation in certain refurbished buildings. The Department of Housing has also recently announced a new call for unoccupied homes to be made available for BOTPs, and we are working with OPW on the rapid build homes programme. This work will continue.
423. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on accommodation pledged (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2750/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed a commendable level of generosity in their support and pledges of accommodation.
To date, in excess of 6,300 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) have been housed in over 2,600 pledged accommodation settings.
The matching of Beneficiaries to prospective pledge properties is a matter for the relevant Local Authority and Implementing partner(s). I understand that every effort is being made to match Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection to pledged accommodation that is suitable for their needs. It is not always possible to accommodate specific requests made by hosts regarding the family composition they would like to assist.
Local Authorities and NGO implementing partners match beneficiaries to suitable pledged accommodation considering all factors that need to be taken into account. These factors often include access to school placements, transportation links and specific needs that are unique to each BOTP family unit.
I advise that any queries relating to pledge accommodation be directed to the appropriate Local Authority who is overseeing the process.
I wish to thank all members of the Irish Public who have very generously offered their accommodation to assist those fleeing the war in Ukraine and assure them that all efforts are being made to accommodate BOTPs.
424. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when overdue payments (details supplied) will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2751/23]
View answerMy Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with my Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other areas of the Department to the payments team in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments. My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. We regret any delays in making payments and are according this issue very high priority.
With regard to the two invoices in the details supplied, both are in hand for payment and are expected to issue in the coming week, once they have passed final checks.
425. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on his Department’s engagement with an organisation (details supplied) in its efforts to secure capital funding from Pobal for the development of a purpose-built centre on land due to be transferred to the centre by South Dublin County Council in St. Cuthbert’s Park. [2761/23]
View answerMy Department was allocated €70m in the National Development Plan for early learning and childcare. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant. Grants range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.
Services that sign up for the Core Funding Scheme were eligible to apply for this Grant. The closing date for applications was 16th December 2022.
Pobal are now appraising applications received and I am advised that successful applicants will be notified in March.
Details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant are being finalised and will be announced in the coming months.
426. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process by which a child and family centre (details supplied) in Dublin 22 can apply for Pobal funding for the provision of a new child and family centre. [2762/23]
View answerMy Department was allocated €70m in the National Development Plan for early learning and childcare. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant. Grants range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.
Services that sign up for the Core Funding Scheme were eligible to apply for this Grant. The closing date for applications was 16th December 2022.
Pobal are now appraising applications received and I am advised that successful applicants will be notified in March.
Details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant are being finalised and will be announced in the coming months.
427. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE social workers in Tusla who are dealing with foster children and foster families as of 31 December 2021 and 13 January 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2776/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
428. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount Tusla spent on youth counselling services in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [2798/23]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
429. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a mechanism through which Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland can apply to be relocated to another part of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2815/23]
View answerThe accommodation provided to people fleeing the war in Ukraine by my Department is temporary in its nature and given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. We understand and sympathise that people may wish to be accommodated in specific locations for a variety of reasons, but we cannot facilitate these requests given the number of people wishing to be accommodated by this Department and the ensuing resource and capacity constraints.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish and can avail of some supports to do so. To date more than 6,300 beneficiaries have been matched to more than 2,600 pledged accommodation settings. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area.
I also wish to draw attention to the Government announcement of 24 November 2022 regarding the new call for unoccupied houses. The campaign to assist those fleeing the war in Ukraine is being led by Local Authorities and may be of interest in the context of the above request.
The government has introduced a Recognition Payment Scheme for those who provide accommodation to people from Ukraine. Under this scheme, a monthly flat rate of €800 per property is payable to all those hosting Ukrainian temporary protection beneficiaries. The payment linked to a minimum hosting commitment of 6 months.
Further information can be found at: offerahome.ie/
430. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the review of the Equality Acts currently under way in his Department, particularly in relation to the implementation of the recommendations detailed in the report on the prevalence and use of non-disclosure agreements in discrimination and sexual harassment disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2826/23]
View answerThe ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the use of non-disclosure agreements by employers in cases of sexual harassment and discrimination. Issues that were raised in the Private Member's Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreement) Bill 2021, are also being carefully considered as part of the review along with the recommendations detailed in the report on the prevalence and use of non-disclosure agreements in discrimination and sexual harassment disputes, that was carried out by my Department.
