Michael Healy-Rae
Question:290. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25460/23]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (290)
Written answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Meals-on-Wheels Services
Questions (291)
Patricia Ryan
Question:291. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of the 170,000 additional meals on wheels allocated to CHO 7 in budget 2023, covering 34 services, which have been drawn down in the intervening time, in tabular form. [25474/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (292)
Patricia Ryan
Question:292. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has developed and-or instituted a medium three-to-five-year-term recruitment plan aimed at increasing direct provision of home care support and to ensure the HSE has a minimum capacity in each CHO or RHA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25540/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
Grant Payments
Questions (293)
Bernard Durkan
Question:293. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if and when a SUSI grant might be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25497/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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 progression.
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.
Generally speaking, a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. However, once a student progresses to a course at a higher level or completes the equivalent period of study on a new course, the student may be eligible for student grant assistance for the remainder of the course. Article 15(7) of the Student Grant Scheme 2022 refers.
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.
I have been advised by my officials that the student referred to by the Deputy has now exhausted the appeals process.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). 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. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the college attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
Also, 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 postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
Data Protection
Questions (294)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:294. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if mobile and software applications from a company (details supplied) will be banned from Government devices to protect users’ data from being passed to state security services, in light of information outlined in a media report. [25376/23]
View answerWritten answers
No software applications from Meta Platforms i.e. Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp, are contained in the work container of my Department's corporate smart phones.
All my Department's official mobile devices and the apps which run on them comply with the guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review by the NCSC.
My Department requires all users of corporate devices to exercise appropriate discretion in their use and to comply at all times with Departmental user policies, DPER Circular 09/2019 and the Civil Service Code of Conduct.
Third Level Education
Questions (295)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:295. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made to date regarding the integration of Carlow College, St. Patrick's into the Higher Education Authority; the engagement the Department has had on the issue with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25386/23]
View answerWritten answers
Carlow College, St. Patrick's (Carlow College) is a privately run education institution operating outside the publicly funded higher education system.
The Higher Education Authority Act of 2022 was signed by the President on 12 October, 2022 and the majority of the sections of the Act were commenced on 10th November, via Statutory Instrument No. 554 of 2022.
The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 provides for the designation of institutions of higher education, where the purpose and intent of this designation system is to protect the reputation and integrity of the higher education sector by bringing all reputable, high quality higher education providers under the oversight of the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The designation provisions in the Act firstly sets out the automatic designation of institutions that are presently established or recognised under legislation and which were designated under the Higher Education Authority Act 1971. Therefore those automatically designated are the universities, technological universities, institutes of technology, the National College of Art and Design and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland.
The legislation also provides for an application process to the HEA by not-for-profit or private higher education providers for designation by order by the Minister.
These sections in the Act have not yet been commenced, as the legislation requires this application process to have regulations in place detailing the conditions to be complied with by a higher education provider before a designation order can be made.
My officials have commenced work on the development of these regulations. The completion of the designation regulations and the establishment of a process for designation by order will take further consideration including consultation with the Higher Education Authority.
Once the regulations are prescribed and the process is fully developed, the relevant provisions of the HEA Act will be commenced. It will then be open to Carlow College to apply for designation by order under the legislation.
All designated institutions of higher education will be required to comply with the governance and other provisions included in the Higher Education Authority Act 2022. These provisions include the development and implementation of a Strategic Development Plan and an Equality Statement; keeping of accounts; review and reporting provisions; student engagement provisions; equity of access, participation and promotion of success plan; lifelong and flexible learning; data collection and sharing; and compliance with conditions of funding if funding is provided.
It is important to note that designation as a designated institution of higher education does not guarantee that an institution will receive exchequer funding.
Institutions, including Carlow College, will be informed once the designation by order process is open for applications.
As a privately run education institution outside the publicly funded higher education system the College is not eligible to avail of core recurrent funding via the HEA.
Under the Free Fees Initiative, the Department pays a grant in lieu of tuition fees to Carlow College in respect of eligible students on the approved courses. The Deputy may also wish to know that, in late 2022, my Department approved a business case for an increase in the level of funding paid to Carlow College under the Free Fees Initiative for the 2022/23 academic year and subsequent years.
