Written Answers Nos. 101-123
101. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what measures are being taken to address the issue of delays for in-class progression on apprenticeship programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40267/23]
View answerBeing demand-led in nature, there are no restrictions on the number of apprentices that can be registered. The current buoyant labour market, coupled with the recognition of apprenticeship as a valuable employment and skills development opportunity, is a welcome endorsement of this Government’s support of, and ambitions for, Apprenticeships in the tertiary sector
However, with great success come great challenges. Increasing demand on our apprenticeship system is being driven by three key factors (i) proportionate increasing overall demand on the tertiary sector, (ii) legacy backlogs from the Covid shut-downs, and (iii) growing demand in areas such as construction and housing.
The apprenticeship system is responding to a marked increase in demand over the past 4 years.
During 2019, circa 9,700 craft apprentices were being trained by ETBs and Technological Universities. This dropped to 7,000 in 2020 due largely to the impact of Covid, and returned to growth in 2021 with number of apprentices trained increasing to 7,300.
In August 2021, there were almost 12,000 apprentices awaiting off-the-job training. At the end of August this year, 7,578 apprentices were waiting for off-the-job training. Of these 5,257 apprentices were waiting longer than six months.
In light of these delays, there is a crucial requirement to align training capacity in ETBs with the continued strong demand for apprenticeships - with particular focus on apprenticeships linked to the construction sector - and also to put in place further measures which will add to capacity over the period required to respond to ongoing delays in apprenticeship training.
My Department has worked closely with SOLAS and the ETBs to continue to increase training capacity, resulting in 13,000 craft places delivered in 2022, a very important step in responding to the challenge of apprentices waiting to access off-the-job training. It is intended to deliver some 15,300 places in total in 2023.
In order to further accelerate and intensify delivery of increased apprenticeship training capacity, a taskforce chaired by my Department composed of representatives of SOLAS, the National Apprenticeship Office, the Higher Education Authority, Education and Training Boards Ireland, the Education and Training Boards, and union representatives has been established with responsibility to implement successfully a set of actions to address this very significant and important issue.
102. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the CAO process to ensure that students do not get excluded without warning due to clerical errors, such as missing exam numbers. [40748/23]
View answerThe CAO is an independent body, its function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Enquiries regarding the CAO applications process should be addressed to the CAO directly. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO.
I am aware of some instances in which an applicant hasn’t received a CAO offer due to missing or incorrect information on the CAO application. Where the CAO is notified of an error in an application after offers have issued, they will update the account information and ask the higher education institutions to consider them for the next available round of offers. It is critical that the CAO is informed of such an error as soon as possible. Where the error has resulted in an applicant not receiving an offer they would otherwise have been entitled to, every effort will be made by the CAO and HEIs to facilitate these applicants in the next round of offers.
I understand this can be very distressing for students when this happens and I would encourage the CAO to be as flexible as it possibly can be when these circumstances arise.
103. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he expects the tender will be issued to establish a new veterinary school in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40689/23]
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 (HEA) ran a process to identify where capacity could be built in the higher education sector in a number of priority disciplines including veterinary medicine. In June, Minister McConalogue and I, along with Minister Donnelly, announced the findings of the report.
Minister McConalogue and I, as well as officials from both Departments, are, in the context of Budgetary Processes and the National Development Plan review, continuing to engage in discussions regarding the opportunities identified by the HEA.
104. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the work that his Department is conducting with regard to technological universities; how this work is making Ireland more regionally balanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40743/23]
View answerTechnological Universities (TUs) have been established to drive socio-economic development through the attraction of increased regional investment, skills and employment retention and creation, increased access to higher education, ensuring greater equity and countering educational disadvantage.
A national network of 5 TUs stretches across some 25 campuses, bringing the advantages and potential of university-driven skills and innovation to communities across the country. Higher education access is being provided in a far more balanced regional manner and TUs are driving regional development and socio-economic progress in places with no previous university footprint as diverse as Athlone, Carlow, Castlebar, Clonmel, Ennis, Killybegs, Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Mount Bellew, Rathnew, Sligo, Thurles, Tralee, Waterford and Wexford, perhaps most historically in the South East which has previously had no university presence until now.
Government has provided and continues to provide significant funding through the Higher Education Landscape and Transformation Fund for the pre- and post-establishment development of the TUs and most recently on 20 July I announced the new Technological Sector Advancement Fund of €50 million to mid-2026 which will make a contribution towards the costs of maintaining or initiating new activities that are central to an institution delivering on its mission and strategic plan and make provision for initiatives relating to further landscape reform. This Exchequer funding is in addition to EU co-funding secured under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and European Regional Development Funding of almost €124 million to support the development of TU research capacity and education and training reforms with a significant digital focus.
