Written Answers Nos. 1433-1453
1433. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the board vacancies in organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36217/23]
View answerIn line with Section 16 of the new Higher Education Authority (HEA) legislation there are 10 Ministerial appointed ordinary members (excluding the Chairperson and USI representative) on the Governing Board of the HEA.
With the commencement of the new HEA Act on 10th November 2022, 9 serving members of the HEA board were re-appointed and their terms of office are due to expire on 9th November 2023.
As the HEA is recognised by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) as a State Board, the appointment process for new members will be managed by PAS. I can advise that my Department has initiated the Public Appointments Service (PAS) process to fill upcoming vacant positions on the Governing Board.
It should also be noted that through the PAS process shortlisted candidates not chosen are placed on a panel which remains in place for one year and from which vacancies within that period can be filled.
1434. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he will give consideration to extending SUSI supports to students attending third-level courses overseas where demand exceeds places in courses where there is an identified need for additional graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36222/23]
View answerUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible 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.
In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States. In general, an approved undergraduate course in this context is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU Member State or the UK.
The student grant scheme does not and never has extended to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than for exceptional provision in respect of postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland. The Scheme also does not extend to PLC courses pursued outside of the State or postgraduate study pursued outside of Ireland.
I am aware of areas where demand exceeds places in courses where there is an identified need for additional graduates and I, along with my Dáil colleagues, Minister Donnelly and Minister McConalogue recently announced a number of options to expand third level places for healthcare and veterinary medicine.
The Higher Education Authority was tasked by my Department to establish how additional capacity might be provided in healthcare and veterinary medicine. The report has found that, with investment, an additional 208 doctors, 692 nurses, 196 pharmacists, 63 dentists and 230 vets could potentially be trained annually.
These options could result in an increase of up to 5,000 in total third-level enrolments in these disciplines. This increase is subject to a forthcoming process which will now begin to cross-reference available options with the ongoing demand in the veterinary and health care areas and to agree costs and funding.
While the provision of these extra places would be catered for in institutions within the state and would not extend to courses undertaken overseas, it should have the potential to lead to a significant change in the number of domestic graduates which Ireland can produce in relevant disciplines over the next decade, thus reducing the requirement for students to study overseas in respect of these disciplines.
The Deputy may wish to note that 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 a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.
1435. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there was an underspend in the fund for students with disabilities in each of the years 2017 to 2021; the extent of any such underspend; if and where any underspend in funding was reassigned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36244/23]
View answerThe purpose of the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) is to provide funding to higher education institutions to assist them in offering supports and services to eligible students with disabilities so that they can participate on an equal basis with their peers. In the higher education sector, the FSD is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of my Department.
Higher Education Expenditure
Please see details of expenditure for the Higher Education Sector from 2017 to 2021.
|
Year |
Budgetary allocation* |
Savings before allocation towards strategic initiatives |
|
2016/17 academic year |
€9.6m |
- €387,314 |
|
2017/18 academic year |
€9.6m |
- €726,433 |
|
1st October 2018 to 31st December 2019** |
€9.6m |
See detail below. Underspend reallocated to strategic initiatives. |
|
2020 calendar year*** |
€9.6m |
- €676,749 |
|
2021 calendar year*** |
€9.6m |
- €1,369,435 |
*Budgetary allocation is on a calendar basis with any underspends prior to 2020 on an academic year basis.
The pandemic had an impact on spend in 2020 and 2021 including reductions in travel costs and Personal Assistant costs due to off campus learning
There was €6.7m in unspent balances from the 2018 and 2019 allocations. This was primarily due to the transition of the FSD for Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in Ireland from academic year to a calendar year which took place in 2018, in line with the recommendations of the Review of the Fund for Students with Disabilities published in October 2017.
In this context, as part of their 2020 FSD allocation, the HEA advised higher education institutions that historical FSD underspends incurred up to 31 December 2019 as reported to the HEA in early 2020 could be used for the following purposes:
development of strategic initiatives (with a focus on strategic projects for the provision of services to students with disabilities relating to disability services), subject to prior approval by the HEA;
having regard to an increase of the number of students supported under the fund, a proportion of up to 20% of the underspend could be used to complement 2020 FSD allocation;
making provisions for group/shared assistive technology or other group/shared support which will result in savings in the cost of provision of support to individual students.
