Written Answers Nos. 1373-1389
1373. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update in respect of the engagement between unions representing personal assistants in ETBs and his Department in relation to their long-term working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27940/23]
View answerWhere an Education and Training Board (ETB) or PLC college employs personal assistants to provide services under the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD), responsibility for the terms of employment rests with the individual ETB / Further Education College. The Strategic Performance Agreements for 2022-24 agreed between SOLAS and the individual ETBs provide for the rolling out of the FSD across all FET provision. SOLAS has advised my Department that it will be reviewing the learner supports and associated guidelines and my Department has requested SOLAS to examine the provision of personal assistant services as part of its review. Officials in my Department met with FÓRSA representatives on 20th February and advised them that SOLAS were undertaking this review.
1374. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with TUS, Athlone in relation to student accommodation for the upcoming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27951/23]
View answerIn November 2022, the Government confirmed approval for a new policy led by my Department, to provide State assistance to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation for public higher education institutions. This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the State providing financial support in the construction of student accommodation, and underpins the policy commitments set out in Housing for All.
Investment of €1m in 2023/2024 has also been announced to support the TUs in conducting activation feasibility assessments to ascertain student accommodation needs in campus locations. This will include data led projections of demand and engagement with local authorities to examine potential vacant stock. I met with the Chairs of the TUs on the 24th of January. Department officials then met with the TU sector, including Technological University of the Shannon, on the 23th of February to progress the objectives of the feasibility study and establish the data and engagement needs from the TUs in this process. I am meeting Professor Cunnane this week on the matter.
DFHERIS and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) are now commencing this study, with phase 1 of the work is to understand the regional supply and projected demand for student accommodation to inform appropriate policy responses.
The Department recognises that given the varying regional locations, a range of accommodation options will need to be considered including purpose built student accommodation.
My Department is working with relevant Government Departments and Agencies to explore the development of a specific borrowing framework for the Technological University (TU) sector. The Housing Finance Agency Act 1981, as amended, facilitates lending by the HFA to institutions of higher education, including TUs. It is anticipated that any borrowing framework would in the first instance prioritise the provision of student accommodation in line with commitments in the Government's Housing for All plan.
My Department is supporting increased usage of ‘digs’ accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme. Department officials have been engaging with the sector and have met with a number of HEIs, including TUS Athlone in relation to digs accommodation.
The Government has approved the extension of the Rent a Room scheme income disregard for social welfare recipients and medical card holders. 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 in particular at homeowners. This campaign will be run in tandem with localised campaigns led by the higher education institutions.
1375. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total spend on consulting services and on ‘business-as-usual’ outsourcing, as differentiated under the Code of ‘Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016’ for each non-commercial public body under the aegis of his Department for the year 2022. [27964/23]
View answerOfficials in my Department have requested that the relevant aegis bodies, under the remit of my Department, revert to you directly on this matter as this level of information is not held by my Department.
1376. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will 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 [28005/23]
View answer1377. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of covering subscription costs of publishing and access for HEIs across Ireland with the aim of open access for all students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28120/23]
View answerUnder the Universities Act 1997, Technological Universities Act 2018 and the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous entities including with regard to the management of their library facilities and as such my Department has no function in this matter.
My Department does, however, provide funding to the Irish Research eLibrary (IReL), which is a nationally funded e-resource licensing consortium providing access to leading science, technology and medicine and humanities and social sciences resources on behalf of participating Irish publicly funded HEIs. IReL delivers quality peer-reviewed online research publications including journals, e books, databases and index and abstracting services.
In 2020 the Technological University (TU) Transformation Fund administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) allocated € 1.2 million to TU Dublin for IReL related activity.
In 2021 and 2022 the HEA delivered €2.6 million to IReL for the support of transformative agreements and €300,000 for IReL management costs. This support is linked to the open research agenda in the context of moves to counter costs through the creation and use of open access materials and open educational resources including open textbooks. My department also provides €5.85m annually to support IReL, outside of these supports.
In April 2022 under additional TU oriented funding secured by my Department and the HEA under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the HEA signed a sector wide grant agreement with all 5 technological universities, Dundalk Institute of Technology and Dun Laoghaire, Institute of Art, Design and Technology for delivery of an education and training reforms programme which includes work packages to adopt and deploy IReL across the entirety of the technological sector.
1379. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of staff seconded to his Department from a company (details supplied) in the past ten years to date; the title and/or role they filled; and the duration of same. [28179/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that there have been no staff seconded to my Department from the company referred to since its establishment in 2020.
1380. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instances in which his Department availed of services and or consultancy and or advices from a company (details supplied) in the past ten years to date; the costs of same; the number of contracts between the company and his Department; and the duration and costs of same. [28198/23]
View answerMy Department has not awarded any contracts to PWC since its formation in August 2020.
1381. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason universities that are providing courses in radiation therapy have not increased their student capacity (details supplied); if consideration will be given to increasing the student capacity for this course in the two colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28221/23]
View answer1382. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how second level students could be further incentivised to consider a career as a radiation therapist, given that in Ireland 54% of the population have attained a third level education, which demonstrates that the majority of the current second level students will consider attending third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28233/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1381 and 1382 together.
