Written Answers Nos. 480-490
480. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if the addiction service for those under 18 years in the midlands counties, which was delivered by the Midlands Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforce in counties Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, is now fully staffed and operational. [20760/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
481. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 403 and 404 of 8 February 2023, how certain titles came to be used in two CHOs (details supplied); the means by which these titles were conferred and by whom, given they are not recognised as being currently in use by the HSE's national HR office; if these individuals should refrain from using these titles, given they imply a wider remit or higher level of authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20774/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
482. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a matter could be investigated as a student (details supplied) is at risk of losing out on a year of SUSI grant through no fault of their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20212/23]
View answerUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
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 timeframe (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.
With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student in question submitted an application to SUSI for the 2021/2022 academic year and was refused on 8th November 2021 on the basis of not providing information requested by the awarding authority relating to income within the required timeframe.
To date the information required to complete the income assessment for the students 2021/2022 application has not been submitted. SUSI has confirmed that if the student submits the 2020 accounts, the 2021/2022 application will be reviewed.
I understand that the student was awarded a grant for the 2022/2023 academic year.
483. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has considered the deterring impact of the matriculation requirement of leaving certificate Irish, or in some cases, higher level leaving certificate Irish in order to enter certain level 8 CAO degree courses; if he has considered advocating for the abolition of this requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20387/23]
View answerHigher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018.
Under this legislation, the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes including admissions, examinations, programmes of study and awarding degrees and other qualifications. My Department has no role therefore in setting the entry requirements for third-level courses.
Matriculation requirements (or minimum entry requirements) are intended to set the minimum level of prior academic achievement, which a student must have in order to have a good prospect of completing their chosen higher education programme. Matriculation requirements in the university sector are currently determined by individual universities and vary from institution to institution. The NUI institutions (University College Cork, University College Dublin, Maynooth University, University of Galway) are the only higher education institutions with a specific Irish language matriculation requirement. Language requirements may also be in place for specific courses with a language component in other higher education institutions.Entry requirements for NUI institutions are detailed here: www.nui.ie/college/entry-requirements.asp
The facility exists to apply for an exemption regarding matriculation requirement of Leaving Certificate Irish. Further information on the process of applying for an exemption can be found on the NUI website: www.nui.ie/college/entry-requirements.asp
484. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the selection criteria and tendering process for new retrofitting centres; the progress of establishing these new centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20563/23]
View answerThe government has set an ambitious target to retrofit 500,000 homes by 2030. Important steps towards delivering on this target include the delivery of training through Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Centres of Excellence. Training offered in the NZEB Centres provide the skills required for a modern construction workforce, and helps support the delivery of the Government’s retrofitting targets set out in the National Retrofit Plan.
Following a successful application for funding under the Skills to Advance National Innovation Fund, Waterford-Wexford ETB established the first retrofitting/NZEB Training Centre to facilitate green upskilling in 2020. To build on the success of this original initiative, five other ETBs applied to SOLAS for capital funding to develop retrofitting/NZEB training centres including Laois Offaly ETB (Mount Lucas), Cork ETB, Limerick Clare ETB, Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB and City of Dublin ETB (Finglas). Four of the six centres are now operational (Waterford Wexford ETB, Mount Lucas, Limerick Clare ETB and Cork ETB). Cork ETB’s centre will be officially launched in May and City of Dublin ETB’s (Finglas) centre is expected to commence training during 2023.
Tendering in relation to the building of the centres and equipment is done at a local level in the ETB, in compliance with their respective procurement processes.
Retrofit and NZEB courses offered by these centres are suitable for qualified and experienced learners, and those who are new to the area. The courses are free, fast and flexible with weekend and evening provision available. In many cases, where a person has an existing construction-related qualification, knowledge or experience, they can learn these skills quickly, usually within three-four days.
485. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the allocation made to each education and training board under the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20788/23]
View answerSOLAS allocates Reach funding (formerly known as the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantaged Fund) to the Education and Training Boards to provide support to educationally disadvantaged learners in accessing and participating in community education. The funding places a strong focus on community education as a mechanism to continue to support and engage with disadvantaged learners. In addition, there is a focus on enabling the investment in building the digital infrastructure of providers and their capability to ensure that online learning/blended learning can be delivered in a way that meets the complex needs of learners.
