Written Answers Nos. 746-759
746. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has anymore plans to encourage the use of more online learning given the accommodation crisis facing students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22566/23]
View answerThird level institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes, including the mode of delivery of programmes of study. HEIs have taken significant steps to ensure that teaching and learning is enhanced by the integrated use of digital technologies, both on-campus and remotely.
Many HEIs are and will be developing new blended learning programmes for validation. Programmes that are delivered partially or fully online, need to be developed with that mode of delivery in mind rather than merely being translated or transferred from the original face-to-face programme model.
I am very much aware of the difficulties facing students currently seeking to secure accommodation to facilitate their studies in Higher Education. It must be recognised that fundamentally, the challenge is one of supply of housing more generally. As a country, we know that we need to dramatically increase the supply of all types of housing and accommodation, including student accommodation. That is why the Government has launched Housing for All, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage setting out a series of actions which will be delivered to address the housing crisis. The plan is backed by the largest housing budget in the history of the State to transform our housing system, in excess of €20 billion. Since taking up office, both my Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on as ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector and relevant stakeholders on student accommodation issues including within the context of the advancement of the Government's Housing for All policy.
In March this year I announced a State investment of more than €40 million to support the delivery of 405 student accommodation beds in DCU, with work also ongoing with UCD, Trinity and UCC on similar projects that will support the Housing For All strategy. The 405 beds will be in addition to the 667 new beds approved by Government last November.
It is also important to note that, following the submission of a joint proposal from my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Government agreed to the expansion of the income disregard for the rent a room scheme for medical card holders. Since 1 May, any income gained under the scheme up to the €14,000 limit will be disregarded when determining medical card eligibility. Local Authority tenants can also access the scheme and rent out a room in their home. A homeowner can rent a room, retain their social welfare entitlements where applicable, and earn up to €14,000 in rental income before having to pay tax. This income is also disregarded for the examination of reckonable income for support under the Student Grant Scheme.
My Department and I are working on a strategic policy and methodology for state supported student accommodation provision which I will update Government on by the end of June. This policy approach will acknowledge the importance of appropriate supply and affordability of student accommodation for our higher education sector in meeting the increasing student numbers and realising the commitment of government as set out in Housing for All.
747. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has had any engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to bringing forward legislation with regards to accommodation used as student digs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22567/23]
View answerAll higher education institutions, continue to support their students to find accommodation in the private rental sector through, for example, the encouragement of room rental or ‘student digs’ in family homes. A homeowner can rent a room, retain their social welfare entitlements where applicable, and earn up to €14,000 in rental income before having to pay tax. This income is also disregarded for the examination of reckonable income for support under the Student Grant Scheme
Following the submission of a joint proposal from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science, Government agreed to the expansion of the income disregard for the rent a room scheme for medical card holders. Since 1 May, any income gained under the scheme up to the €14,000 limit will be disregarded when determining medical card eligibility. Local Authority tenants can also access the scheme and rent out a room in their home.
My Department has ongoing contact with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to our Housing for All obligations, including the commitment to “Increase protections for Tenants in Private Rental Accommodation” by Q2 2023.
In addition, my officials have also met with a number of higher education institutions to discuss their experience of sourcing and promoting digs accommodation to prospective students.
Department officials are also in the early stages of engagement with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) regarding the provision of student digs and the issued raised by the higher education institutes and students themselves.
The RTB is a public body set up to support and develop a well-functioning rental housing sector. Their remit extends to the private rental, Approved Housing Body (AHB) and Student Specific Accommodation sectors. Their role includes the regulation of the rental sector, and the provision of information and research to inform policy.
748. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the health units in the various universities that are currently offering on-campus abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22568/23]
View answerThe information requested is not held by the Department. Certain institutions provide GP services on campus as part of Student Services.
Should a student wish to know more about services offered they should contact the service in question.
749. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who dropped out of university in 2022, disaggregated by university name, course family, (i.e. engineering, arts/humanities, science, and so on), stage of departure (i.e. 1st year, 2nd year, and so on) and EU vs non-EU student, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22569/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The key source of statistics on students in higher education is the HEA's student records system (SRS) which records enrolments as at March of every academic year, giving a single point of reference. Therefore data is not available on a national level on students who leave their programme during the course of the academic year.