Significant capital infrastructure projects have been provided and continue to be developed and Government has also approved funding of €1 million to support TUs in the development of student accommodation strategies and feasibility studies. The options identified in the initial feasibility study will inform engagement regarding the establishment of a TU Borrowing Framework.
The focus of the TU agenda in the pivotal ‘post-establishment’ phase we have entered now shifts from establishment and set-up to a developmental period in which these new institutions are being equipped and enabled to deliver on their legislatively prescribed functions and individual regional missions. Excellence in research, strategic leadership in relation to enterprise partnerships, and a highly skilled talent pipeline are central to supporting and enabling SMEs, attracting FDI and retaining talent in the regions.
A key element of the current focus of my Department is to put in place of senior academic and institutional leadership teams to support TU Presidents in delivering on institutional missions. These posts are needed to lead structural transformation within the institutions, manage significant public resources and drive the institutions to deliver improved outcomes regionally across the multi-campus institutions.
Underpinned by recommendations from the OECD, my Department is engaging with counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to seek agreement on the structure and grading of senior management teams and is also in initial engagement with those officials in a phased process to review relevant issues around academic career structures and academic contracts in the TUs and in due course will also involve discussions with TU management and staff representatives on in relation to this hugely transformative process.
The TU agenda has progressed significantly since the formation of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science . I am confident we will continue to roll out the recommendation of the 2019 TURN report thereby ensuring our TUs provide the most appropriate higher education access and research-informed teaching and learning experience, enhanced research development, enterprise end community engagement within their legislatively prescribed functions and regional missions now and into the future.
105. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science pursuant to the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan, the status of the commitment for all local authorities and the HSE to recruit at least five craft apprenticeships annually; to clarify how the implementation of this commitment will be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40733/23]
View answerThe Public Service Apprenticeship Plan outlines how to grow the number of annual apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to 750 by 2025. The Plan is a key commitment of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. It creates a road-map to the delivery of that target while offering an alternative recruitment approach for public service organisations seeking solutions to skills gaps they are experiencing and also a route for job-seekers interested in a career in the civil service.
2022 saw a total of 373 apprentices registered with public service employers such as the civil service, the Defence Forces and local authorities. This was an increase of 46% on 2021 registrations. The apprentices were on over 20 different programmes in areas as diverse as cyber-security, accounting technician, recruitment, heavy vehicle mechanics and stone-cutting and stone-masonry.
The Plan will be overseen by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. It commits to new programmes to help increase the number of apprentices in the civil service. The two Departments will establish and co-chair a Public Service Apprenticeship Leadership Group (PSALG) to oversee the ongoing implementation and delivery of the agreed actions.
The PSALG will establish proportionate targets for the employment of apprentices within Departments and other public service bodies. All Government departments, HSE, and the Local Government Management Agency will report on how they intend to meet the proportionate targets set. The local authorities and the HSE will recruit at least five craft apprentices per organisation annually.
Local Authorities update
Subject to overall budget allocations within organisations, local authorities are being encouraged to recruit for posts through the use of apprenticeship or to up-skill existing staff through these programmes. They are also encouraged to engage with all available supports for developing an apprenticeship programme. The National Apprenticeship Office provide extensive information for prospective employers on how to engage with the apprenticeship system.
HSE Update
The HSE conducted a feasibility study on the creation of QQI level 5 Apprenticeship Model for Health Care Assistants (HCAs). A wide range of both internal and external stakeholders were interviewed. In total, 16 recommendations were proposed widely categorised under headings such as perception of role, attraction and retention, development of HCA, and the Apprenticeship programme.
To date, the HSE has engaged with DFHERIS, DoH, NAO, QQI and SOLAS to have preliminary meetings to find out about the application and validation process for the apprenticeship programme. HSE is now preparing a business plan identifying resources required to implement a two-year pilot apprenticeship programme. This business plan will be submitted through Estimates process for 2024. Preparatory work of 12 to 14 months duration is required prior to implementing the two-year programme.
106. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what mechanisms, if any, are available to him to prevent third-level institutions from increasing rents in college-controlled accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40747/23]
View answerThe difficulty faced by students in accessing affordable accommodation is an issue which the Government and I are actively pursuing. My Department is committed to addressing the supply of affordable student accommodation through a range of policy measures to activate supply of affordable accommodation. As part of this policy a number of short term projects with planning permission have been activated which will see approximately 30% of these beds provided at below market rates for target group students.