The 2023 allocations are being finalised at present.
486. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department funds community groups with a stream of grant aid in the context of persons with gambling addiction; and if her officials have developed any support and or educational programmes in that context. [20309/23]
View answerWhile I understand that supports for persons with gambling addictions are available elsewhere, my Department does not have any specific funding supports in place to support individuals with gambling addictions.
487. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline the guidance provided by her Department to local authorities in relation to public library membership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20448/23]
View answerThe delivery of public library services, including the matter of library membership, is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Local Government Act, 2001. Accordingly, my department provides no guidance to local authorities in relation to public library membership.
The public library is a trusted place at the centre of the community, offering a free service for all with access to communal spaces, services and resources.
488. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration has been given towards the provision of funding for a community centre and library for Kill, County Kildare, given the population growth in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20597/23]
View answerCommunity centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.
With this in mind, my Department has put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewable Scheme, and of course the new Community Centres Investment Fund.
The 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was warmly welcomed the length and breadth of the country. Over €45.5 million has been committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across the country. These projects are ongoing and will be completed over the coming year.
Following on from this, I want to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs so this year the focus of the Community Centres Investment Fund has moved to new builds. This focus will specifically help those towns and villages that have no community centre whatsoever.
In March I was delighted to announce a €20 million Fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites to build new community centres. This Measure will target areas which do not have an appropriate facility to meet the needs of their area. The deadline for receipt of applications is 3rd July 2023 and I would encourage communities that have eligible projects with planning permission to submit an application under the Fund. Details are available on my Department's website.
The delivery of public library services, including the provision of library premises, is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Local Government Act, 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in Kill is primarily a matter for Kildare County Council. My Department has recently invited proposals from local authorities in respect of library building projects and mobile library services, under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027. The closing date for receipt of applications is 16 June.
489. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision will be made to approve additional funding for Loughrea town hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20602/23]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects costing €542 million.
Projects which emerge as successful from calls for applications to the Fund are initially approved for funding in principle and then progress through a further comprehensive approval process before the final confirmation of funding is provided by my Department. At each stage of this approval process, the project is reviewed by my Department to ensure it continues to meet its stated objectives, including financial sustainability.
It is open to project lead parties to make a case to the Department for additional funding if the cost of the project increases. Any request for additional funding is examined on a case by case basis by my Department.
The Regeneration Loughrea project was approved for funding of €1,628,879 for a project costing €2,171,838 from the second call for Category 1 applications under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
I understand that the estimated cost of the project has significantly increased since the project was approved for funding in principle and a request for additional funding for the project has been submitted to my Department by the lead party, Galway County Council.
My Department is currently reviewing the case for additional funding for the project and will be engaging further with Galway County Council to progress the request in the coming weeks.
490. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule on a county and local authority basis showing the funding her Department has provided to youth-focused community-based organisations to deliver support services in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the amount she has provided to Tusla in respect of same. [20661/23]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible for the provision of funding for delivery of support services to youth organisations. While my Department may provide some ad-hoc funding under our programmes to youth-focused organisations for specific initiatives, it does not provide any direct funding for delivery of support services for young people.
Some examples of the type of ad-hoc funding provided by my Department include:
• Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Government's primary social inclusion programme, provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion for disadvantaged individuals and community organisations, including some that provide services to disadvantaged young people.
• The COVID-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises provided support to qualifying organisations who found themselves in particular difficulty and projected their trading and/or fundraising income would drop significantly due to the social restrictions introduced to counter the spread of COVID-19. Community based youth services were one of a number of eligible services.
• In response to rising energy costs, my Department introduced the Community & Voluntary Energy Support Scheme for registered charities within the community and voluntary sector. Some of those charities provide services to youth-focused community-based organisations.
My Department has not had any engagement with Tusla in respect of this matter.
