Written Answers Nos. 796-809
796. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta cad é an meastachán ar chostais ar an Stát a bhainfeadh le cúrsaí Gaeilge a chur ar fáil saor in aisce do dhaoine fásta, ar feadh bliain scoile, trí na Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna i ngach údarás áitiúil. [25744/23]
View answerTá iarrtha agam ar SOLAS dul i dteagmháil leis na Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna chun an t-eolas atá á lorg ag an Teachta a thiomsú agus an t-eolas a chur ar aghaidh go díreach chuig an Teachta nuair a bheidh sé críochnaithe.
797. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the proposed new veterinary school at University Limerick (details supplied); whether he has fully reviewed the recommendations of a report from the Higher Education Authority, HEA, expert panel concerning the relative capacities of UL for the provision of additional veterinary training places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25937/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the HEA recently carried out an exercise to identify options for building capacity in the higher education sector in priority disciplines including Veterinary Medicine.
As I am still reviewing the submission from the HEA, it is not currently possible to say how many further places may be delivered at this time, which higher education institutions may be involved, or in what specific areas these places may be made available. I am also engaging with my Cabinet colleagues, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Minister for Health in relation to the options.
Our Departments are continuing to engage closely on this matter to consider these options, having regard to workforce plans and projected demand for graduates.
798. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the effect of inflation and shortage of accommodation on youth, and in particular the student population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25940/23]
View answerI am aware of the impact of accommodation shortages and cost of living on our third level students and am actively working to address the supply of student accommodation. Increasing costs of construction and financing are impacting on viability, and as a result a number of Universities had to pause their projects. In responding to these challenges, on 29 November 2022, Government approved development of both short and medium term policy responses to activate supply.
These landmark policy responses will see the State providing financial support for the construction of student accommodation so as to ensure increased availability and promote greater access in particular for student groups in line with the National Access Plan, and underpin the policy commitments set out in Housing for All.
The developments to be supported have planning permission. The support will be targeted at providing accommodation to certain SUSI supported students by providing them with accommodation at a defined affordable rate below market rates. At a minimum, 30% of the beds will be made available at discounted rates for the target group of students.
The Government agreed to support the development of long term evidence informed strategic policy to stimulate appropriate supply of student accommodation This will include the development of standardised design specifications and guidance for future developments. This will also be informed by ongoing analysis across Europe and internationally of best practice in the delivery and management of student accommodation.
Department officials are extensively engaged with DHLGH officials to develop synergies in approach for both social housing and affordable student accommodation for target groups. My Department and the HEA are working with a consultant, SUSI and the HE sector to define and gather accurate relevant and informative data related to student accommodation to inform future policy development and responses.
In light of pressures in living costs, I announced a package of cost-of-living measures as part of Budget 2023 that already took effect in 2022. These measures saw:
- every SUSI maintenance grant recipient getting an extra once-off payment in December 2022;
- all higher education students eligible for the fees initiative benefitting from a once-off reduction in the Student Contribution rate of €1,000;
- PhD students funded by the SFI and IRC benefitting from a once-off payment of €500; and
- eligible postgraduate students benefitting from a once-off increase of €1,000 in their Postgraduate Fee Contribution grant.
In addition to once-off cost of living measures, over the course of the past three Budgets, I have delivered a range of enhancements to the Student Grant Scheme to put more money into the pockets of students and their families. Amongst other measures, I have:
- significantly increased the rate of grant, with the most recent improvements taking effect from 1 January this year, where all maintenance grant rates increased by at least 10%;
- increased the income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant and increased the income threshold for students availing of the 50% Student Contribution Grant;
- introduced a new Student Contribution Grant of €500 qualifying families on incomes between €62,000 and €100,000, which will provide support to up to ca. 50,000 students who would not previously have been eligible for SUSI support;
- increased the deduction allowable for student earnings outside of term time from €4,500 to €6,552; and
- enhanced postgraduate supports.
As I did for the first time last year, it is my intention to publish a cost of education options paper which will set out options for further enhancement of student supports for consideration as part of the Budgetary process in the Autumn.
799. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department assists with, or makes a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of staff members of any grade or position; if so, the names of the providers; the costs incurred for the period 2020 to date in 2023; the number of staff who have availed of such assistance over this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25974/23]
View answerI can confirm that my Department does not assist with, or make a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of any staff members of my Department.
800. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of people receiving education and training to work in the mental healthcare sector in each of the years 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26033/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department. CORU, as the regulating body for the health sector, would need to confirm the programmes and disciplines accredited to work in the mental health sector in Ireland, in order to accurately request student enrolment data from the HEA.
Provided below is the number of students enrolled in mental health nursing and psychiatric nursing, level 8 programmes, detailed in the table below.
|
Enrolments Level 8 Nursing |
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
2012/2022 |
|
Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing |
1294 |
1376 |
1389 |
The National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE have advised my Department that the Psychology Project Team completed a report in 2021 which recommended the development of a workforce plan for psychology. My Department understands that the implementation of the recommendations in this report is currently being examined by the HSE including in light of overall resource requirements arising.
801. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports available to Ukrainian students at higher level education who do not meet the three-year residency rule to qualify for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26073/23]
View answerIreland is moving from its initial emergency response towards a more sustainable model of provision for displaced persons arriving from Ukraine. This approach is designed to align service delivery with those available to Irish and EU citizens, in accordance with the equity principle contained in the Temporary Protection Directive.
This means new entrants to higher education courses in the 2023/24 academic year will now have their eligibility to access the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) assessed on the same basis as for all other students, including Irish citizens and those who have been granted International Protection in Ireland.
In order to be eligible for FFI, a student must demonstrate that they have been resident in the State, the EEA, Switzerland or the UK for at least three years in the previous five-year period ending on the day before the start of their approved course of study.
Where the residency requirement is not met, recipients of Temporary Protection will fall liable for the appropriate fee rate. However, the Presidents of the Irish Higher Education Institutions have agreed that beneficiaries of Temporary Protection will be liable for the EU fee rate rather than the higher international fee rate usually charged to non-EU students.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection will also be required to meet the same residency criteria to be eligible for grants under the Student Support Scheme.
The options in respect of support new entrants with Temporary Protection for the 2023/24 academic year are currently under review, and I hope to be in a position to communicate the outcome shortly.
802. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who did not qualify for the free scheme in the current academic year; if he has plans to review the qualification criteria, for example, for graduate entry medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26078/23]
View answerI 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.
Under my Department's Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the State pays tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including previous education attendance, progression and attainment.
The assessment of eligibility under the FFI in individual cases is a matter for each higher education institution to determine within the terms of the scheme. The institutions submit a tuition fee claim to the Department in relation to eligible students. My Department and the HEA do not collate details on the number of students that applied for FFI funding and that the institution deemed ineligible for funding under the terms of the scheme.
Under the previous education criteria of the FFI, students pursuing second level 8 degree courses, including graduate entry programmes, are not eligible for the FFI.
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 possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options in respect of adjusting tuition fee supports or tuition fee contribution costs, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
803. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a student (details supplied) with a stamp 3 visa status is entitled to progress from secondary school to a PLC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26109/23]
View answerAn individual’s eligibility for Further Education and Training (FET), which includes access to Post Leaving Certificate programmes, is determined on the basis of an individual's nationality and circumstances.
A Stamp 3 permission is granted to dependents of non-EEA nationals, who hold an employment permit in the State. Currently, those with a Stamp 3 permission are not eligible for FET courses.
Please note the Department of Justice adjudicates on a person's entitlement to remain in the state and on the stamp that is awarded where permission to remain is sanctioned.
804. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will expedite the certification of solar photovoltaic, PV, installation add-on course requirement for an organisation (details supplied) with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to allow it to process solar grants for households. [26215/23]
View answerQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the state agency responsible for the external quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland. In September of each year QQI publishes the certification periods for the following calendar year. There are six times during the year when providers may request certification from QQI for their learners. Requests from providers for QQI certification are processed on condition that providers and centres submit quality assured results that have been internally and externally moderated.
The next certification window is June 2023 and the key date is 12 June 2023 when providers and centres are required to submit learner details for certification. On 16 June 2023, QQI will release the final statements of results for learners and on 17 July 2023 QQI will issue the relevant certificates or parchments.
Any learner results submitted after 12 June 2023 will not be processed until the August certification period. At all times, QQI endeavours to administer a responsive, quality assured and secure certification service with multiple opportunities during the year for learners to achieve official certification and recognition of their learning. Neither I, nor my Department, have a role in QQI’s certification processes.
805. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount paid by his Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms, and consultants in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26233/23]
View answerThe amount paid by my Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms and consultants in 2022 can be found in the following table:
|
- |
Amount |
|
Legal Teams |
€ 3,716.05 |
|
HR Specialists |
|
|
Accountancy Firms |
€ 27,137.50 |
|
Consultancies |
€ 183,314.53 |
806. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is increasing the number of occupational therapy places for entry in September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26312/23]
View answer807. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is increasing the number of speech and language therapy, SALT, places for entry in September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26313/23]
View answer808. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is increasing the number of physiotherapy places for entry in September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26314/23]
View answer809. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is increasing the number of psychology places for entry in September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26315/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 806 to 809, inclusive, together.
Significant engagement is ongoing between my Department, the Department of Health and the Higher Education sector to develop a joined-up approach to address system level demand in allied health disciplines.
Healthcare programmes are, by their nature, complex in delivery. There are some fundamental issues, which are in the control of the health sector, which are prerequisites to enable expansion. These relate to guarantees of clinical placements, detailed and robust workforce planning projections and engagement with regulators. In addition to qualifying additional health professionals, success in the recruitment and retention of health professionals by the health sector will be key.
In mid-2022, my Department established a working group to identify and address barriers to expansion in the health and social care professions. This working group has included representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE, CORU, the higher education sector as well as my Department.
This group is looking at both incremental expansion from September 2023, and enabling more substantial expansion in the medium term. The HSE is developing a Framework for Practice Placement Education. I understand that the Department of Health have also recently appointed a HSCP Officer to lead on enabling expansion in health and social care professions.
Officials from my Department are engaging with Higher Education Institutions to ascertain possible expansion on existing programmes from 2023. My officials are also engaging with the Department of Health as additional places will require the allocation of resources, and also require placements to be put in place by the HSE and the Department of Health.