A decision to seek the integration of Carlow College into an autonomous higher education institution in the publicly funded higher education system is in the first instance a matter for the respective governing authorities of Carlow College and any potential partner higher education institution.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Questions (296)
Gerald Nash
Question:296. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the anomalies that have been brought to the attention of the National Apprenticeship Office, SOLAS and the Health and Safety Authority by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the current construction regulations and the ability of those who complete the new consortium-led scaffolding apprenticeship in December 2023 and who attain a QQI level 5 qualification to legally scaffold; if he is concerned that these anomalies have the potential to inadvertently undermine the new consortia-led system and impact on participation rates when compared against the ability to access a SOLAS national craft card by other construction apprentices; if he agrees that the scaffolding apprenticeship programme ought to be recognised independently of the construction skills certification scheme, CSCS, under the construction regulations; the steps he plans to take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25479/23]
View answerWritten answers
Scaffolding as a skill has been long recognised as an integral component of the construction industry’s suite of trades. The Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 require that certain construction workers carrying out safety critical tasks must complete Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) training. On successful completion, workers are issued with a CSCS Card which demonstrates that they have received training in the relevant skills and are registered with SOLAS. This is well recognised in the construction sector, by both employers and clients.
Two scheduled activities requiring CSCS training are Scaffolding – basic (7 days training) and Scaffolding – advanced (10 days training).
Separately, for several years, it was recognised that there was a manpower and skills gap in the scaffolding industry sector. To address this, an apprenticeship programme dedicated to advancing skills in scaffolding was launched in 2021. The programme is 2 years in length and the first apprentices are due to graduate later this year.
It has been identified that under the current licencing regulations, scaffolding apprentices, having completed two years of training, will be required to submit to a CSCS assessment in order to obtain the CSCS Card that will allow them to work on-site.
Currently, the existing regulations for scheduled activities are being revised. The skills training and assessment for all activities currently covered by the existing regulations will be updated under the Construction Safety Licencing Bill, including scaffolding. The Bill is expected to be enacted at the end of 2023.
While the scaffolding apprenticeship is currently a recognised apprenticeship qualification, this Bill creates the potential for it to be included as a licensed activity under this model.
It is noted that, with the timing of the first apprenticeship graduates and the enactment of the Bill, there is a time gap. My Department is working with partners and a possible solution has been identified. This is being finalised and I expect to be able to share further details shortly.
Data Protection
Questions (297)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:297. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if mobile and software applications from a company (details supplied) will be banned from Government devices to protect users’ data from being passed to state security services, in light of information outlined in a media report. [25381/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department's ICT managed service is provided by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform through the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO).
The use of applications on my Department's devices is strictly monitored by both my Department and the OGCIO. All staff of the Department must comply with our ICT Acceptable Usage Policy and other relevant policies, including the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.
My officials will continue to liaise with OGCIO in respect of security policy for the Department's devices.
Seirbhísí Farantóireachta
Questions (298)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:298. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cen fáth nach bhfuil coinníoll sna tairiscintí atá á lorg do sheirbhísí lastais go Inis Meáin go mbeadh sé mar choinníoll d’éinne a bheadh ag tairiscint leis an seribhís a chur ar fáil go mbeadh báid acu a bheadh feliúnach le húsáid a bhaint as Céibh an Chalaidh Mhóir agus go n-úsáidfí an chéibh sin ar a laghad aon uair nach féidir teacht chun céibhe ag an Céibh an Chóra nó an t-am ar fad de bharr an fascadh breise atá ag báid agus na daoine atá ag obair orthu nó ag fáil earraí ón mbád ag Céibh an Chalaidh Mhóir [25449/23]
View answerWritten answers
Tá an comórtas soláthair ar mhaithe le soláthróir feiliúnach a roghnú don tseirbhís lastais trom chuig 3 oileán Árainn ar bun faoi láthair. Foilsíodh an cháipéis tairisceana tar éis den Roinn sraith cruinnithe comhairliúchán a reáchtáil le pobal na n-oileán leis an tseirbhís lastais a phlé, mar chuid den phróiseas athnuachana. Leasaíodh an cháipéis tairisceana le freastal ar mhianta an phobail, oiread agus ab fhéidir.
Is tríd an gcóras eTenders amháin a ghlactar le ceisteanna a bhaineann leis an tairiscint atá foilsithe.
Ó tharla go bhfuil an comórtas fós beo, ní bheadh sé cuí dom aon rud eile a rá faoin ábhar ag an tráth seo.
Wastewater Treatment
Questions (299)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:299. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has considered ring-fenced funding for wastewater treatment plants for offshore islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25467/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently finalising a new National Islands Policy. This policy will set out the Government's vision for supporting and sustaining our island communities.
The responsibility for funding of water and wastewater infrastructure is within the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, while Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee which has been overseeing the development of the islands policy. In addition, officials from my Department have engaged bilaterally with officials in that Department and in Uisce Éireann to agree commitments for the policy and its accompanying action plan, which is currently being finalised.