The HEA publishes reports on progression, which track the proportion of students registered in first year who progress to second year. The latest report, which tracks progression from entrants in 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years, reports an overall progression rate of 87% for 2017/18, 88% for 2018/19 and 91% for 2019/20 new entrants. Analysis of the data, including a breakdown by institution, can be found on the HEA's website at the following link: hea.ie/statistics/data-for-download-and-visualisations/students/progression/progression-introduction/
The HEA also publishes data on completion rates - i.e. the proportion of students who start a course in a given year and graduate within the institution they began in. The latest data published relates to students who entered higher education in 2010 and had graduated by the end of the 2017/18 academic year. A range of analyses, including analysis by institution, can be found on the HEA website: hea.ie/statistics/data-for-download-and-visualisations/progression-completion-data/completion-analysis-200809-200910-201011-entrants/
750. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of universities which currently have an Irish language strategy/scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22570/23]
View answerHigher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and academically independent and each Higher Education Institution is responsible for its own Irish language strategy. Information would need to be sought from the HEIs directly.
However, my Department is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services to its customers, and the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 is of high importance to Ireland and the life of the language in this country. With regard to the functions of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) set out in the HEA Act 2022 under Object 8 (b) the HEA sponsors the Conradh na Gailege initiative, ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ which is run in conjunction with the Union of Students of Ireland.
Gníomhaí Gaeilge refers to a person who is actively engaged in using and promoting the Irish language and the initiative is an Irish language mentoring initiative open to all students in our HEIs which aims to: Build on the development, strengthening and increasing the number of Irish Language Societies and Irish Language Officers achieved over the last 20 years; Develop ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ Awards at 3rd level; Develop and award a ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ Certificate for active students; Set up a training, personal development and mentoring scheme for ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’.
The initiative is working to achieve its objectives by providing: Irish language clubs and societies with skills and mentorship in developing the use of the language within Higher Education; training workshops to equip students/officers with additional skills helpful in promoting the language, including social media, graphic design, how to find sponsorship and guest speakers for events, public speaking and writing press releases; and delivering a system of certification and awards to enhance the participation of students and Irish language societies in HEIs.
The Department of Further and Higher Education works with the Coimisinéir Teanga to ensure that public bodies are providing services to the public in Irish to meet the obligations set out in the Official Languages Act 2003 and Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. The Official Languages Act 2003 under the auspices of the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media aims to ensure the improved provision of public services through the Irish language. This is done through the provisions of the Act along with regulations which apply to all public bodies under the Act.
751. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on any public engagement process with academics and stakeholders who have suggestions and concerns in relation to the Research and Innovation Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22605/23]
View answerI am committed to ensuring that the important views of the research community are captured and reflected on as the implementation of the new agency proceeds.
A programme of stakeholder consultation has been taking place since the development of Impact 2030 Ireland's Research and Innovation Strategy and was integral to the development of that strategy. A High Level Group on the Research Bill was established in October 2022 to advance engagement with the Executives of the HEA (the legal entity under which the Irish Research Council operates), the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland. Input from all three entities has informed the development of the General Scheme and Heads of Bill and associated transitional arrangements.
My officials and I have also met with the board of Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, and officials have met with the Higher Education Authority Board, all of whom welcome the establishment of the new agency and are committed to engaging comprehensively and constructively in further dialogue as the work progresses. I also met with the authors of an Open Letter on the Research Bill recently and my Officials attended an event organised by this group.
Consultation with wider stakeholders, with particular regard to the research and innovation community, is being prepared in order to seek feedback on the operationalisation of the functions of the new agency and to keep them informed about progress. It is currently foreseen that this will be led by the CEO Designate of the agency, who will be appointed as soon as possible to assist the Department in undertaking the significant transitional and operational programme of work required to establish the new agency.
At a broader level, the Department is prioritising the development of stakeholder engagement structures as a priority objective from Impact 2030, and these are playing an important role in supporting the establishment of the new agency. Furthermore a Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum will be announced in the coming days.
752. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of any Government-funded PhD grant schemes or financial support schemes which those without an undergraduate degree can apply for in order to fund their PhD studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22711/23]
View answerThe main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time 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. While a student must always be progressing in their studies to be eligible for SUSI funding, there is no requirement for those who are pursuing postgraduate courses at any level to have a prior undergraduate qualification.
With regards to research funding, my Department does not fund students directly. It does however provide funding to PhD students through Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, who in turn fund research through the Higher Education Institutes. The postgraduate office within the higher education institution would also be able to advise on funding supports.
Students in publicly funded third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). In January of this year I announced an additional once off funding of €4.3 million to be allocated to SAF to assist students with the cost of living. This was in addition to the €8m that was allocated in Budget 2023. This brings the total allocation for the SAF for the 22/23 academic year to over €20 million, which is the highest amount that has ever been provided under this fund.