Nearly 1,200 student accommodation beds have been built by Higher Education Institutions over the last 18 months, bringing the total of publicly owned beds to over 15,200. Historically, the sector has endeavoured to provide accommodation at affordable rates. This rate varies from institution to institution and reflects the type and standard of the property, room type and cost of operating the accommodation.Higher Educational Institutions who provide student specific accommodation (SSA) are under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board and therefore must comply with the law governing rent reviews. Legislation was introduced in 2021 to cap rent increases at a maximum of 2% in Rent Pressure Zones in circumstances where general inflation is at a higher level. The majority of our universities and colleges are located within the Rent Pressure Zones and would therefore have to comply with the relevant legislation regarding potential rent increases.
I would encourage any student who is having difficulty with the costs associated in attending higher education to contact the college to establish what supports might be available to them including the Student Assistance Fund. I would also advise all students to consider if they are availing of the range of SUSI supports available including the reduction in fees of €500 which is available to families who earn between 62,000 and €100,000 gross annually.
107. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the specialist MSc in children’s mental health at Trinity College Dublin (details supplied); the efforts his Department has made to enable this course to continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40605/23]
View answerI understand that Trinity College Dublin has suspended the programme, MSc Mental Health, Child, Adolescent and Family Strand for the 2023/24 academic year. This was as I understand it, due to a number of factors which included a decline in applications to single figures in the last year.
Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, and the Technological Universities Act 2018 . As such they are autonomous in relation to their administrative and academic affairs and the courses offered by any institution are a matter for the individual institutions to determine.
My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health, the HSE and other relevant Health and Social Care Profession stakeholders to ensure that we can continue to deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health sector.
108. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has considered initiating, along with the Minister for Education, a national dialogue on the reform of the Leaving Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40278/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, last year my colleague the Minister for Education announced a programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education which will, in time, include changes in the final assessment procedure. Officials in my Department have been engaging closely with officials in the Department of Education around the issue of transitions and Senior Cycle reform. This includes ongoing participation by my Department in the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Partners’ Forum, a representative stakeholder engagement group established by Minister Foley in April this year which underpins the collaboration necessary to support implementation and, where appropriate, further developments under the programme.
My objective as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is to ensure that school leavers have as many routes as possible to progress to the career of their choosing, and to make sure that they understand the full range of options that are available to them in the further and higher education system. I strongly believe that the points a student receives in their Leaving Certificate should not make or break their future success, and that is why my Department strives to ensure that there are a multiplicity of pathways available to students outside of the traditional CAO system.
To highlight the range of learning and qualification options available to school leavers, my Department has enhanced the visibility of further education and training (FET) and apprenticeship options for school leavers by allowing school leavers to explore options across higher education, further education and apprenticeships, on the CAO website.
Within the FET sector, a central portal has been developed to enable learners to apply for their chosen courses. FET is available in every community in Ireland, and provides programmes on both a full and part-time basis. There is a broad and diverse range of over 700 courses, programmes and supports on offer within FET at levels 1-6 of the NFQ, providing learning and upskilling.
For apprenticeship options, the CAO website links to www.apprenticeship.ie, a one-stop-shop website for information and guidance on apprenticeships. There are currently 69 national apprenticeship programmes available in sectors such as ICT, retail, and biopharma. 2022 saw 8,286 new apprenticeship registrations, an increase of 34% on the pre-Covid figure in 2019. At the end of 2022 there were over 26,000 people at various stages of their apprenticeship.
Although the Leaving Certificate is the terminal exam for post-primary education, not an entrance exam for third level, many students see it as their only gateway to higher education, and consequently feel under significant pressure to perform well in the exams. To combat this unnecessary stress, my Department and I recently launched new tertiary programmes, which allow students to commence their degree study in their local Further Education College and progress seamlessly onto a higher education institution. These programmes are an important new development in tertiary provision, providing pathways to learners outside of the points race. With the launch of these courses, we are making a significant change to how our third level system works and, most importantly, we are creating a more inclusive society in which students will have many opportunities to pursue a career that interests them and reach their full potential.
109. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to put in place financial assistance for graduate entry medicine candidates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26723/23]
View answerIn terms of Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) tuition fees, the total level of fees charged to GEM students is a matter for the higher education institutions (HEIs), consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy. It is not open to my Department to intervene in the tuition fee policy of the institutions.
