Written Answers Nos. 1356-1372
1356. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the mechanism for interested parties to make submissions to the Task Force on Prison Education; and if he will accept a submission or representation from a party interested in promoting education in philosophy. [27630/23]
View answerThe aim of the Prison Education Taskforce is to ensure education and training opportunities are available to support prisoner rehabilitation and to enhance the employability skills of prisoners on their release.
The Taskforce is co-chaired with the Minister for Law Reform in Department of Justice, James Browne TD and comprises representatives from both Departments, the Irish Prison Service, SOLAS, the National Apprenticeship Office, Education and Training Boards Ireland, the Probation Service, and former prisoners. The first meeting of the Taskforce took place on Wednesday 31st May 2023 in Mountjoy Prison.
The Taskforce is happy to accept the submission referred to by the Deputy and it can be sent to minister_fheris@dfheris.gov.ie.
1357. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he aware that the HEA has written to the recently formed Technological Universities informing them that they will be substantially reducing the level of funding to the Technical Universities from August 2023, if this decision is premature and will leave these universities in a poor financial state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27643/23]
View answerThe Technological University Transformation Fund (TUTF) is a three-year fund (1 September 2020 – 31 August 2023) that has invested €90 million in the technological sector to assist with the development and progression of technological universities. Technological university consortia, technological universities, and institutes of technology received funding under the TUTF, with the final tranche of TUTF funding of €30 million being dispersed in Q4 2022 by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
It is important to note that our higher education and research system is successful by virtue of its diversity, within and across regions. Each former Institute of Technology, and now TUs, are distinctive by nature of their strategy, their location, their scale, their mission and their stage of development. TUTF funding is allocated by the HEA in a managed fashion in response to requests from TUs taking account of all of these factors and based on stated and evidenced institutional needs.
My Department understands that the HEA is currently engaging with institutions on progress with TUTF funding ahead of the August 31 end date for the fund this year, which includes a process to facilitate a 12-month administrative extension for institutions that require additional time to compete elements of their TUTF projects.
In parallel, Department officials are currently liaising with their HEA counterparts regarding the requirement for further support for the technological sector in the context, inter alia, of the finalisation of projects being funded by TUTF, the recent OECD report on academic career paths, contracts and organisation in Irish TUs and the ongoing operational and developmental needs of the sector in line with the Technological Universities Act 2018 and national strategy for higher education and research.
In this context any future TU funding will also complement the significant additional funding of some €124 million secured by Government for the progression of various elements of the TU agenda under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to 2024 and under the European Regional Development Fund to 2027.
I am committed to ensuring requisite TU oriented funding is provided as appropriate during the crucial post-establishment phase whether through Exchequer or co-funded EU sources.
1358. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of social media videos posted on each of his Departmental social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit, that included closed captioning/subtitling between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; and the percentage of same that feature translations into Irish or another language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27657/23]
View answerPlease see below the percentage of social media videos posted on each of my Department's social media accounts that included closed captioning/subtitling between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; and the percentage of same that feature translations into Irish or another language.
In addition to videos, my Department and the agencies operating within the Further and Higher educational sectors also provide a range of written material on websites and through information campaigns in other mediums.
The information in respect of the state bodies within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with her query.
|
Videos, 1 May 22 - 30 April 23 |
With captions |
Without dialogue/ narration |
With dialogue/narration, without captions |
With ISL |
In/with Irish |
In/with another language |
|
Percentage Twitter videos |
28% |
62% |
9% |
0% |
0% |
1% |
|
Percentage LinkedIn videos |
42% |
50% |
4% |
0% |
0% |
4% |
|
Percentage Facebook videos |
2% |
97% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Percentage Instagram videos |
35% |
58% |
3% |
0% |
0% |
5% |
|
Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
||
|
Name of Body |
Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas |
Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members |
|
Higher Education Authority |
Oireachtas@hea.ie |
Padraic Mellett* |
|
Irish Research Council( Note 1) |
Oireachtas@research.ie |
Padraic Mellett* |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
Communications@ggda.ie |
nora.rahill@ggda.ie |
|
SOLAS |
oireachtasinfo@solas.ie |
Maria Walsh maria.walshe@solas.ie |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
oireachtas@skillnets.com |
t.donnery@skillnets.com |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland |
ceo@qqi.ie |
ceo@qqi.ie |
|
Léargas – The Exchange Bureau |
oireachtas@leargas.ie |
fbroughan@leargas.ie |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
ciara.cotter@sfi.ie |
Ciara Cotter |
Note 1 – In regard to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) as the IRC operates under the auspices of the HEA. Mr Mellett will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use Oireachtas@hea.ie and Oireachtas@research.ie respectively to contact Mr Mellett.
