Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to increase the number of places in third level education for mental health that would escalate the number of professionals entering mental health care. [26484/23]
View answerMy Department is strongly committed to supporting the health and welfare of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.
Healthcare programmes are by their nature complex in delivery. The availability of appropriate placements and placement supports is a key enabler of expansion. A working group, including representation from the Department of Health, HSE and CORU, as well as the higher education sector, has been established to specifically examine how placements can be secured to facilitate greater numbers of training places.
Officials in my Department are engaging with Higher Education Institutions to explore possible areas of expansion of existing health care programmes, including mental health nursing programmes and clinical and counselling psychology. My officials are also engaging with the Department of Health as these additional places require the allocation of resources, and require placements to be put in place by the HSE and the Department of Health.
Nursing, which would include mental health nursing, was one of the disciplines included in the recent HEA exercise to identify where capacity could be built in the higher education sector. I will shortly bring a memorandum to Government to outline the opportunities identified, the costs arising with any expansion and to outline the engagements I have had on the options outlined with my colleague the Minister for Health
This builds upon the significant increase in medicine, nursing and health and social care professional course places that has been introduced since my Department was set up just three years ago.
102. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will further outline hisplans to expand SUSI eligibility to part-time students, as has been reported in the media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26711/23]
View answerThe student grant scheme is targeted at full-time students. Courses that are part-time, less than two years in duration, undertaken online or as distance courses, or which lead to a special purpose or distance award, are not currently approved for the Student Grant Scheme.
However, I have been consistent in my position that we need to develop our student support system over time to ensure that it supports more flexible forms of learning. This will particularly benefit more disadvantaged learners, as recognised in the National Access Plan.
I have established a steering group to support the implementation of the Funding the Future reform framework. I chair this group alongside Professor Anne Looney and Professor Tom Collins, which is supported by two working groups comprising representatives of institutions, students, trade unions and employers. The working group focused on skills, participation and cost is currently examining the potential to support students to avail of more flexible learning opportunities.
Through the Funding the Future policy considerations, there is an increased recognition that supporting part-time, blended and postgraduate learning has the potential to transform access to learning in the medium term, once existing reform commitments are embedded within the sector.
Equally, however, the issue of expanding part-time delivery of third-level education in Ireland is complex and significant planning will need to be conducted at both national and institution level to manage the potentially significant impacts on educational institutions.
I would expect that this working group will provide their consideration of these issues in the coming months. Having regard to this initial assessment, my Department will then examine the priority areas that can form part of the consideration of Budget 2024, particularly with respect to supporting disadvantaged and under-represented learners.
103. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that are being taken to ensure affordable on-campus student accommodation for the upcoming college semester in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26713/23]
View answerMy Department is actively addressing the availability of student accommodation, given the challenges in the wider rental market. Through “Housing for All”, the Government has approved development of policy and provision of funding to increase the supply of purpose built student accommodation.
This has resulted in the State directly supporting the short term development of 1,071 new student accommodation units by public Higher Education Institutes, where planning permission already exists but projects have stalled as a result of construction inflation and supply chain uncertainties. My officials are also assessing a number of other projects with planning permission for delivery of additional supply.
My Department is also supporting increased usage of "digs" accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme. The Government has approved changes to the scheme to make it more attractive to homeowners. The changes will allow income generated through the scheme to be disregarded for the purposes of social welfare eligibility and medical card eligibility. The changes approved will also allow Local Authority tenants to access the scheme. Work is ongoing across the relevant Departments to progress the implementation of these changes. The scheme provides a tax exemption for homeowners to earn up to €14,000 per annum in rental income. The Government will launch a national media campaign to promote awareness of and participation in the scheme, targeted both at homeowners and students. This campaign will be run in tandem with localised campaigns run by the higher education institutions.
The Government has also approved funding of €1m to support the Technological Universities in the assessment of accommodation needs, which will inform a long term student accommodation policy and methodology which I hope to bring to Government before the summer recess.
With regard to on-campus student accommodation in Cork, I can confirm that UCC has opened applications for the new Purpose Built Student Accommodation at the Crow’s Nest site for the 2023/2024 academic year of 255 new beds. This contributes to a total of 1,534 PBSA beds at UCC. A further 1,000 (approximately) new PBSA beds are expected to be completed by private operators in Cork within the 23/24 academic year.