Of the €6.7m in unspent balances from the 2018 and 2019 allocations, €0.9m was used for points 2 and 3 referred above. The remaining funds of €5.8m were allocated to development of strategic initiatives.
Higher Education FSD Strategic Initiatives
My Department approved the deployment of unspent funding on strategic initiatives which would advance the National Access Plan objectives of supporting students with disabilities at an institutional level.
HEIs were invited to submit proposals to the HEA in 2020. Upon receipt and following review of these proposals the HEA then engaged with my Department, which sought and was granted approval by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform in December 2020 for the underspends to be carried forward into 2021 and for the funding to be used on the Strategic Initiative proposals submitted by HEIs.
The initiatives, which now encompass 24 Higher Education Institutions and over 100 projects and just under €5.8m in expenditure, focus on the strategic development of disability support services in HEIs as well as enhancing supports for students with a disability, improving college campuses and assisting HEI staff with training and development.
The following is an overview of the range of projects approved:
• Commitment to the embedding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and mainstreaming principles in HEI teaching and learning practices through e.g. recruitment of staff, staff training, technological supports and other student supports
• Enhancement of online teaching and learning experience and supports for students with disabilities e.g. captioning, virtual learning environments,
• Enhancement of campus experience for students with disabilities e.g. wayfinding apps, sensory assistance reporting
• Expansion and upgrading of Assistive Technology (AT) equipment and supports
• Improvements in physical access and refurbishments of spaces, e.g. autism-friendly rooms and spaces, tactile wayfinding maps, loop systems for deaf and hard-of-hearing students
• Projects that support better transitions to higher education for students with disabilities
• Developing and delivering initiatives to promote positive mental health and well-being
• Commitment to research and data analysis to establish best practice guidelines for access and disability services
• Conducting campus accessibility audits which will inform accessibility guidelines and policies
• Making specialist support services available to students with disabilities e.g. Occupational Therapist supports, Assistive Technology coordinators, well-being and support coordinators, alternative formatting
Following a review of project reports in 2021, DPER approved a carryover of funds into 2022 in respect of some projects. As of July 2023, 22 HEIs have completed their FSD Strategic Initiative projects. This includes the five HEIs that completed their projects in 2021. DPER approved further carryover of fund into 2023 for the completion of projects in two HEIs. The HEA Executive will request reports from these HEIs later in 2023.
Underspends occurring in respect of the Fund for Students with a Disability in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) since 2021 are netted off future year allocations.
Further Education and Training FSD
Within the Further Education and Training Sector, the Fund for Student Disabilities is concentrated on PLC provision. Responsibility for the Fund transferred to SOLAS and a budget adjustment of €1.942m was made in 2020. The expenditure figures for 2020 and 2021 are shown below and reflect the impact of the pandemic:
|
Year |
Expenditure |
Savings on Allocation |
|
2020 |
€1,125,562 |
€816,438 |
|
2021 |
€3,163,800 |
€1,252,756 |
SOLAS advises that the 2020 savings were recovered as part of the overall ETB balancing statement process and were returned to the Department in 2020 while the savings in 2021 were netted off the 2022 allocation.
1436. 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, for an update on his Department's engagements with the higher education institutions to maximise additionality in health and social care professional undergraduate programmes from September 2023; the number of additional programmes that will be delivered by discipline, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36245/23]
View answerOfficials from my Department have been regularly engaging with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to ascertain possible expansion on existing programmes from 2023, including in the health and social care professions. The HEIs have identified a range of places and the Department of Health have recently given a written commitment to this Department as to the availability of the corresponding clinical placements required to provide these places.
In total the HEIs have identified 355 additional places for 2023 as outlined in the table below:
|
Discipline |
Number of additional Places in Irish HEIs |
|
Clinical Measurement Science |
32 |
|
Medical Science |
20 |
|
Nursing |
208 |
|
Occupational Therapist |
24 |
|
Pharmacy |
15 |
|
Physiotherapy |
6 |
|
Podiatrist |
25 |
|
Radiation Therapy |
5 |
|
Speech and Language Therapist |
20 |
|
Total |
355 |
These are in addition to the scheduled expansion of 60 places in medicine for 2023, as agreed last year.
