Written Answers Nos. 951-963
952. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of all external assurance process reviews tendered for to date; the value of the contract; and the name of the successful company, in tabular form. [24507/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to external assurance process reviews is attached in tabular form.
953. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who undertake mandatory placement as part of their degree; how many of those are unpaid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24814/23]
View answerThe data requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department nor the agencies under its remit.
Placements are organised at the level of each individual Higher Education Institution (HEI), as part of their programme offerings to be delivered in conjunction with relevant placement providers. Where appropriate, each HEI will develop their programme offerings to meet the accreditation standards of relevant regulatory and professional recognition bodies including where placements are a requirement.
954. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of all colleges in the North attended by students from the South, that are eligible for SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24911/23]
View answerUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible 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.
In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States. Also, Student grant legislation was amended in 2020 to retain the status quo, thus allowing funding for eligible students attending an approved undergraduate course in the UK to continue post-Brexit.
In general, an approved undergraduate course in this context is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU Member State or the UK.
The student grant scheme does not, and never has, extended to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than for exceptional provision in respect of postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland. This provision is consistent with the principles of the Good Friday agreement and is intended to promote greater tolerance and understanding between both jurisdictions. The approved institutions to provide postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland, and the approved courses available therein, are as follows:
Queen’s University, Belfast – full-time Postgraduate courses of not less than one year duration;
University of Ulster – full-time Postgraduate courses of not less than one year duration;
St. Mary’s College of Education, Belfast – Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Irish Medium); and
Stranmillis College, Belfast – Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
The Scheme does not extend to PLC courses or provide for maintenance grants for postgraduate courses pursued outside of the State.
Funding under the Free Fees Initiative is only available in respect of approved courses within the State.
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
957. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the major capital works projects that are currently being part funded either by the Higher Education Authority and or his Department in Maynooth University in 2022 and to date in 2023; the amount of Exchequer funding provided to each capital works project; and when each of these capital works projects will be completed, in tabular form. [24975/23]
View answer€1,734,555 was disbursed to Maynooth University (MU) in July 2022 under the Devolved Grant 2022/2023. This funding issued to the higher education sector allows eligible HEIs, including MU, the flexibility to advance minor capital works (including health and safety works, access works, refurbishment and energy upgrades) and equipment purchase or renewal, including ICT. It is the responsibility of individual HEI to prioritise the works against which the funding will be deployed.
No capital funding has been issued to date in 2023 to the institution in question.
The Technology, Society & Innovation Building, part of the Arts and Science Cluster, which forms part of a wider plan to modernise and expand the Arts and Science buildings on the Maynooth University campus was officially opened by the then Taoiseach on the 1st September 2022. Funding of €25m was provided under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF 1) to co-fund the project and the funding in question was drawn down between 2019 and 2021.
MU was among eight higher education institutions approved in 2020 to progress projects under the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme 2020 co-funded with SEAI. The project is complete and is in the energy monitoring phase.
958. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of the €50 million community recognition fund that has been spent to date; the projects on which it was spent; and the counties in which the money was spent. [24067/23]
View answerOn 18th May, accompanied by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister Stephen Donnelly and Minister of State Joe O’Brien, I announced details of €50 million in funding for over 880 projects under the Community Recognition Fund
At its core, this Fund recognises the efforts of communities who have gone above and beyond during what has been a very challenging period for our country. It will support towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.
It is right that communities that have welcomed large numbers of new arrivals from Ukraine and other countries are recognised in some tangible way. The Fund is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service.
Through this initiative, communities will be assisted to develop projects ranging from large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities to walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.
The Fund has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there. It follows an extensive consultation process with local authorities who submitted their individual list of projects for approval.
As the successful projects were announced on 18th May no monies have yet been spent. Full details of successful applications are available on my Department’s website.
959. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on an application by a group (details supplied) for the community recognition fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24192/23]
View answerOn 18th May, accompanied by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister Stephen Donnelly and Minister of State Joe O’Brien, I announced details of €50 million in funding for over 880 projects under the Community Recognition Fund
At its core, this Fund recognises the efforts of communities who have gone above and beyond during what has been a very challenging period for communities. It will support towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.
