Sorca Clarke
Question:783. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder services and support will be in place in County Longford. [26348/23]
View answerHealth Services
Questions (783)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Departmental Data
Questions (784)
Patricia Ryan
Question:784. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of dementia advisors there are for each CHO area, for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [26360/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (785)
Patricia Ryan
Question:785. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 371 of 20 April 2023, the number of hours that were provided in 2022 on intensive home care packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26363/23]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the HSE provided the Deputy with the requested information in response to her previous PQ, 18670/23, on 8th May 2023. Their response was also forwarded by email to the Deputy on 25th May 2023.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (786)
Patricia Ryan
Question:786. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting for an eye-specialist/optician appointment for each CHO area, in tabular form; the reason there is a delay in such appointments being allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26364/23]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (787)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:787. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being taken to address the current delays with CAMHS services in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25938/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Third Level Fees
Questions (788, 789)
Bríd Smith
Question:788. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the HEA contribution towards graduate entry medicine tuition fees by €5,000 and €10,000 per student, respectively based on the latest available student numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25552/23]
View answer
Ged Nash
Question:789. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the contribution currently made by the HEA towards graduate entry medicine per student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25573/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 788 and 789 together.
In considering this matter it is important to note that the total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) students is a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.
The State provides support for broadening access to GEM programmes through the part-subsidy of places for EU students, with the fees payable by the student determined by the higher education institution, taking the availability of this subsidy into account.
My Department has been working to address the cost of GEM provision by increasing the subsidy paid to higher education institutions for provision of EU places. Budget 2023 saw a significant increase in the amount the State pays for medicine places, including graduate entry. As part of this agreement:
• The state contribution for new GEM places is €14,500 for 2022/23.
• For existing places, the State contribution towards GEM places is gradually being increased. The subsidy has already increased from a rate of €11,950 in the 2021/22 academic year to €12,100 per student in the 2022/23 academic year and will progressively increase over the coming years to the new rate of €14,500.
The estimated cost of increasing the subsidy per GEM EU student by €5,000 is €4.75m to €5m and the cost of increasing the subsidy per GEM EU student by €10,000 is €9.5m to €10m.
The above estimates exclude the potential increased costs where student numbers increase in future academic years.
Question No. 789 answered with Question No. 788.
Proposed Legislation
Questions (790)
Catherine Connolly
Question:790. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his intended timeline for the publication of the proposed students’ union Bill, as referred to in his speech relating to the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 in Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25574/23]
View answerWritten answers
During the debate on the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, a number of amendments to the Higher Education Authority Bill were requested by Senators relating to the inclusion of a definition of student union. I stated in the Seanad that I had assessed and considered these amendments but had received legal advice that the Higher Education Authority Act was not the appropriate place to define student unions or confer any rights or powers on student unions. The legal advice received was that there could be an unintended consequence of narrowing the scope of the role of student unions by including a student union definition in the Act.
I stated in the Seanad that a full assessment with national and local student unions and other stakeholders would be required in advance of developing a Student Union Bill. I wrote to the Union of Students in Ireland in September 2022 requesting their views on the development of separate legislation on Student Unions.
It is important to point out that the Higher Education Authority Act, 2022 does not include any provisions which infringe on student union autonomy or the democratic nature of student unions. The Act includes provisions for consultation with the national and local students’ unions and also includes a provision that the Higher Education Authority (HEA) may issue guidelines, codes and policies to Higher Education Institutions. These policies, codes and guidelines could provide guidance to institutions on student union autonomy and the role for the student union and other matters of interest and importance to students including partnership agreements.
Departmental Funding
Questions (791)
Réada Cronin
Question:791. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the investment that has been made by the Government into student mental-health services over the past three academic years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25657/23]
View answerWritten answers
The mental health and well-being of students is a priority for my Department. My Department has progressed a number of initiatives, in partnership with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), over the last number of years to address the mental health and well-being issues faced by students in higher education.
I have provided €15.9 million through the Higher Education Authority to support student mental health and well-being activities in Irish Higher Education Institutions since 2020. (This includes €900,000 that was made available in 2022 to support Ukrainian students registered in Irish HEIs.)
This funding supports the implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework hea.ie/assets/uploads/2020/10/HEA-NSMHS-Framework.pdf and the Healthy Campus Charter and Framework, hea.ie/assets/uploads/2023/03/Healthy-Campus-Charter-and-Framework.pdf both of which are overseen by the Higher Education Authority.
The following is a breakdown of funding at Higher Education level.
|
Year |
Total |
|
Year |
Total |
|
2020 |
€5m |
|
2021 |
€5m |
|
2022* |
€5.9m |
|
Total |
€15.9m |
*includes once off €0.9m for Ukraine Students.