My officials are also examining proposals with UCC for the delivery of additional supply with planning permission under the short term activation Initiative.
While there is no on-campus purpose built student accommodation within the Munster Technological University, there are private developments under construction in the vicinity and the requirements for MTU will be examined as part of the TU feasibility study which will commence in the coming weeks.
104. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will use the opportunity of Budget 2024 to abolish all registration and tuition fees for undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26744/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with tuition fees and other 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 or other registration fees payable by students. 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 relation to undergraduate tuition fees, I have been clear that I want to see the student's contribution towards tuition fees in higher education reduce in a meaningful way over the course of future budgets.
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.
In advance of Budget 2024, 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 providing additional tuition fee supports or tuition fee contribution costs, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
105. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress to date in advancing collaboration on a North/South basis in the provision of further education throughout this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26398/23]
View answerFurther Education Institutions, North and South, have a long history of collaboration, and I am very committed to the promotion of maintenance and strengthening of these relationships, as well as encouraging the development of new collaborations.
While my Department does not have oversight of the operation of these relationships on a day-to-day basis, I would like to cite the strong collaboration between Donegal ETB and the North West Regional College in Derry as part of the recently established North-West Tertiary Education Cluster. Together with Atlantic Technological University (Donegal) and University of Ulster Derry Campus, this exemplar offers a model to all education and training providers which promotes the development of initiatives such as joint programmes across each of the partners as well as seeking to respond to skills demands on a cross border basis.
Furthermore, my officials have been working with their counterparts on specific initiatives as part of the EU PEACE PLUS intervention on skills. Underpinned by €50 million in funding, this action line offers education and training providers an opportunity develop innovative responses upskilling and re-skilling demands in the programme areas (Northern Ireland and the Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth). I understand that the Special EU Programmes Body will be hosting a workshop on this proposal in Dungannon on 8th June 2023.
I am also pleased to note that Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI) is involved in two cross-border apprenticeship programmes – namely the Accounting Technician and Accounting Technologist. The former is already available, and is currently being delivered in further education institutions, North and South. The Accounting Technologist Apprenticeship is going through the undergoing the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) approval process, with the occupational profile to be submitted to its June meeting.
106. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there is no clear objective in the South East Technological University Strategic Plan 2023-2028 to deliver a campus in Kilkenny city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26738/23]
View answerThe preparation of a strategic development plan by a TU is entirely a matter for the technological university in question in accordance with the provisions set out in section 18 of the TU Act 2018. Neither I as Minister nor my Department has a function in the matter.Similarly, the location of any campus is a matter for a TU as an autonomous higher education institution and again neither I nor my Department have any function in this regard. I consider the TU to be as its name indicates, a TU for all in the South East. In that context I note that the new SETU strategic development plan “Connecting for Impact 2023-2028” launched on 22 and 23 May cites a strategic objective to lead and deepen strategic, partnerships with government, local authorities, education sector, public sector, enterprise, culture, voluntary and community organisations within the south east to maximise regional cohesion and impact, enhance capacity to plan for and respond dynamically to current and emerging skills and educational needs of employers, and to enhance regional productivity, growth and sustainability. The SETU plan cites as an action under this objective to establish a working group, to include Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Chamber, to explore how SETU can support specific activity based in Kilkenny in a manner that creates beneficial additionality to the TU’s portfolio and is sustainable long-term.
107. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work his Department is carrying out to address precarious work conditions for PhD researchers and early year academics; if he has engaged with some of the representative groups in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26710/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for this question. The quality of our researchers is fundamental to the quality of our research system and its collaboration with partners in industry and policymakers, both in Ireland and abroad. My Department last November initiated an independent National Review of State Supports for Ph.D. Researchers under the co-chairs Dr. Andrea Johnson and David Cagney. The Review Terms of Reference cover: Current financial supports for PhD researchers; The adequacy, consistency and equity of current arrangements; The status of PhD researchers (employee/ student), including a review of international comparators; Impact on the funding of research programmes of any adjustments to current supports; Graduate outcomes, including return on investment; Visa requirements and duration for non-EU students. The Co-Chairs have now submitted their first report following a very comprehensive round of stakeholder consultations and online submissions, with 35 stakeholder meetings held and over 750 written submissions received. This report will be presented to Government in advance of publication. Any decision that I will make on measures to support Ph.D. researchers will be informed by the outcome of this Review. Under Pillar 4 of our national research and innovation strategy, Impact 2030, we have committed to ensuring that researchers have the right skills development and career opportunities so that they can make their maximum contribution, whether in academia, industry, the public sector, or elsewhere. We have also committed to fostering a consistent research student experience, across funders, institutions, and research disciplines. The Department continues to engage with representative bodies of the Higher Education Institutes and the Universities advise they are committed to providing stable and fulfilling employment and career opportunities, and successfully balancing this objective alongside maintaining the necessary flexibility required by operational needs. On this point, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken by Department officials to develop a revised staffing framework for the sector to replace the current Employment Control Framework and support workforce planning by higher education institutions. This is being advanced in consultation with the Higher Education Authority. There have also been preliminary engagements with DPENDPR in advance of tabling a comprehensive proposal, as any new framework will require approval by that Department.
108. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the process of selecting a higher education institute to facilitate increased capacity in veterinary medicine. [26749/23]
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.
109. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a progress update on the Kerry ETB campus at a site (details supplied) in Killarney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26668/23]
View answerLate last year, I was very happy to announce that Kerry ETB’s (KETB) strategic proposal to develop a Further Education College in Killarney was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund. The proposal put forward by KETB relates to the development of the former Pretty Polly and Sara Lee site to provide a specialist centre of skills development in hospitality training. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that since then my Department has worked closely with SOLAS in developing a suite of templates and guidance notes in line with Public Spending Code requirements for the preliminary business case stage of the process. Workshops took place at the end of March 2023 with relevant ETB representatives, including KETB, to advise on how to complete the templates. SOLAS will continue to work closely with these ETBs, including KETB, during the development phase of their proposal. ETBs have up to the end of September to complete and return their preliminary business cases for evaluation.
110. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he intends in Budget 2024 to ensure that all PhD researchers receive a stipend of at least the living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26743/23]
View answer134. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to ensure that a living wage is provided to all PhD workers and to end precarity for academic workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26708/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 134 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for this question.
Under Pillar 4 of our national research and innovation strategy, Impact 2030, we have committed to ensuring that researchers have the right skills development and career opportunities so that they can make their maximum contribution, whether in academia, industry, the public sector or elsewhere. As part of this commitment, I announced a national review of State supports for PhD researchers. I was pleased to appoint Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney as Co-Chairs for the review. The Co-Chairs have now submitted their first report following a very comprehensive round of stakeholder consultations and online submissions, with 35 stakeholder meetings held and over 750 written submissions received. The Co-Chairs have indicated that further work and engagement is required with respect to some aspects of the terms of reference. Following consideration by myself and my officials and, where relevant, other departments, this report will be presented to Government in advance of publication. Any decision that I will make on measures to support PhD researchers will be informed by the outcome of this Review and, where additional expenditure arises, the annual Budgetary process.
In relation to the wider issue of precarity for academic workers, my Department continues to engage with representative bodies of the Higher Education Institutes and the Universities who advise that they are committed to providing stable and fulfilling employment and career opportunities, and successfully balance this objective alongside maintaining the necessary flexibility required by its operational needs. On this point, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken by my officials to develop a revised staffing framework for the sector to replace the current Employment Control Framework and support workforce planning by higher education institutions. This is being advanced in consultation with the Higher Education Authority. There have also been preliminary engagements with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform (DPENDPR) in advance of tabling a comprehensive proposal, as any new framework will require approval by that Department.
111. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider third-level registration fees and post-graduate fees with a view to making it easier for people to improve their educational qualifications. [26669/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with tuition fees and other 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 or other registration fees payable by students. 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.
I have been clear that I want to see the student's contribution towards tuition fees in higher education reduce in a meaningful way over the course of future budgets.
In relation to undergraduate fees, 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.