The Department invited written submissions to a public consultation on the review of the equality legislation in 2021 and these submissions have been analysed by officials in my Department. A report outlining the findings of the public consultation will be published in early 2023.
Legislative proposals that arise out of the review of the Equality Acts will be brought forward in 2023, however, the nature of these proposals will be dependent on the issues raised in the consultation process as well as on further research.
431. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider expanding sponsor referrals to the national childcare scheme to include all children with developmental needs, even if they had been enrolled in a childcare programme previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2845/23]
View answerThe NCS sponsorship arrangement is in place to support families who need extra financial supports to access early learning and care and school aged childcare, over and above the financial supports available through the universal and income assessed components. The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds.
Where a referral is made by a Sponsor body, the family will automatically qualify for a subsidy without having to satisfy the Scheme’s eligibility, income or enhanced hours requirements. The Scheme will pay the full weekly cost of childcare for families referred to the Scheme by a Sponsor Body up to the maximum of €264.15 depending on the age of the child and the hours required.
Separately, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of high quality early learning and care. Eligibility for AIM supports is linked to participation in the universal ECCE pre-school programme.
AIM is based on the needs of the child in the context of the pre-school setting. It does not require any diagnosis, recognising that many children do not have a diagnosis of a disability when starting pre-school. AIM encompasses 7 levels of support, which includes universal supports (levels 1-3) and targeted supports (levels 4-7).
Universal supports are designed to create a more inclusive culture in early learning and care settings, through training courses and qualifications for staff. Where universal supports are not enough to meet the needs of an individual child, targeted supports are available to ensure the child can meaningfully participate in pre-school.
My Department keeps all childcare programmes under review to ensure that they are meeting their core objectives and to identify any changes or improvements that can be made to the scheme.
An evaluation of AIM has been completed and the report is currently being finalised. Subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, my Department is considering enhancements to, and/or extension of, AIM to, for example, all early learning and care services, all school-age childcare services and to children with additional needs other than a disability.
The sponsor arrangements are also being monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure the referral criteria meet their policy intent. The specific criteria are agreed in consultation with respective sponsoring body. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE on those criteria.
432. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the locations, by nearest village and town, of all accommodation centres for asylum seekers and-or refugees in the greater Dublin area, in tabular form. [2953/23]
View answerAs of 15 January 2023, there are 19,698 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre (466) and IPAS accommodation centres (6,887), temporary tented (81) and emergency (12,264) accommodation, this includes 1,086 people in City West Transit hub. Of this total, 4,086 are children. The Department has accommodated over 15,000 International Protection Applicants (IPAs) in 2022. Currently, the number of new arrivals each day remains very high. In the first three weeks of 2023 alone, more than 870 IPAs have arrived in Ireland. Since 1 December 2022, the Department has accommodated almost 1,500 people in over 25 emergency accommodation locations. These locations comprise of re-purposed office units, schools, former religious buildings and former hospitality accommodation. The pressure to accommodate an increase of 330% in IPA arrivals in 2022 (from the 2017 to 2019 annual average of 3,500) has resulted in an acute shortfall of available accommodation. The Department has made every possible effort to secure accommodation and has sought support from the widest possible range of organisations to provide accommodation to IPAs. Where request for tender processes have not delivered the required capacity, the Department has engaged in emergency accommodation sourcing through networks with other State accommodation providers such as the local authorities, through newspaper advertisements, through cold calling and the use of online booking engines. In 2022, the Department has utilised all manner of buildings offered to it including office buildings and sports facilities such as Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Croke Park and the National Indoor Arena, Abbotstown.