In the Further Education & Training sector, learners may have access to internal psychological supports from qualified ETB staff. In recognition of importance of professional development opportunities for FET staff for underpinning a quality service and to promote mental wellbeing amongst learners, the FET sector provides access to digital resources, including health and wellbeing resources that support FET practitioners, aiming to enhance teaching and learning practices and subsequently, the educational experience for learners.
Additionally, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), on behalf of the ETB FET sector, has developed a FET Learner Mental Health Framework. This Framework reviewed and reflected on current mental health and wellbeing supports, and identifies challenges, as well as areas, in which improvements are required.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Questions (792)
John Lahart
Question:792. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the apprenticeship process to allow students from Dublin to complete their apprenticeship in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25665/23]
View answerWritten answers
To ensure all eligible apprentices are offered a training place, the SOLAS apprenticeship scheduling management system is designed to call apprentices by apprenticeship and training phase, on a longest waiting basis on the day of scheduling to the nearest available Education and Training Board, Institute of Technology, or Technological University.
Whilst every effort is made to eliminate unnecessary travel, unfortunately for some apprentices it is impossible to avoid having to attend training facilities that are not convenient to their locality. In the case of some apprenticeships it is not cost effective to have multiple off-the-job training locations.
In the situation where apprentices are required to move from their current place of residence to new paid accommodation to take up an offer of a training place, they are entitled to make an application for an accommodation allowance for the duration of the course. Alternatively, they can apply for a travel allowance. All apprentices are advised of the SOLAS apprenticeship scheduling process at their mandatory Apprenticeship Induction briefings.
However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the National Apprenticeship Office is exploring the potential for craft apprentices’ preferences for training locations to be taken into account.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Questions (793, 795)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:793. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total annual student contribution charge to each consortia-led apprenticeship for each phase, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25722/23]
View answerMairéad Farrell
Question:795. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total estimated yearly cost to the Exchequer of abolishing apprenticeship student contribution charges, broken down by consortia-led and craft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25724/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 793 and 795 together.
An Annual Student Contribution (ASC) is levied on all who attend Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and Technological Universities. The amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro-rata basis according to the time that they spend in the institution during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution required from the apprentice.
For craft apprenticeships, the ASC charged is typically one third of the €3,000 ASC paid by students attending for the full academic year and so amounts to approximately €1,000 per apprentice per period spent in the IoT or Technological University. In the case of consortia-led apprenticeships the contribution varies for each programme as off-the-job training has a more flexible structure, ranging from periods of block release to one day per week or remote learning options.
Across both craft and consortia led apprenticeships, based on latest full year figures, if the ASC was removed, then the cost to the State is estimated at an average €267 per apprentice per annum.
The 2022 year-end population of craft apprentices was 22,429, representing a potential annual cost to the Exchequer of €6m. For the 3,896 consortia-led apprentices the potential annual cost to the Exchequer of €1m.
On 25 May, I hosted a stakeholder event to hear directly from those who will be impacted through the measures that will be announced in Budget 2024. A non-exhaustive list of options to be considered in advance of Budget 2024 will be published ahead of budget day.
The options that will be contained in this paper are intended to identify the cost of different measures, such as the costs associated with reducing the student contribution.
Third Level Fees
Questions (794)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:794. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of further reducing third-level student contribution charges to €1,000 in 2023-2024, and subsequently to abolish these fees in 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25723/23]
View answerWritten answers
I thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with higher education costs.
I am acutely conscious of the challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to education. I also recognise that costs are not limited to tuition fees payable by students and that students have real cost of living challenges such as fuel, food or accommodation and have specific costs associated with their courses such as books or materials.
In Budget 2023 we introduced a range of once off supports for students as part of the Government cost of living package for students including, for the 2022/23 academic year, a once off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution payable by free fees eligible undergraduate students.
Separately, I was pleased to secure Government agreement to the introduction of a permanent new rate of student contribution support through SUSI from September 2023. For students whose families have incomes between €62,000 and €100,000, there will be a new grant of €500 towards the undergraduate student contribution payable by free fees eligible undergraduate students. I am also increasing the income limit for students to avail of the 50% student contribution grant. These measures mean that 42,500 to 50,000 extra students may be eligible for additional help towards paying the undergraduate student contribution once these measures come into effect.
The student contribution replaced the student registration fees levied by higher education institutions and, while the student contribution stands at €3,000 for academic year 2023/24, it is important to recognise that some free fees students will be eligible to have the student contribution paid in full (€3,000) or part (€1,500 or €500) through the aforementioned student grant scheme.
In advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various measures to address the cost of education. This will include estimated costs of options to reduce the student contribution. This is being worked on by officials in my Department and I will be pleased to provide the detailed estimates to the Deputy once available.
Question No. 795 answered with Question No. 793.