Following engagement between Queens University and Ulster University, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Departments of Health both North and South, 200 places in nursing will be made available to students from the Republic of Ireland to be funded by?the Department of Health. It is proposed that the students would avail of these places on the same terms and conditions as other students on the programmes.
A further 50 places will be available in therapy disciplines in Ulster University – 20 places in occupational therapy and physiotherapy, and 10 places in speech and language therapy. The places in Northern Ireland have been secured on a one-year basis.
In June of this year, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD and Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue TD announced a number of options to expand third level places for healthcare and veterinary medicine. The Higher Education Authority process found that, with investment, an additional 208 doctors, 692 nurses, 196 pharmacists, 63 dentists and 230 vets could potentially be trained annually. This expansion is being considered in the context of Budgetary Processes and the National Development Plan review.
A similar process is expected to be conducted with regard to the therapy disciplines later this year.
1437. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of guidance counsellors directly employed by each ETB; and the number contracted in each year since 2019, in tabular form. [36334/23]
View answerThe number of guidance counsellors employed by each of the sixteen Education and Training Boards (ETBs) is set out in the table below for the period 2019 to 2022, which are the up-to-date figures available. The figures provided are whole time equivalents and relate to Adult Guidance Counsellors; Adult Guidance Counsellor Coordinators; and Adult Guidance Information Officers.
Table 1 – Total number of Guidance Counsellors employed by year for the period 2019-2022
|
Year |
Guidance Counsellors |
Guidance Coordinators |
Guidance Information Officer |
Total |
|
2019 |
92.07 |
8 |
7.79 |
107.86 |
|
2020 |
91.52 |
10 |
7.79 |
109.31 |
|
2021 |
93.93 |
8 |
8.29 |
110.22 |
|
2022 |
94.83 |
7 |
8.29 |
110.12 |
1438. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a full list of all approved undergraduate courses for applications under SUSI provided within the State to which the free fees scheme does not apply. [36514/23]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme 2023 is a legislative scheme under Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science made pursuant to the Student Support Act 2011. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions. Details of all approved courses are listed on SUSI.ie.
The Free Fees Initiative (FFI) is an administrative scheme under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). Under the FFI, tuition fees may be paid in respect of eligible full-time undergraduate students undertaking approved courses in eligible institutions. Details of the free fees schemes are at the following location: hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/course-fees/.
The free fees approved institutions are primarily the publicly funded higher education institutions funded through the HEA: hea.ie/higher-education-institutions/?intro=funding . Within this category of provider, it is the Higher Education Institutions themselves, as autonomous institutions that establish courses or remove programmes that meet the relevant criteria to be included under the free fees schemes and the institutions that maintain the listing of free fees courses. A central list of courses within these institutions, approved for both the student grant scheme and the free fees schemes is not readily available.
Separately, under the free fees schemes, there are certain not-for-profit private institutions which are in receipt of free fees funding for certain programmes where specific learning or skills needs have been identified. The Deputy may wish to note that each of these courses is approved under the Student Grant Scheme 2023.
Additionally, there are certain full time CAO undergraduate courses provided by not-for-profit private institutions approved under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 that are not approved under the Free Fees Schemes (see list below). The Student Grant Regulations prescribe that an approved course is a full-time course leading to a major higher education and training award which takes a minimum of two years to complete in an approved institution. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Article 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Article 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2023.
It should be noted that both the list of courses in private institutions which are in receipt of free fees funding and the list of courses in private institutions which are approved under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 are subject to change and, as such, the below list represents the situation at this point in time.