This Fund assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis. More information on the SAF is available at www.studentfinance.ie.
Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie
753. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how the board will be appointed to the new research body that is a merger of the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland; how funds will be allocated across disciplines and between blue-sky/fundamental research and targeted programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22725/23]
View answerThe Heads of Bill provide that the new agency will have a board consisting of 12 members, including a chair, and that all appointments will be made by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Careful consideration is being given to the competencies needed for the board, and the Department is seeking and listening to the views of stakeholders, as well as interested in the seeing the outcomes of the PLS process, on this matter. It will be important to strike a balance to ensure the Board reflects the diversity of the research and innovation community, and also meets its obligations as a state agency.
Members of the board will ultimately be selected through a transparent Public Appointments Service process, thereby ensuring the board will consist of persons who have sufficient experience and expertise relating to matters connected with the functions of the new agency to enable them to make a substantial contribution to the effective and efficient performance of those functions. In essence, all board members will require extensive research competency.
It is also provided that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment shall nominate one member to the board and that there will be gender balance among board members. Members may not serve more than two consecutive terms of office, up to a maximum of eight years. The agency will be compliant with the Code of Practice for State Bodies and the Guidelines for Appointment to State Boards.
In terms of the allocation of funding, this is a matter that will be given consideration as part of the operational design of the agency. The General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill forms part of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, the objectives of which include the promotion and support of excellence in research and innovation across all disciplines, spanning fundamental research to applied research activity. It also seeks to promote and support the contribution of all such research and innovation to Ireland’s economic, social, cultural and environmental development and sustainability, as well as strengthen the engagement between the research and innovation system and enterprise, Government and public bodies, the voluntary sector and society.
754. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the progress made to date in respect of implementing the recommendations specific to his Department outlined in the Report on the Operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 to improve the functioning of the ISL Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22769/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (the Act) was enacted on 24th December 2017 and commenced on 23rd December 2020. The Act recognises the right of Irish Sign Language (ISL) users to use ISL as their native language, and to develop and preserve it. The Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to provide ISL users with free interpretation when availing of or seeking to access statutory entitlements and services. In addition, the Act provides for specific obligations in the areas of legal proceedings, educational provision and broadcasting.
In accordance with section 10 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (MCEDIY) is required to publish a report on the operation of the Act. In line with this requirement, the National Disability Authority was asked by the MCEDIY to prepare a report on the operation of the Act. The report on the operation of the Act can be accessed as follows: nda.ie/publications/report-on-the-operation-of-the-irish-sign-language-act-2017-december-2021
The report contains two recommendations which are relevant to my Department. Recommendation 1 seeks to review and develop an action plan to increase the supply of interpreters whereas recommendation 4 seeks to determine the number of placements required in higher education institutions to sufficiently provide for ISL training to teachers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and ensure this number of placements are established. Both recommendations require cross departmental support.
Full consideration will be given to the recommendations and the conclusions of the report, including the two recommendations which are relevant to my Department. I understand that inter-departmental engagement will be required to develop whole of government actions to improve the implementation of the Act in the short term and throughout the next reporting period. My department will actively engage in this process in due course.
755. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of social media posts made on each of his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; the percentage of same that feature bilingual translations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23031/23]
View answerIt is a requirement of the Official Languages Act that documents setting out public policy proposals, annual reports, statements of strategy, and matters considered to be of major public importance, are published by Government Departments in both Irish and English and this is current practice.
My department has not, to date, posted any social media content in Irish.
In accordance with regulations made pursuant to the provisions of section 9(1) of the Official Languages Act 2003, the Department will continue to comply with its statutory obligations.
The information in respect of the public bodies within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by the Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.
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Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
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Name of Body |
Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireacthas |
Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members |
|
Higher Education Authority |
Oireachtas@hea.ie |
Padraic Mellett* |
|
Irish Research Council( Note 1) |
Oireachtas@research.ie |
Padraic Mellett* |
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Grangegorman Development Agency |
Communications@ggda.ie |
nora.rahill@ggda.ie |
|
SOLAS |
oireachtasinfo@solas.ie |
Maria Walsh maria.walshe@solas.ie |
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Skillnets Ltd |
oireachtas@skillnets.com |
t.donnery@skillnets.com |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland |
ceo@qqi.ie |
ceo@qqi.ie |
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Léargas – The Exchange Bureau |
oireachtas@leargas.ie |
fbroughan@leargas.ie |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
ciara.cotter@sfi.ie |
Ciara Cotter |
Note 1 – In regard to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) as the IRC operates under the auspices of the HEA. Mr Mellett will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use Oireachtas@hea.ie and Oireachtas@research.ie respectively to contact Mr Mellett.
756. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [23049/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to staff with disabilities. The Department is also committed to addressing the health and safety needs of all employees, including employees with disabilities. For this purpose, staff may be asked to indicate if they have any needs for reasonable accommodation or health and safety supports related to a disability.
My Department has a designated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) who is the point of contact for staff members with disabilities and their managers. The DLO assists and supports staff with disabilities, in confidence, providing necessary information, guidance, suggestions and advice. The DLO also assists with any reasonable accommodations and/or equipment which a staff member with a disability might require to carry out their role.
The DLO is a member of the Civil Service Disability Liaison Network which meets regularly with DLOs from all departments to share best practice in the area of supporting staff with disabilities.
Part V of the Disability Act 2005 requires that public bodies promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and ensure that 3% of staff employed by them are people with disabilities. The percentage of people with disabilities employed by my Department at present is 9.92%. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities for 2015 – 2024, commits the Government to progressively increasing the statutory target for the employment of people with disabilities from 3% to a minimum of 6% in the public sector by 2024. In order that my Department can meet its legal responsibility to report annually on the number and proportion of staff with a disability, every employee (including temporary and part-time employees) is required to complete and sign a confidential form to establish whether or not the employee has a disability within the meaning of the Disability Act.
The information in respect of state bodies is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query .
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Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
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Name of Body |
Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireacthas |
Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members |
|
Higher Education Authority |
Oireachtas@hea.ie |
Padraic Mellett* |
|
Irish Research Council( Note 1) |
Oireachtas@research.ie |
Padraic Mellett* |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
Communications@ggda.ie |
nora.rahill@ggda.ie |
|
SOLAS |
oireachtasinfo@solas.ie |
Maria Walsh maria.walshe@solas.ie |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
oireachtas@skillnets.com |
t.donnery@skillnets.com |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland |
ceo@qqi.ie |
ceo@qqi.ie |
|
Léargas – The Exchange Bureau |
oireachtas@leargas.ie |
fbroughan@leargas.ie |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
ciara.cotter@sfi.ie |
Ciara Cotter |
Note 1 – In regard to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) as the IRC operates under the auspices of the HEA. Mr Mellett will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use Oireachtas@hea.ie and Oireachtas@research.ie respectively to contact Mr Mellett.
757. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a breakdown by county of apprenticeships available, in tabular form. [23188/23]
View answerPlease find attached breakdown by ETB region of apprenticeships in tabular form.
758. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the percentage of social media posts made on each of her Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; the percentage of same that feature bilingual translations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23036/23]
View answerBetween 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, my Department made 7% of its social media posts exclusively in Irish and 3.30% of its social media posts featured bilingual translations.
Information in relation to the agencies that operate under the remit of my Department is set out in the table below:
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Agency |
Exclusively in Irish |
Bilingual |
|
Pobal |
20% |
4% |
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Charities Regulator |
4% |
0% |
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Western Development Commission |
0% |
1% |
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Water Safety Ireland |
0% |
0% |
759. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development how her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under hers remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [23054/23]
View answerI can confirm that, consistent with the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024, the Department of Rural and Community Development is strongly committed to equality of opportunity for all in terms of its employment practices.
In compliance with the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2005, my Department complies with its obligation to make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. The provision of reasonable accommodation forms an integral part in supporting new staff who enter with a disability and existing staff who may acquire a disability.
Reasonable accommodation provision is managed primarily by the Human Resources Unit and the Department’s Disability Liaison Officer (DLO). New staff are made aware of the existence and role of the DLO at induction and staff are reminded of DLO services and availability at regular intervals.
Reasonable accommodations are provided on an individual case-by-case basis. Depending on the nature of the accommodation, further input and support may be required from a number of areas including the Civil Service Occupational Health Department, Health and Safety, Accommodation Unit, ICT support and the individual’s Line Manager. This ensures a holistic approach to the successful integration of employees with disabilities.
There are 4 agencies under the aegis of my Department: Water Safety Ireland (WSI), Pobal, the Western Development Commission (WDC) and the Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA). The day to day operational matters of the agencies, including human resources issues and regulations, are a matter for their Boards and CEOs.