1359. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department, and public bodies and agencies under his remit, have an anti-racism policy which can be accessed by the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27675/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 (IHREC), requires public bodies, in the performance of their functions, to: eliminate discrimination; promote equality of opportunity; and protect the human rights of its members, staff and the persons to whom it provides services. A “public body” is defined in the Act as including, inter alia: a Department of State; a university or institute of technology; an education and training board; any other person, body or organisation established by or under an enactment of charter; and any other person, body, organisation or group financed wholly or partly out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas that stands prescribed for the time being. The specific reference to our universities, institutes of technology and education and training boards is important as it places an enhanced role and responsibility on those education institutions to promote and encourage respect, tolerance and equality of opportunity among their staff, students and wider society.
The tertiary education legislation under which my Department and its aegis bodies operate, complements the public sector duty espoused in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 and obligations under the Equality Acts; in terms of promoting the attainment of equality of opportunity and the support for equality, diversity and inclusion in our tertiary education sector. This has been further developed and enhanced in the new HEA Act 2022, which the Government published last year, placing an obligation on the HEA to advance and support equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion in higher education, including the participation and success of students in priority groups, or persons in such groups seeking to be students, in higher education. I have also made equality, diversity and inclusion in research and innovation a priority in the Research and Innovation Bill 2023, which was published in April.
With regard to anti-racism policies which can be accessed by the public, the Deputy will be aware of the work that has taken place in recent years regarding policies to address racism in our higher education sector. These include: a survey of the experiences of staff of racism in Irish higher education institutions; the publication of a report on the survey findings; the development and publication of a Race Equality Implementation Plan 2022-2024 responding to the survey findings; and the development of Anti-racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions. Details of these policy documents can be accessed at: hea.ie/policy/gender/race-equality/
The Deputy will also be aware that the Government published Ireland’s National Action Plan Against Racism 2023-2027 (NAPAR) in March (www.gov.ie/en/press-release/d157a-minister-obrien-announces-publication-of-irelands-national-action-plan-against-racism-2023-2027/ ). My Department had a number of engagements with the Anti-Racism Committee established to monitor the development of the NAPAR and with officials in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth, on the development of this strategy. The NAPAR includes a number of actions for the tertiary education sector.
My Department is also represented on the Steering Committees of the Migrant Integration Strategy, Irish Refugee Protection Programme and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy which are chaired by my colleague Roderic O’Gorman T.D., Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
1363. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a person (details supplied) will be called to college as he is 18 months into his electrical apprenticeship; and if he will be given a place in Kilkenny. [27763/23]
View answerUnder the Further Education and Training Act (2013), SOLAS has statutory responsibility for planning, funding, and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland.
My officials have referred your query to SOLAS for direct reply on this individual matter, who have advised an email has been issue directly to the apprentice this morning providing a scheduling status update.
1364. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has been offered technological university-transformation funding for only one year from August 2023, in contrast to the four years' funding provided to Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin); if his Department will work with the HEA to ensure the proposed one-year post-merger funding for ATU will be increased to four-year post-merger funding, in line with TU Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27785/23]
View answerThe Technological Universities Transformation Fund (TUTF) is a three-year fund (1 September 2020 – 31 August 2023) that has invested €90 million in the technological sector to assist with the development and progression of technological universities. Technological university consortia, technological universities, and institutes of technology were eligible to apply for funding under the TUTF. The €90 million fund was expended in December 2022 with funded projects due to conclude on 31 August 2023.
In August 2020, in response to the initial TUTF funding call, the Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA), incorporating Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Sligo applied to the HEA for funding to support the formation of a TU. An allocation of €5.7 million was granted to pursue this initiative. CUA made an application for further support in Year 2 of TUTF (2021-2022) to meet the criteria for TU designation and again in Year 3 of TUTF (2022-2023), as the newly established Atlantic Technological University (ATU), to support the development and progress of the new institution. In total, Exchequer funding of just over €17 million has been provided to this TU project both in its pre- and post-establishment phases, being the second largest overall allocation provided across all established TUs to date.