List of Undergraduate courses provided by not-for-profit private institutions approved under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 that are not approved under the Free Fees Initiative
National College of Ireland, Dublin
Psychology
Early Childhood Education and Care
Marino Institute of Education, Dublin
Education Studies
Early Childhood Education
St. Nicholas Montessori College
— B.Ed. in Montessori Education (Level 7)
— B.Ed. in Montessori Education (Level 8)
— B.A. (Hons) in Montessori Education (Level 8)
1439. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans that are being considered by his Department to expand or develop an educational setting (details supplied) at its existing location; the proposed timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36641/23]
View answerLate last year, I was very happy to announce that the proposal for the project referred to by the Deputy was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that since then my Department has worked closely with SOLAS in developing the preliminary business case stage of the process. Workshops have taken place with KWETB 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.
The proposal put forward by KWETB is for an upgraded and extended building to include the construction of additional learning and training classrooms and workshops. The current Institute of Further Education College is the proposed site for the location of the new FET College. This proposed site allows for the development a FET College campus which would facilitate the incorporation of the existing PLC and consolidated FET services. In turn, this would enable a significant provision of programmes for progression to work, higher education, apprenticeship, and social inclusion for full-time and part-time learners.
1440. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36697/23]
View answerMy department’s telephone contact details are available on our website, media platforms, stationary and headed notepaper.
Where the option is not available to include the department’s telephone contact details on some media platforms, the department’s website is provided.
The information in respect of 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 the aegis bodies directly with his query.
1441. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a detailed breakdown of funding provided to PhD researchers via State supports, HEI funds and other sources, including details on numbers in receipt of each type of funding and the stipends awarded per researcher. [36745/23]
View answer1442. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a breakdown of the number of part-time PhD researchers in receipt of stipends; and to account for numbers who may be in employment outside of their research, conducting their PhD research with employer support. [36746/23]
View answer1444. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a complete breakdown of numbers of non-EU/EEA PhD researchers registered in Ireland; and to provide an estimate for the total fees paid by non-EU/EEA PhD researchers to Irish HEIs. [36748/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1441, 1442 and 1444 together.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is responsible for the collection, analysis and dissemination of all student and graduate data returned to the HEA from all HEA-funded institutions via the Student Record System. The latest data available relates to the academic year 2021/2022.
With respect to funding allocated to PhD researchers, the table below (extracted from the Review Co-Chairs' first report) outlines public expenditure on stipend supports for PhD researchers.
|
Funded by
|
Enrolments |
Stipend |
|
SFI/ IRC
|
3,000 |
€19,000 |
|
Higher Education Institutions
|
2,000 |
€9,640* |
|
Other Competitive Funders**
|
1,000 |
€18,500 |
|
Self-funded (may be in receipt of external financial supports (from home country, etc), employed, or self-financed)) |
4,000*** |
- |
|
Total |
~10,000 |
|
* HEI awards are wide-ranging, typically anything from €5,000 to €18,500. The estimated average per awardee was €9,640
** EU Marie Curie excluded; assumed to be not significant.
*** Excluded on the basis that these are not publicly-funded.
With regard to part-time enrolments, according to the HEA statistics, 1,660 part-time PhD researchers were in Irish HEIs for the academic year 2021/2022. The HEIs also reported 331 part-time Research Master students to the HEA for the same time period. Data on their funding sources are not available. Those who are supported by their employer, home country, etc., i.e. not publicly funded, may be in receipt of some form of financial assistance from these other sources but this data is not collected centrally by the HEA or by the individual HEIs.
On the number of non-EU/EEA PhD researchers registered in Ireland, the HEA reports that there were 2,677 Non-EU PhD enrolments in the academic year 2021/2022 (hea.ie/statistics/data-for-download-and-visualisations/students/).
Data on fees paid is not available as the matter rests with the individual higher education institutions (HEIs).
1443. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a copy of Departmental notes and/or briefings provided to the Chairs of the National Review of State Supports for PhD researchers as referred to on p.32 of the report, where Chairs acknowledge "evidence synthesis support from D/FHERIS colleagues". [36747/23]
View answerIn November 2022, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent research student experience across funders, institutions and research disciplines.
The Review Terms of Reference comprise examination of:
- 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, recently submitted their first report to the Minister. This was brought to Cabinet on Tuesday 20 June for information and was published on the Department’s web site on Monday 26 June.
Their recommendations were based on extensive consultation in spring 2023, with over 750 written submissions received and meetings held with 35 stakeholder organisations.