The Deputy may be aware that the State currently provides a subsidy to HEIs towards the cost of provision for EU student places. The tuition fees payable by the student are determined by the HEIs taking the availability of this subsidy into account.
In the academic year 21/22 the state contribution was €11,950 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student. Budget 2023 saw a significant increase in the amount the State pays for medicine places, including graduate entry. The state contribution towards graduate entry places will be increased in phases so that by 2026 all graduate entry places will be funded by the state at €14,500 with additional fees as determined by the university payable by the student.
My Department provides bursaries to students who have been identified by their higher education institution as being the most socio-economically disadvantaged students under the National Access Plan. Students who avail of certain bursaries will now be allowed to retain them, if they choose to enter GEM programmes. This is a welcome development and will also help diversify the profession.
On 12th July 2022 the Minister for Health and I announced an agreement with the Irish medical schools to increase the number of places available for EU students by 200 over the next five years. The agreement reached with the medical schools will begin with an additional 60 EU students in September 2022, climbing to 120 in September 2023, and up to 200 by 2026. This marks a significant expansion in the number of places available to students applying through the CAO system. It increases the opportunities for students to progress to study medicine in Ireland and to help us build our talent pipeline.
As you may be aware, I have recently published a cost of education options paper which sets out options for further enhancement of student supports for consideration as part of the budgetary process in the autumn.
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that students on GEM programmes may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. This Fund provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
110. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what his plans are in relation to including graduate entry medicine within the free fees initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40588/23]
View answerGraduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study undergraduate medicine. Graduate entry courses require applicants to hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry and completion of a graduate entry medicine degree confers a further level 8 qualification.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) provides tuition fee funding for eligible first time undergraduate students and therefore students pursuing second level 8 degree courses, including graduate entry programmes, are not eligible for the FFI.
The total level of fees charged to graduate entry students is a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.
Development of a scheme or the adjustment of exiting schemes to provide for graduate entry medicine tuition fees would require a specific engagement with providers to agree terms and conditions, including funding arrangements and student numbers. In this regard it is not possible to estimate potential costs associated with introducing a specific scheme or amending the FFI to provide for free tuition fees for all graduate entry medicine students.
The Deputy may be aware that the State currently provides supports for broadening access to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programmes through the part-subsidy of places for EU students, with the fees payable by the student determined by the higher education institution, taking the availability of this subsidy into account.My Department has been working to address the cost of GEM provision by increasing the subsidy paid to higher education institutions for provision of EU places. In this regard, Budget 2023 saw a significant increase in the amount the State pays for medicine places, including graduate entry. As part of this agreement:
• The State contribution for new GEM places is €14,500 for 2022/23; and
• For existing places, the State contribution towards GEM places is gradually being increased from a rate of €11,950 in the 2021/22 to the new rate of €14,500 over the coming years.
The fees payable by the student will continued to be determined by the institution attended.
111. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 1 June 2023, for a status update on the proposed new further education college in Galway city; the status of the development of the preliminary business case; if it has been completed and returned to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40732/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that late last year I announced that Galway Roscommon ETBs (GRETBs) strategic proposal to develop a Further Education College in Galway city was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund.
This proposal is now at the next stage of development, which involves the development of a preliminary business case which is a fundamental part of the public spending code requirements.
The proposal put forward by Galway Roscommon ETB envisages the development of a new state-of-the-art FET campus on a site adjacent to its Mervue Training facility. This proposed new development would facilitate the strengthening of FET provision in Galway City and the wider region due to its close proximity to the training Centre in Mervue, Atlantic Technological University and the University of Galway.
Following my update to the Deputy earlier this year, SOLAS has continued to work closely with GRETB and all other successful ETBs during the development phase of their proposal. ETBs will shortly complete and return their preliminary business cases to SOLAS for evaluation.
I would also like to let the Deputy know that earlier this month my Department gave approval to appoint a design team under the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund for two proposals put forward by GRETB in Petersburg and Mervue. The investment in Petersburg will support the development of a number of courses including a specialist arboreal apprenticeship provision while the project in Mervue involves the creation of a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Hub.
I remain firmly committed to supporting Further Education Institutes and the wider sector in achieving their vision for FET education and provision and ensuring that we have the appropriate infrastructure to support our learners and teaching staff.
112. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if university-funded PhD scholarships will be allocated additional State funding for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40452/23]
View answer120. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the recommendation to increase PhD stipends to €25,000 per annum from 1 January 2024 applies to all PhDs, inclusive of SFI, IRC, and university/college-funded scholarships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40451/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 120 together.
In the Funding our Future report which was published in May 2022 and updated last month [August], I confirmed the Government’s intention to increase the funding given to third level institutions and to reduce the cost of education, at all levels, including PhD.
The August update highlights the work of Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney, two experts I appointed in November 2022 to undertake an independent national review of state supports for PhD Researchers.
The Co-Chairs submitted their first report to me last May which is available on WWW.Gov.ie.
In this, they recommend an increased stipend level with an optimum target of €25,000, subject to funding availability. They acknowledge the potential ramifications of any such change on public finances and recognise that significant additional work will be needed in order give effect to such a recommendation.
Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council competitively award stipends to approximately 3,000 PhD students.
The institutional scholarships provided by the higher education institutions are of varying levels and determined by the institutions themselves. These are supported through institutional core funding, i.e. through the block grant provided by the Higher Education Authority. There are approximately 2,000 PhD students in receipt of such support.
The financial implications arising from the recommendations of this independent review are currently being considered by my officials through the normal budgetary processes.
The Co-Chairs are preparing their concluding report to consider, firstly, the equality, diversity and inclusion dimension of PhD provision and, secondly, the status of PhD students. I look forward to receiving their independent final report shortly.
113. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is considering any one-off cost-of-living measures for higher education, similar to last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40592/23]
View answerThe Government and my Department is committed to reducing the cost of college for students and their families and a number of measures were introduced in Budget 2023 benefiting thousands of students.
In advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, and as I did last year, I published an options paper on 21st August 2023 which sets out for the Government's consideration, various options to the cost of education for families and students. This paper identifies costs and potential impacts of options and is published without prejudice to eventual Government decisions.
This options paper has been expanded this year to include options on cost reduction across Further & Higher Education, Research and Apprenticeships. Costings outlined in the paper include:- improvements to supports under the Student Grant Scheme; student contribution reduction methods; additional supports for students attending Further Education, measures to reduce apprenticeship fees and increases to stipends/scholarships for PhD students.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the estimates process is ongoing and while I cannot at this point pre-empt the budgetary process I can confirm I will have regard to all of the options set out in the Options paper when deciding how best to prioritise proposals.
114. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what measures his Department has taken to improve student accommodation across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40742/23]
View answerMy Department and I are actively working to address the supply of student accommodation in response to the overall supply and affordability being experienced by our students which is supported by Government approval to develop a number of policy responses to activate supply under Housing for All.I have established a dedicated student accommodation unit in my Department to develop and implement this policy alongside the Higher Education Authority (HEA). 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 (DHLGH) and the wider higher education sector, and other key stakeholders on student accommodation issues.To date, the Government has approved a total of up to €61m in capital and current funding to unlock the development of circa 1,000 beds, with delivery beginning in 2024. These developments have planning permission but have stalled as a result of increased construction costs. My officials are also examining additional proposals for potential developments within the HEI sector.There are an additional 938 beds available in publicly funded Higher Education Institutions for the upcoming academic year. In addition, over 2,000 privately funded beds are due for completion this autumn.
Since 2016 - almost 13,000 purpose built student beds have been built. Work is underway on site on an additional 8,227 beds spaces, with planning permission obtained for a further 10,536 beds, in addition a further 1,800 beds are awaiting planning decision. The total stock of purpose built student accommodation equates to almost 46,802 beds (Q2 2023)
Support of €1m is also being provided to our Technological Universities (TUs) to undertake a needs assessment response framework for provision of student accommodation on a national and regional level and within each TU catchment area.
My Department is also examining the mechanisms available including a TU Borrowing Framework in conjunction with other Government Departments, as part of a range of student accommodation initiatives underway.
My Department is also supporting increased usage of "digs" accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme. The Government has introduced changes to the scheme; which provides a tax exemption for homeowners to earn up to €14,000 per annum in rental income. Income generated through the scheme may now be disregarded for the purposes of social welfare eligibility and also when calculating the qualifying financial threshold for medical cards and when examining reckonable income for support under the SUSI grant scheme. In addition work is ongoing with the DHLGH to facilitate Local Authority tenants to access the scheme. This summer, I launched a national media campaign to promote awareness of and participation in the scheme, targeted both at homeowners and students. This campaign is run in tandem with localised campaigns run by the higher education institutions.