The Budget 2023 package included an increase in the Post Graduate Fee Contribution Grant (part of the Student Grant Scheme) by €500 on 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000 from September 2023. This measure will benefit postgraduate students who are eligible for a postgraduate fee contribution towards the cost of their tuition fees.
In advance of Budget 2024, 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 providing additional tuition fee supports or tuition fee contribution costs, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
112. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of Ireland's application to join CERN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16972/23]
View answerIn November last year, I indicated in Dáil Éireann that my Department will prepare a proposal for Government to consider joining CERN. Since then, Officials from my Department have been working with CERN to prepare an application for Ireland's associate membership of CERN. It is envisaged that a formal proposal will be put to CERN Council for vote at the end of 2023 allowing for time for the formal application to be complied and for the requisite multi-annual funding to be secured through the 2024 Estimates process.
Central to the application process, the Department, in collaboration with national stakeholders, has begun preparation of the country file required to make a formal application to CERN. This file establishes Ireland's compliance with the criteria for membership.
No shortcomings have been identified that would prevent Ireland's bid for membership. Extensive consultations will continue in the coming months with the Ireland CERN Users Group, the Institute of Physics, the relevant State agencies and the wider academic community so that the best case can be put forward to represent Irish physics and our wider interests.
The required file will be ready for submission in advance of the CERN Council meeting at the end of this year. While the country file is being completed, progressing Ireland's membership will involve engagement with the Cabinet, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, the Department of Foreign Affairs, CERN, and ultimately with Dáil Éireann. The associated annual cost of €1.8 million for each of the five years, of the initial period of associate CERN membership, must be secured through the Estimates process before Ireland can submit an application.
The next possible CERN Council meetings when Ireland’s application will be given preliminary consideration will take place on 5 October to 6 October 2023, and again on 14 December 2023.
In the event of a positive vote, CERN will establish a fact-finding taskforce to examine the application and to visit and engage with the relevant stakeholders in Ireland. The taskforce will submit a report on Ireland's suitability for associate membership to the director general and the president of the CERN Council.
Allowing some months for the taskforce process, it is envisaged that the council could make a further vote in June 2024 on whether to admit Ireland as an associate member. Admission to CERN must be by consensus. An agreement will be brought to Dáil Éireann for ratification, along with the required international protocol. My Department continues to prepare for all of the above steps in the application process.
113. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what factors influence the availability of college places; how much weight he is giving to industry needs, for example the construction and hospitality sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26714/23]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science does not place a quota on the number of higher education places in publicly funded institutions, and as such the number of places provided each year is determined by the institutions themselves in line with their capacity.
Bodies such as SOLAS's Skills and Labour Market Research Unit and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have a key role in assessing and forecasting for the skills and talent needs in an economy being transformed by digitisation and the decarbonisation imperative. The analysis which they carry out is central to informing responsive programme planning across the tertiary system; and flexible and innovative responses to changes in the world of work, such as the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) and Springboard+.
This agility and flexibility is further underscored by responsiveness to priority industry and enterprise workforce needs under key policy initiatives such as, for example; the Action Plan for Apprenticeship; Funding the Future; the Green Skills for FET Roadmap; and the National Digital Strategy Harnessing Digital.
While these policy initiatives can help drive the creation of additional provision in key skills areas, the number of places available in any given course is determined by individual higher education institutions, in line with their capacity and with reference to student demand as well as regional and national skills needs.
Many of the skills highlighted by graduate employers as being the most sought after are not industry-specific, but are rather transversal skills such as analytical thinking, collaborative working and the ability to self-motivate and these skills can be developed through a wide variety of programmes.
My Department will continue to advance efforts to ensure that Ireland produces the graduates the workforce needs with the flexible and adaptable skillset that our economy and society requires.
114. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the distribution of the devolved capital grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26610/23]
View answerSince 2021, the Department has disbursed just over €96m in funding for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years under the Devolved Capital Grant to Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and eligible higher education institutions. The Devolved Capital Grant is allocated to individual institutions in accordance with a model based primarily on student numbers, weighted by course type and mode of study.
In April this year I announced €8 million in capital devolved funding for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector and I will be shortly announcing the funding available for the Higher Education Institutions.