The evidence synthesis underpinning the Co-Chairs' recommendations is reflected in the published report, for example, under Section 2.4 on International Comparators, Section 4.1 on Financial Supports, Section 5.1 on Graduate Outcomes, and Section 6 on particular issues facing non-EU/ EEA students.
Their priority now, with the support of my officials, is to prepare their concluding independent report in which they will consider the outstanding review terms of references, namely the status of PhD students and the consistency and equity of approaches in PhD provision, with particular regard to underrepresented groups.
1445. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to address the skills gap to deliver the national retrofitting plan, including heat pump installation; if he has plans to expand green apprenticeships to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36853/23]
View answerDeveloping and delivering the skills required to support, sustain, and enhance the delivery of the National Retrofit Plan has evolved significantly since 2020. Retrofit skills training including Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) skills is currently provided nationally across the tertiary education system.
Since 2021, the retrofitting ecosystem has further evolved with the development of what was four, later increased to six, dedicated Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for NZEB specific training. Retrofitting centres of excellence provide the very highest standards of training and qualifications to people attending them. Education and training relevant to the skills needed in the retrofitting and construction sector are delivered through more than fifty programmes running in the centres of excellence. This is a very important area of the economy and there are huge employment opportunities within it.
Currently, four CoEs are fully operational and provide a full suite of NZEB related training provision, including training on heat pump installation.
• National Construction Training Campus, Mount Lucas, Co. Offaly.
• Waterford \ Wexford ETB
• Limerick Clare ETB
• Cork ETB
The remaining two CoEs which are located in:-
• Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim ETB will become operational in Q3 2023
• City of Dublin ETB will become operational in Q4 2023.
Courses in retrofit and NZEB skills are also delivered by Tipperary ETB.
The courses are free, fast and flexible with weekend and evening provision available. In many cases, where a person has an existing construction-related qualification, knowledge or experience, they can learn these skills quickly, usually within three-four days. Courses for beginners are also available.
To date in 2023, 4,800 learners have completed training and obtained certification from the four operational NZEB Centres of Excellence. In addition, the NZEB fundamentals programme is embedded into phase one of apprenticeship training. This action ensures that all newly registered apprentices receive their initial NZEB certification early on in their training cycle.
Arising from the Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction & Retrofitting, 2023 to 2030, SOLAS, in conjunction with the National Construction Campus, Mount Lucas, has also developed a retrofitting assistance programme. This new training course will produce workers who are capable of providing assistance to qualified craft workers who are engaged in the retrofitting of houses to an equivalent B2 standard. The course should be modelled on the current Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) fundamental awareness course. This new programme is in pilot stage.
A dedicated Construction and Green Skills Programme Office within SOLAS was established last year. This office works with ETBs nationally and is focused on developing programmes and initiative to drive forward the reform agenda with a particular focus on the construction sector.
The development of a specific green apprenticeship is not under consideration however, NZEB fundamentals have become part of the curricula of recently revalidated apprenticeship programmes in Plumbing, Electrical, and Carpentry and Joinery. NZEB awareness will also be addressed in the following craft apprenticeship programmes when they are due to go through the revalidation process:-
• Brick & Stone
• Plastering
• Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
• Pipefitting
1446. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what grants are available for publicly built student accommodation on lands by HEIs; what conditions are applied to those grants; the amount of capital provided by his Department for this purpose in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively; to provide a breakdown of award by higher education institution for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36888/23]
View answerAt present there are no grants available to the HEI sector for the development of purpose built student accommodation. I have established a dedicated student accommodation unit in my Department to develop and implement a student accommodation policy alongside the Higher Education Authority. Since taking up office, my Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on an ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector, and other key stakeholders on student accommodation issues.
I am actively working to address the supply of student accommodation. Increasing costs of construction and financing are impacting on viability, and as a result a number of Universities had to pause their projects. In responding to these challenges, in November 2022, Government approved development of both short and medium term policy responses to activate supply.
These landmark policy responses will see the State providing financial support for the construction of student accommodation so as to ensure increased availability and promote greater access in particular for student groups in line with the National Access Plan, and underpin the policy commitments set out in Housing for All.