It is important to note that our higher education and research system is successful by nature of its diversity, within and across regions. Each former IoT, and now TUs, are distinctive by nature of their strategy, their location, their scale, their mission, and their stage of development. TUTF funding is allocated by the HEA in a managed fashion in response to requests from TUs taking account of all of these factors and based on stated and evidenced institutional needs.
My Department understands that the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which administers the TUTF is currently engaging with institutions on progress ahead of the August 31 end date for the fund, which includes a process to facilitate a 12-months administrative extension for institutions that require additional time to compete elements of their TUTF projects.
In parallel, Department officials are currently liaising with their HEA counterparts regarding the requirement for further support for the technological sector in the context of the finalisation of projects being funded by TUTF, the recent OECD report on academic career paths, contracts and organisation in Irish TUs and the ongoing operational and developmental needs of the sector in line with the Technological Universities Act 2018 Act and national strategy for higher education and research.
Any future TU funding will also complement the significant additional funding of some €124 million secured by Government for the progression of various elements of the TU agenda under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to 2024 and under the European Regional Development Fund to 2027.
I am committed to ensuring requisite TU oriented funding is provided as appropriate during the crucial post-establishment phase whether through Exchequer or co-funded EU sources.
1365. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the Oireachtas direct line contact details for Solas (details supplied). [27792/23]
View answerFollowing enquiries with SOLAS, I understand that the email address oireachtasinfo@solas.ie and the contact number referred to by the Deputy are no longer in use. The new email address and contact number for queries are communications@solas.ie and (01) 533 2500.
1366. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can provide an update with regard to the Technological University Development Fund, the proposed successor to the Technological University Transformation (TUT) Fund; if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT Fund on 31 August 2023, specifically in relation to the position of IR facilitators, who are employed on a seconded basis under this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27838/23]
View answer1367. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a further update will be provided regarding the establishment of a new veterinary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27897/23]
View answerEnsuring a supply of qualified vets is an important issue for my Department. Workforce planning requirements for the veterinary medicine sector are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in consultation with the Veterinary Council of Ireland. Officials in my Department have been engaging closely with colleagues in Minister McConalogue's Department in relation to these graduate supply requirements.
While my Department does not place a quota on the number of places on veterinary medicine courses, the reality is that there are constraints in current capacity. This reflects the fact that programmes involve significant practical and placement requirements, and facilities, including appropriate laboratory facilities, to ensure programmes meet the necessary standards of the Veterinary Council of Ireland.
In recognition of this capacity constraint, the Higher Education Authority recently ran a process to identify where capacity could be built in the higher education sector in a number of priority disciplines including veterinary medicine.
As I intend updating Government on this process in due course, it is not possible to say at this stage how many further places may be delivered. I expect that following Government consideration, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I will devise a process to further examine the opportunities, identified by the HEA, for new programme provision alongside options for current programme expansion, in order to ensure that the plans identified and associated costs are robust and meet priority needs.
1368. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how he intends the Committees of the Board, known as Councils, as part of the new national research agency referenced in the Research and Innovation Bill 2023, will operate; if they should be mandatory to ensure diversity of expertise and advice in relation to excellence in research and innovation and research priorities, including representing researchers at all career stages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27905/23]
View answerThe General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023 provides that the Board of the new agency may establish committees to assist and advise it in relation to the performance of any of its functions. The Bill proposes that, where committees are established to provide specific research expertise, they should be known as “Councils”, with the policy rationale underpinning this that it will provide the Board with a mechanism to ensure that it continues to have access to a wide range of research advice.
In line with similar legislative provisions elsewhere, it is proposed that the establishment of such committees would be a matter for the Board which needs to have the flexibility and agility to respond to the changing Research and Innovation landscape.
Consultation with wider stakeholders, with particular regard to the research community, is being planned in order to seek feedback on the operationalisation of the functions of the new agency. The structure of such councils will be considered further in this context.