The Department has utilised offers that have come through the Association of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI) for religious buildings such as seminaries and convents for IPAS accommodation. The Department has reached out to other Government Departments such as the Department of Education for school and third level institution facilities; the Department of Defence for unused barracks and buildings; the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media for sporting and arts facilities; the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Office of Public Works for buildings that can be used to accommodate people. Many of the offers that have come through these requests have resulted in accommodation, both temporary and longer term. The Department has also been forced to utilise tented accommodation to address the accommodation crisis for IPAs. The Department in cooperation with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, introduced a planning exemption for the change of use of office buildings and other warehouse type facilities to assist in addressing the shortfall in IP accommodation. Unfortunately, the take up of this exemption by accommodation providers has been limited thus far. Every offer of accommodation made to the Department has been carefully appraised and utilised once deemed suitable. The Department continues to explore all offers of accommodation for IPAs in as far as it can. However, there remains an acute shortfall with respect to accommodation for single males in particular. With all of this in mind Deputy, please see below as per your request a list of all locations by nearest village/town of all accommodation centres for asylum seekers and/or refugees in the greater Dublin area in tabular form:
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Dublin |
Kildare |
Meath |
Wicklow |
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Dublin City Centre |
Newbridge |
Drogheda |
Wicklow Town |
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Swords |
Monasterevin |
Laytown |
Bray |
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Portobello |
Celbridge |
Navan |
Baltinglass |
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The Liberties |
Maynooth |
Grangend |
Arklow |
|
Belvedere |
Athy |
Kippure |
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Saggart |
Ashford |
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Ballsbridge |
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Liffey Valley |
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Tallaght |
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Newcastle |
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Blanchardstown |
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Dublin Airport |
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Clondalkin |
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Fairview |
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Inchicore |
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Rathfarnham |
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Clonshaugh |
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Lucan |
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Rathmines |
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Ballymun |
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Phoenix Park |
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Finglas |
Deputy, I trust this information clarifies the matter.
433. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if accommodation will be provided for a Ukrainian refugee and their son (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3012/23]
View answerDeputy, as of 15 January 23, there are 19,698 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre (466) and IPAS accommodation centres (6,887), temporary tented (81) and emergency (12,264) accommodation, this includes 1,086 residents in City West. Of this total, 4,086 are children.
The Department has accommodated over 15,000 international protection applicants (IPAs) in 2022. Currently, the number of new arrivals each day remains very high. In the first two weeks of 2023 alone, more than 1,500 people have arrived in Ireland seeking shelter and safety.Since 1 December 2022 to mid January, the Department has accommodated almost 1,500 international protection applicants in over 25 emergency accommodation locations. These locations comprise of re-purposed office units, schools, former religious buildings and former hospitality accommodation. The pressure to accommodate an increase of 330% in IPA arrivals from 2019 to 2022 has resulted in an acute shortfall of available accommodation. The Department has made every possible effort to secure accommodation and has sought support from the widest possible range of organisations and bodies to provide accommodation to IPAs. In regard to your query, the international protection applicant referred to and their dependant do not appear to have made a request to IPAS for accommodation. According to our records they are currently residing in private accommodation. If they wish to request IPAS accommodation they may contact the IPAS helpdesk to seek advice.
The IPAS helpdesk can be contacted by email ipasinbox@equality.gov.ie.
It is also worth noting that Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war can be considered for a Temporary Protection status in Ireland. The people in question should contact the International Protection Office in this regard.
Deputy, I trust this information clarifies the matter.
434. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can request that the report into historical abuse allegations at an organisation (details supplied), recently completed, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3018/23]
View answerI can confirm that I wrote to St John Ambulance to encourage publication of Dr Shannon’s report in December of 2022. In reply the St John Ambulance commissioner noted that survivors are understandably eager to review the findings of the report and reiterated that the Board is committed to publishing the report once a legal review is complete.
I understand the frustration of survivors who await the publication of the report. While I do not have a role in the governance of St John Ambulance, as Minister with responsibility for Tusla I have urged that St John Ambulance engage with Tusla to review current safeguarding practice and any further recommendations to improve safeguarding within the organisation.
It is my expectation that St John Ambulance will ensure publication of the Review Report in full and as soon as possible.
435. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently employed by his Department; the number assigned to the integration brief; the number of vacant positions currently under his Department's integration brief; the details of any changes to these numbers in each of the past four quarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3315/23]
View answerThere were 621 staff in my department at the end of December 2022.
There are a number of units involved in matters related to integration, including all of the units working on International Protection, the Irish Refugee Protection Program and related policy units.
As of 16 January, there are 17 vacancies across the units working directly or indirectly on integration matters. The changes in the staffing complement in each quarter over 2022 on the integration brief are set out in table below.
|
Q1 2022 |
100 |
|
Q2 2022 |
105 |
|
Q3 2022 |
108 |
|
Q4 2022 |
105 |
The Deputy will be aware that a Ukraine Division was established in 2022. However, staffing in that Division is not included in this response.
436. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees who have been settled in County Donegal, broken down by townlands, and the month they were settled; if it is intended for more refugees to be settled in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3354/23]
View answerAs of 22 January 2023, the number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have been accommodated by my Department is approximately 54,000. The information requested regarding Donegal has been extracted from our systems and outlined in tabular form below.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is procuring and allocating accommodation in County Donegal for the purposes of providing shelter to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. My Department did respect a request from the Local Authority in Donegal to introduce a pause on allocating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the aftermath of the tragedy in Creeslough with services focused on the response at that time. The pause was lifted some weeks ago and officials in the procurement division within my Department are engaging with Donegal County Council in regard to accommodation.
I wish to thank the many individuals, volunteers, community groups and the Local Authority in Co. Donegal who have contributed so much as part of the humanitarian response to welcoming those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
437. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total monetary amount of non-repayable moneys provided by his Department through grants, funding supports, tax breaks or other means to businesses in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [3376/23]
View answerThe information being sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and the response will issue as soon as possible.
438. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the case of a person (details supplied) regarding an ETB course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2710/23]
View answerMy officials are in contact with Kerry Education and Training Board in relation to this matter and a reply will issue to the Deputy when these enquiries are complete.
439. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of a 10% increase in the apprentice travel allowance and accommodation allowance for off-the-job training. [2813/23]
View answerFor the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes, periods of off-the-job training are funded from the National Training Fund (NTF) with payments of the agreed rate made directly to craft apprentices by the education and training boards (ETBs) during this time. Training allowances for apprentices are calculated with reference to gross-wage norms payable in industry for the different trade sectors.
Based on 2021 data, the estimated full-year cost of apprentice allowances was €66.865m, or €9,150 per apprentice (based on an allowance recipient population of 7,307 apprentices). A 10% increase in the allowance for the off-the-job training would translate into an overall cost of €73.556m, or a net increase of €6.687m.
440. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if young refugee students from Ukraine who are due to sit State examinations in 2023 and 2024 and will soon be making CAO applications and seeking SUSI support students will be treated as EU or Ukrainian citizens in the calculation of their college fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2914/23]
View answerFollowing the invasion of Ukraine and in line with the European Council Decision on 4 March 2022, the Government is applying rights under the International Protection Act 2015 to those granted temporary protection.
The Act entitles recipients to immediate access to the labour market, along with access to social welfare, accommodation and other State supports including healthcare and education. However, while access to higher education for displaced Ukrainians during the early stages of the response phase was managed on an emergency basis, it is now necessary to move to a more sustainable approach, in line with overall Government policy. As autonomous bodies, admissions policy is a matter for each individual higher education institution (HEIs). Following consultation with the sector, it has been agreed by the Admissions Officers of the HEIs that all Ukrainian students in receipt of Temporary Protection, regardless of whether they plan to sit the Leaving Certificate or wish to apply using their Ukrainian examinations or qualifications, should apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO) at www.cao.ie for a place in higher education in Ireland for the 2023/24 academic year. My officials are finalising the position on the remaining issues, and this will be communicated to stakeholders very shortly.
441. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Irish third level institutions will be able to admit refugee students from Ukraine who are resident in Ireland, engaged in distance learning with a Ukrainian institution and with credit for modules already completed in a comparable course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2915/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, and in line with the decision by the European Council on 4 March 2022, the Government is applying the rights afforded under the International Protection Act, 2015 to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, which includes the right to access to certain State services, including education.
From the outset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine I have been greatly encouraged with the open and generous response of Ireland's higher education institutions to the needs of those Ukraine students seeking to continue their higher education studies.
The situation you outlined is a matter for each higher education institution.
442. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the total allocation under the Student Assistance Fund provided to each higher education institution for the past three academic years, including 2022-2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2949/23]
View answerThe information the Deputy has requested in currently being complied in consultation with the HEA. It will be forwarded directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
443. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the €1,000 fee reduction to students who have moved courses and were required to pay higher fees as a result of repeating a year at undergraduate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2950/23]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 in support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes in the academic year 2022-2023.
This once off support relates specifically to the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under the Department's free fees schemes. 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. The once off student contribution support of €1,000 therefore cannot 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.
Where students do not qualify for the Department’s free fees schemes an appropriate tuition fee may be determined by each higher education institution as autonomous bodies.
In terms of other supports, undergraduate students may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. 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.
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.