Officials from my Department are engaging with Higher Education Institutions to ascertain possible expansion on existing programmes from 2023, including in the area of radiation therapy. Any increase in student places requires corresponding placements in the health sector for students. Significant engagement is ongoing between my Department and the Department of Health to progress this issue.
Last year my Department established a working group to identify and address barriers to expansion in the health and social care professions, including radiation therapy. 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.
My Department does not promote any particular discipline to second level students, however I have visited many post primary schools to highlight the range of options and pathways available at third level. In the case of undergraduate radiation therapy, this course is oversubscribed with applications via the CAO.
1383. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28341/23]
View answerI refer to the matter raised by the Deputy in the correspondence supplied.
SOLAS are the body that has statutory responsibility for the national apprenticeship system. This includes responsibility for those awards issued under its predecessor bodies, FÁS and ANCO.
Where an individual is seeking evidence of an apprenticeship qualification, the relevant point of contact is the Apprenticeship Services section of SOLAS who can assist in providing proof of the qualification in question. The Unit can be contacted at Appship@solas.ie
Where a qualification was obtained some time ago, the holder may be requested to engage with the provider of the apprenticeship course in question who would hold the relevant records from that period. Should the holder encounter difficulties in this process, they are advised to liaise further with the relevant course provider and SOLAS.
My Department has no role in issuing or validating individual awards.
1384. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 1 June 2023, to detail what additionality he has secured in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority in Health and social care professional undergraduate programmes for September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28503/23]
View answer1385. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 1 June 2023, if the working group established by his Department has established how additional placements can be secured to facilitate greater numbers of training places on health and social care professional programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28504/23]
View answer1386. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 1 June 2023, the timeframe within which the Higher Education Authority will conduct an exercise to identify where substantial additional capacity could be built in priority health and social care professional disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28505/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1384 to 1386, inclusive, together.
Officials from my Department are engaging with Higher Education Institutions to ascertain possible expansion on existing programmes from 2023, including in the health and social care professions. Any increase in student places requires corresponding placements in the health sector for students. Significant engagement is ongoing between my Department and the Department of Health to progress this issue.
The group established by my Department last year is looking at identifying and addressing barriers to expansion in the health and social care professions. This working group has included representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, 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.
Membership of the group accept that the lack of availability of clinical placements has been a factor constraining expansion on HSCP programmes. The HSE is developing a Framework for Practice Placement Education. Since the working group was established, the HSCP Office has progressed significant work on proposed governance and oversight structures for HSCP placements, with a view to increasing the overall availability of placements, and broadening the number of clinical settings which facilitate placements. 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.
The HEA’s next expression of interest process, which will focus on the expansion of places in allied healthcare areas, will take place later this year.
1387. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a change of circumstances of reckonable income was not taken into consideration for a student's (details supplied) SUSI application as the student's father's pension increased year-on-year and the family requested for their application to be re-assessed under a change in circumstances of reckonable income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28564/23]
View answerThe main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralized student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2022 is based on gross income from all sources, of the applicant and his/her parents or spouse/partner. No deduction is given for outgoings with the exception of private pension contributions which meets the criteria of the Student Grant Scheme, legally enforceable maintenance payments and/or employment related expenses as approved by Revenue.
With regard to this specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student to whom the Deputy refers was awarded the 50% rate of student contribution grant. The student appealed firstly to SUSI and more recently to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on the basis of reckonable income. The appeal was heard by the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on 13th December 2022 and the determination was issued directly to the student. The student in question has exhausted the appeals process.
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 if eligible 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 eligibility for this tax relief is available from the student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
1388. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the security protections in place for remote workers within civil and public service organisations to safeguard against personal information of members of the public in audio, text and electronic form being inadvertently exposed to unauthorised third parties within the remote setting; if he can provide a copy of the remote working best practice guidelines for civil and public service workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28644/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to the highest level of data protection for the personal data which it processes and takes its compliance with data protection obligations very seriously. My Department has a range of policies in place which encompass ICT usage, removing files, Information security Policy, GDPR compliance among others. These policies apply to staff regardless of location i.e. working in the office or remotely.
My Department has specifically published a policy on removing files from the office for remote working, which includes guidance on security and confidentiality.
Staff working remotely use departmental laptops which are encrypted and multifactor authentication has been deployed to protect user accounts from compromise.
Remote working best practice is guided by the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations.
1389. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration will be given to reintroducing the emergency hardship scheme, in view that it was a way that a local improvement scheme application could be prioritised if a resident on the road met certain medical conditions. [28562/23]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity, which I view as an important issue for rural Ireland, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities.
The Local Improvement Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme. This has upgraded some 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this year with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 million for improvement works on our off shore Islands. This is the third consecutive year in which the basic allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme has been increased. I also announced the allocations for 2023 earlier than was the case in 2022 in order to give local authorities the most time possible to complete works on the ground.
The selection of roads for submission to my Department is exclusively a matter for the local authorities, in line with the Scheme Outline. Section 4 of the outline refers to the selection and prioritisation of projects by local authorities. In prioritising projects, the local authority should have regard to a number of factors including special circumstances such as hardship cases or access for elderly or disabled occupants.
The prioritisation of projects by the local authority is to be applied once the eligibility criteria has been satisfied as set out in section 3 of the Scheme Outline.