It is right that communities that have welcomed large numbers of new arrivals from Ukraine and other countries are recognised in some tangible way. The Fund is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service.
Through this initiative, communities will be assisted to develop projects ranging from large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities to walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.
The Fund has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there. It follows an extensive consultation process with local authorities who submitted their individual list of projects for approval.
I am happy to confirm the project referred to by the Deputy was one of the 880 successful applications announced. Full details of successful applications are available on my Department’s website.
960. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department and public bodies/agencies that operate under her remit have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species, such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers, and beehives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24268/23]
View answerMy Department has a number of measures in place which can contribute to the installation of structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species. Some of the funded programmes encourage and promote the enhancement of biodiversity when reinstating and/or landscaping areas e.g. native pollinator plants. For example, applications received under CLÁR 2023 must outline if the project includes an enhancement of biodiversity.
Applicants for the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) will be required to identify, where appropriate, how a proportion of the funding sought will be used to support climate action or biodiversity measures e.g. tree/hedgerow planting on trails. It is imperative that projects do not have a negative environmental impact and, where possible, they involve measures which enhance the biodiversity of the area in question or introduce measures that support climate action.
My Department administers the SuperValu TidyTowns competition and many TidyTowns groups around the country have installed artificial structures such as bat boxes and insect hotels. These structures are installed in a bid to support biodiversity in their areas.
My Department has a Green, Energy & Organisation (GEO) Committee in place which oversees energy efficiency measures, promotes green initiatives within the Department, and champions sustainable practices. While there are no specific policies in place to install such artificial structures at my Department's offices, this is something which will be further considered as part of my Department's next Climate Action Roadmap.
There are four agencies under my Department’s remit: the Western Development Commission, POBAL, Irish Water Safety, and the Charities Regulator. In respect of these bodies, information relating to such policies are a matter for the bodies concerned. They are all independent legal entities responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with their statutory obligations.
961. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline her engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Communications, and Climate concerning the subsea cable to Sherkin Island, which has been out of order since November 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24357/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this issue to my attention. My Department has been in contact with the local development company on Sherkin Island to clarify the matter.
I understand that the sub-sea telephone cable to the island has been damaged since late last year. I also understand that poor weather has, to date, prevented the telephone company from carrying out the necessary repairs work.
I would, however, point out that the provision and maintenance of telecommunication services and its associated infrastructure is a matter for the relevant service providers and complaints should be bought to the attention of the Commission for Communication Regulation (Comreg), who are the correct body with dealing with unsatisfactory service and support.
962. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the manner in which her Department supports agricultural shows; the individual shows supported; the allocation and expenditure from 2018 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24420/23]
View answerSince 2018 my Department has provided funding of almost €2.3 million to the Irish Shows Association (ISA) for agricultural shows throughout Ireland. These shows are regarded as key dates in the rural calendar and central points for the agri-food industry, farming community and local artisan producers.
The agricultural shows support programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of “Our Rural Future ". The funding is used for the operational costs associated with running the shows with the ISA working with the Department to distribute funding to individual affiliated show committees.
Set out in the table below are details of the almost €2.3m supports allocated and paid to the individual shows. In 2020/2021 shows were not run due to ongoing public health restrictions, but reduced funding was put in place in light of ongoing costs which arose at that time.
I hope to make an announcement on support for 2023 in the coming weeks.
963. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider working with other Government Departments to establish a funding scheme to assist event organisers in meeting the costs associated with policing civic events, such as marathons or other such community runs or similar sporting events, parades or arts events in order to ensure their viability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24741/23]
View answerMy Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
My Department does not operate a dedicated fund for the costs associated with policing civic events. Local events are usually under the remit of the relevant Local Authority and matters such as crowd control, facilitation and traffic management would generally be their responsibility.
I would also acknowledge the role of volunteers in event management nationally. My Department is currently providing funding for the National Pilot Community Volunteers Programme. This pilot is currently in its second year of a three year pilot and is rolled out in 17 counties across the country. The programme is currently delivered in collaboration with Volunteer Ireland, Volunteer Centres and support from the County and City Management Agency.
The aim of this programme is that Ireland is better placed to respond quickly, effectively and professionally to national emergencies as well as engaging in other activities such as local events and festivals.