The Devolved Capital Grant provides flexible capital funding to ETBs and eligible higher education institutions to support small-scale building works (including health and safety works, access works, refurbishment, energy upgrades etc.) and equipment purchase or renewal, including ICT. It is a matter for individual ETBs and higher education institutions to determine what works are prioritised.
In deployment of the grant, each ETB and higher education institution must ensure value for money, clear prioritisation and demonstrable impact on the capacity to deliver on its strategic goals.
Our third level sector faces significant challenges in responding to climate objectives and these funds will assist with making energy upgrades. It will also ensure our campuses are inclusive and accessible. The funding can be used to make the necessary upgrades to make campuses accessible for people with disabilities.
115. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to expand the list of courses that are taught through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26712/23]
View answerThe Higher Education Authority Act, which was enacted in October 2022, requires that higher education institutions promote the Irish language. As autonomous bodies, each higher education institution is responsible for its Irish language strategy, including the expansion and teaching of university courses through the Irish language.
The Department distributes recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority for disbursement directly to designated higher education institutions through a block grant. The internal allocation of this funding, including expenditure on Irish-language education initiatives, falls to the individual institution.
My Department sponsors the Conradh na Gaeilge initiative, ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ which is run in conjunction with the Union of Students of Ireland. It offers Irish language clubs and societies with skills and mentorship in developing the use of the language within Higher Education.
Under the auspices of the Minister and Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, there is a goal to ensure improved public services through the Irish language. This is done through the Act's provisions and regulations that apply to all public bodies under the Act.
Ultimately, however, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are autonomous, and determine themselves which Irish-language courses will be offered. While my Department will continue to be committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act, it is not within my remit to direct a HEI as to the courses they offer.
116. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has interacted with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to a campaign; and if he will give a commitment to further engage with it in relation to accommodation and the cost of collage and cost-of-living crisis. [26377/23]
View answerI have regular engagement both personally and through my Department with the Union of Student in Ireland (USI) and regional Student Union representatives. These meetings address issues including the cost of living crisis, its impact on students and their families and the provision of student accommodation.
In April of this year I met representatives of USI to discuss the development of policy and provision of funding for State supported purpose built student accommodation under “Housing for All”. This approach has resulted in the State directly supporting the construction of 1,071 new student accommodation units in the short term, with assessment ongoing on a number of other projects with planning permission. I also informed the USI of the work of my officials with the Residential Tenancies Board regarding protections for students in rented accommodation.
My Department is also supporting the increased usage of “digs” accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme via an upcoming targeted national media campaign. Recent changes to the scheme allow for income generated to be disregard for the purposes of social welfare eligibility and when calculating qualifying financial thresholds for medical cards. Local Authority tenants will also be eligible to participate in the scheme; work is ongoing across the relevant Departments to progress the implementation of these changes.
In light of pressures in living costs, I announced a package of cost-of-living measures as part of Budget 2023 that have already been implemented. In addition I have delivered a range of enhancements to the Student Grant Scheme to put more money into the pockets of students and their families.
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.
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117. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to engage with key sectors, including the public service, in order to develop a single portal where people can not only get information about apprenticeship options, but apply to participate in a centralised recruitment process for such sectors. [26607/23]
View answerThe Apprenticeship Jobs Portal (www.apprenticeshipjobs.ie) was launched in April 2019 to enhance the visibility and accessibility of apprentice job vacancies and to assist small companies to advertise apprentice vacancies to a wide audience. Although not a matching system the platform has been building traction since its launch. This contributed to over 350,000 users of www.apprenticeship.ie in 2022 and 1.4million site visits. Work is continuing to bring all apprentice employers on-board the system. Prospective apprentices may also contact their local ETB who may hold information on local apprenticeship vacancies. In November 2021 Minister Harris announced the inclusion of information on apprenticeship as part of the website for the Central Applications Office (CAO) process for 2022. This initiative has made a significant contribution to highlighting the range of learning and qualification options for school leavers, providing learning options both for students who learn by doing as well as vocational and academic routes to a qualification. This measure is further supported by the apprenticeship Freephone Helpline 1800 794487, established by the National Apprenticeship Office and supported by personnel with apprenticeship and career advice expertise, as a year-round service for anyone seeking assistance or advice on apprenticeship opportunities, including second level students, potential apprentices of all ages and backgrounds, employers, and other interested persons. It is expected that callers to the Helpline will grow to over 1,500 calls this year. Overall, my Department is examining the establishment of a single portal for all third level options.
118. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the value of the National Training Fund, his further plans for the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26611/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the National Training Fund (NTF) is a dedicated fund to upskill people in employment, and to provide training and reskilling opportunities for those who are unemployed. It also funds research on existing and likely future skills requirements of the economy. Established by the National Training Fund Act, 2000, it is resourced by a levy at 1% on employers, which is collected through the PRSI employers’ contribution.
For 2023, the income of the NTF is forecast at just over €1 billion with planned investment of over €900m invested in schemes for these purposes. It is projected that this will result in an annual surplus of €120m, which will increase the accumulated surplus in the NTF to a projected €1.5 billion by end-year.
Understandably, enterprise representatives including those on the enterprise-led NTF Advisory Group have characterised the prospect of an ever-increasing surplus in the NTF as unsustainable in light of the scale and extent of re-skilling and up-skilling needs of our workforce.
Following engagement with An Taoiseach earlier this year, my Department is currently engaging with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to develop options for consideration by Government for the unlocking of the NTF surplus as an integral element of the Estimates 2024.
This work provides the opportunity to address the challenges and realise the opportunities for skills, talent and human capital development highlighted by the recommendations set out in the recent OECD review of Ireland's Skills Strategy. It would also respond to the very substantial impact of what the OECD review terms the "mega-trends" of digitisation, decarbonisation and demography helping to underpin Ireland's economic, social and environmental sustainability in the years ahead.
119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he intends on setting up a dedicated fund within his allocation to the Higher Education Authority to fund courses that would be taught through the medium of the Irish language, in order to ensure that it will be possible to fully implement the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25488/23]
View answerThe Department distributes recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for disbursement directly to the HEA's designated higher education institutions. The HEA distributes this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal allocation of this funding, including expenditure on Irish-language education initiatives, falls to the individual institution.
The Higher Education Authority Act (2022) requires that institutions seek to promote the Irish language.
My Department sponsors the Conradh na Gaeilge initiative, ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ which is run in conjunction with the Union of Students of Ireland. It offers Irish language clubs and societies with skills and mentorship in developing the use of the language within Higher Education.
Under the auspices of the Minister and Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media aims to ensure improved public services through the Irish language. This is done through the Act's provisions and regulations that apply to all public bodies under the Act. The Department may have additional information in that regard.
Ultimately, however, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are autonomous, and determine themselves which Irish-language courses will be offered. While my Department will continue to be committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act, it is not within my remit to direct a HEI as to the courses they offer.
120. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has considered creating the role of professor within the new technological universities in order that these institutions might fulfil their research ambitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26681/23]
View answerThe OECD review of academic career structures, academic contracts and senior management and leadership structures in Irish technological universities (TUs) was published on 16 December 2022 following the Cabinet's noting of the insights provided by the OECD in setting out the strengths and differences evident between Irish TUs and comparator institutions internationally by Cabinet.
Both TUs and staff representatives in the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, fed into the OECD work and were briefed by the OECD on same during the preparation of the report.
Detailed engagement is taking place between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the findings of the report, which includes the recommended establishment of professor and associated grades, as well as ongoing engagement by officials in my Department with the relevant sectoral stakeholders.
Upon conclusion of the relevant engagements, the next key step is that I will bring a Memorandum to Government with recommendations to effect the necessary transformative changes in our TUs based on my consideration of the OECD report and related matters.
This is not an easy or uncomplicated process but given its critical importance to delivering fully on the TU agenda it requires us all to take the time and care to follow the correct approach in a measured and considered fashion.
I wish to thank all the partners and stakeholders involved in this process to date including Government colleagues, relevant Departments' officials, TU managements and staff representatives and I look forward to progressing the continued engagements I have outlined such as will result in the optimum outcome for the technological sector as a whole and its constituent institutions, staff, students and wider stakeholders.