In the short term, Government has approved funding to the sum of €60.1m to support the development of 1,065 beds for students of the University of Limerick, Dublin City University, Maynooth University and the University of Galway which have planning permission granted but had stalled. The support will be a mixture of capital grants in 2023 and 2024 for new accommodation developments on campus and current ongoing funding for annual lease arrangements off campus.
My officials are also examining potential developments at UCD and TCD, and UCC also has proposals in development.
The Government agreed to support the development of a medium term evidence informed strategic policy to stimulate appropriate supply of student accommodation. This will include the development of standardised design specifications and guidance for future developments. This will also be informed by ongoing analysis across Europe and internationally for best practice for the delivery and management of student accommodation.
The Department and Higher Education Authority (HEA) are engaging closely with the Higher Education sector to define and gather accurate, relevant and informative data related to student accommodation, to inform future policy development and responses.
Support of €1m is also being provided to our Technological Universities (TUs) to conduct a needs assessment and my Department is examining the development of a TU Borrowing Framework in conjunction with other Government Departments, as part of the range of student accommodation initiatives underway.
As part of the medium term response my Department are exploring a variety of options to bring on stream additional units. The long-term data driven, evidence based strategy is currently being developed to provide solutions to the student accommodation crisis. This will include an assessment of a range of options to deliver additional supply of affordable accommodation for our students. My officials are open to engaging with any institution which has a proposal on additional affordable supply. I intend to bring an update to Government on this strategy in Q3 2023.
1447. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional criteria for grants for publicly-built student accommodation apply for land owned by universities compared to technological universities or ITs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36889/23]
View answerAt present there are no grants available to the HEI sector, including the TUs for the development of purpose built student accommodation. I am actively working to address the supply of student accommodation. Increasing costs of construction and financing are impacting on viability, and as a result a number of Universities had to pause their projects. In responding to these challenges, in November 2022, Government approved development of both short and medium term policy responses to activate supply.
These landmark policy responses will see the State providing financial support for the construction of student accommodation so as to ensure increased availability and promote greater access in particular for student groups in line with the National Access Plan, and underpin the policy commitments set out in Housing for All.
I have already established a dedicated student accommodation unit in my Department to develop and implement this policy alongside the Higher Education Authority. Since taking up office, my Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on an ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector, and other key stakeholders on student accommodation issues.
As part of the medium term response my Department are exploring a variety of options to bring on stream additional units. The long-term data driven, evidence based strategy is currently being developed to provide solutions to the student accommodation crisis. This will include an assessment of a range of options to deliver additional supply of affordable accommodation for our students. I intend to bring an update to Government on this strategy in Q3 2023.
1448. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has sought an increase in the rent tax credit for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36890/23]
View answerI am actively working to address the supply of student accommodation, and have established a dedicated student accommodation unit in my Department to develop and implement a student accommodation policy alongside the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
In responding to these challenges, the Government approved development of both short and medium term policy responses to activate supply in November 2022.
Since taking up office, my Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on an ongoing basis with the wider higher education sector, and other key stakeholders on student accommodation issues.
As part of the medium term response my Department are in the early stages of exploring a variety of options including a review of the rent tax credit. . I intend to bring an update to Government on this strategy in Q3 2023.
1449. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projected cost of allowing students enrolled on part-time courses eligible for SUSI maintenance grants and fee grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36892/23]
View answerMy Department is currently considering the issue of the provision of greater support to part-time learners in higher education. However, work is ongoing in this area and potential costings are not yet available.
1452. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated first-year and full-year cost of increasing the student maintenance grant by €1,000; if he will provide a breakdown of the cost, by each grant level, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36895/23]
View answerIn advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education.
I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options on increasing maintenance grants, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
1453. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the SUSI grant allowance for earnings outside of term-time to €13,104, that is, doubling it; if he will provide a projected cost of this allowance being extended to term-time earnings, based on a living wage of €13.10, at 22 hours per week of term time over 28-weeks for approximately €8,070; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36896/23]
View answerIn advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education.
I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to options in relation to earnings outside of term-time, including options on increasing the holiday earnings provision under the Student Grant Scheme, when costing options.