1369. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the issue of precarious employment in the university sector, he will be aware that the Employment Control framework managed by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Delivery Plan Development and Reform has been in place since the austerity period, and although reviewed annually as part of the estimates process, hinders long-term planning and contributes to the use of short-term casual contracts, how does he plan to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27906/23]
View answerAs the Deputy has outlined, the higher education sector currently continues to operate under the terms of an Employment Control Framework (ECF). The system operates on a number-based control approach whereby an annual ceiling for core funded posts is agreed for the sector each year. Only posts within that ceiling can involve permanent contracts. The ceiling of core funded posts has been increased over recent years in line with increases to the annual recurrent funding allocation to the sector.
My Department has committed to reforming the current ECF, recognising the issues with regard to its current structure. Significant work has been undertaken internally to scope a new framework and my Department is currently working with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to scope out options for a revised agreement, framed within the strengthened governance framework as provided for in the HEA Act 2022. There has also been preliminary engagement with the sector and with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDPR) in advance of finalising the comprehensive proposal for DPENDPR approval.
1370. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has met with the CEO of an organisation (details supplied) to date in 2023; when he is next scheduled to meet the CEO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27921/23]
View answerDetails in relation to formal engagements to date in 2023, where I have met the CEO of SOLAS, Mr Andrew Brownlee, are attached.
The next scheduled event where I will meet with Mr Brownlee is a Funding the Future meeting on 6th July.
[PQ 27921/23]
Minister Harris formal engagement with SOLAS CEO Mr. Andrew Brownlee
|
ENGAGEMENT |
DATE |
|
Meeting re Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) |
30.01.2023 |
|
Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Implementation Group |
09.02.2023 |
|
Meeting re FET College of the Future |
16.02.2023 |
|
Meeting with the Irish Prison Service, Department of Justice & the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) |
02.03.2023 |
|
Meeting re Capital Funding & Other FET Issues |
06.04.2023 |
|
Launch of Cork NZEB/Retrofitting Centre |
22.05.2023 |
|
Prisoner Education Taskforce |
31.05.2023 |
|
National Economic Dialogue |
12.06.2023 |
1371. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the SUSI grant application case of a person (details supplied) on the basis of fairness and justice where the special rate maintenance grant payable heretofore to family members whose father was in receipt of the working family payment and who last year, through illness, was out of work and in receipt of illness benefit, which is not characterised as a long-term social welfare payment and therefore does not qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant; if he accepts that this is totally unjust; if he will address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27933/23]
View answerUnder 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 nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
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.
The qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2023/24 academic year as specified under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 is as follows:
1. Student must qualify for the standard rate of grant;
2. Total reckonable income (net of income disregards and Child Dependant Increase) must not exceed €25,000, and
3. As at 31st December, 2022, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme.
The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependents of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. Illness Benefit is considered to be a short-term social welfare payment and, therefore, it is not included as an eligible payment for the purposes of the special rate of maintenance grant.
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 within the required timeframe (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant). Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.
With regard to the specific applications, I have been advised by my officials that the students to whom the Deputy refers were awarded the Full Non-Adjacent Standard Rate Band 1 of Maintenance Grant, together with 100% Student Contribution/Tuition Fees, whichever applies by the awarding authority (SUSI). As there was no income from an eligible payment on 31st December 2022, the applicants were not eligible for the Special Rate of maintenance grant under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2023. The students in question have not appealed this decision to SUSI.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. 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. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
1372. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the procedure that was followed in the appointment of the CEO of the new agency to be created arising from the anticipated amalgamation of SFI and the IRC. [27938/23]
View answerOn 5 April, Government noted my intention to create the new Research and Innovation agency on 1 January 2024, to initiate a process to designate the Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) as the CEO designate and to initiate a process through the Public Appointments Service to select a suitable Chair and Board Members of the agency.
The appointment of the CEO designate was a matter of priority to ensure there is no delay in recruitment and the establishment of the agency, as well as to provide stability and ensure that operational matters are progressed in parallel to the legislative process.
Professor Nolan had already been successful in a competitive executive search process undertaken for a very similar candidate to lead SFI in the previous 18 months. As such, a process was undertaken to assess Professor Nolan’s suitability for the role of CEO designate, with a wider search to follow if this process was not satisfied.
Following this process, it was decided to offer the post of CEO designate to Professor Nolan and this approach was approved by Government. The appointment of Professor Nolan provides important continuity and leadership during the transitional period and the early stages of the new agency. Prior to the establishment of the new agency, business will continue as usual in IRC and SFI and researchers can be assured there will be no interruption to ongoing services and funding programmes.