Last month, Minister O’Brien and I announced plans to develop a design standard for Purpose Built Student Accommodation. The Cost of Construction Study which was published by Minister O’Brien in May of this year, recommends the development of a standardised specification for purpose built student accommodation. The objective of the PBSA Standardised Design & Specification Project is to examine international best practice and flexibility of design to inform appropriate standards in the delivery of affordable accommodation. The project will be led by a cross-departmental project group chaired by DFHERIS with sectoral and technical support from DHLGH, DFHERIS and the Higher Education Authority (HEA). This work will be informed by a stakeholder engagement process.
In line with the updated Housing for All commitment to “Develop policy and methodology for potential long-term state support for the construction of PBSA to provide additionality for targeted cohorts”, the Department is developing the long–term policy in consultation with relevant Government Departments and stakeholders which will include a multi-faceted approach to supply of accommodation. My officials and I are working to develop this long term policy approach which I intend to bring to Government in Q4, 2023.
115. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action his Department is taking to recruit more women to construction, in view that the shortage of construction workers is one of the biggest challenges facing the building industry, with not enough skilled labour to meet the demand for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40447/23]
View answerMy Department is undertaking a series of measures to recruit additional construction workers in to the sector to meet the demands for housing. The Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction and Retrofitting, 2023 to 2030 published last year indicates a need for 50, 831 new entrants into the construction sector, from professional, craft, operative and other trades routes.
My Department recently launched the Careers in Construction Action Plan , and the actions within this are aimed at minimising barriers to construction careers, promoting career opportunities and making construction jobs more attractive to women. These actions include delivering staff training on gender bias and providing mentoring programmes for female employees in an effort to recruit more women to the sector.
The FutureBuilding initiative which was launched in May 2022 has a team staffed by Intreo from the Department of Social Protection, and Education and Training Boards. The initiative sees people from training agencies across the country working with Intreo to identify people for direct placement into employment in the construction sector and for referral to relevant education and training opportunities.
The FutureBuilding Initiative promotes the construction career paths to job seekers, employers, other groups, to include Schools, Chambers of Commerce, Universities and focuses on a variety of cohorts including female school leavers. This work will be ramped up soon with a roadshow promoting construction career paths in girls’ schools. The FutureBuilding Initiative is also working with the Women in Construction group as part of the CIF and the Women in Construction Quarry Ireland to enhance partnerships and co-operation between stakeholders and to attract more women into the industry.
The National Apprenticeship Office have also developed a targeted campaign called ‘Facts, Faces Figures’ aimed at highlighting successful female role-models within apprenticeship which it is hoped will positively influence female students to consider the apprenticeship model as they plan their future work or study. As part of the roll-out of that campaign, we are ensuring that the all girls’ schools in the country get at least one visit from an apprenticeship advisor in this academic year. The NAO has been in contact with principals in all the girls’ schools nationally and are coordinating visits to the schools through the Authorised Officer network. They are being supported in these visits with a number of current active female apprentices in an effort to optimize peer-to-peer influence. However, as I have always said, industry needs to play its part too. It must ensure construction sites are a safe and welcome site for females. I know the sector is willing to do that.
116. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the number of complaints submitted concerning the SUSI application process this year by students or parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40449/23]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme is administered by the centralised national grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), a business unit of CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board), on behalf of the Department. As of the 17th September over 90,000 applications have been made to SUSI for the 2023/2024 academic year.
I can confirm that since 1 January 2023, SUSI has received 11 formal complaints in relation to the application process.
Student Universal Support Ireland operates a complaints procedure to facilitate applicants who may wish to lodge a complaint in connection with the manner in which they have been dealt with by the awarding authority or any of its support staff.
Formal complaints can be submitted to SUSI by emailing complaints@susi.ie. SUSI’s Complaints Team will acknowledge receipt of the complaint by email. They will then investigate the complaint and take any necessary action. The complainant will receive a response within 28 working days of receipt of the complaint.
If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of their complaint, they may refer the complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman or to the Ombudsman for Children’s Office if they are under the age of 18.
117. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of delays in SOLAS in providing block release for electrician apprenticeships in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40479/23]
View answerThe backlogs in apprentice progression, predominantly at phase-2 off-the-job, has been an area of unrelenting focus for this Government. In August 2021, there were almost 12,000 apprentices awaiting off-the-job training. At the end of August this year, 7,578 apprentices were waiting for off-the-job training. Of these 5,257 apprentices were waiting longer than six months.
During 2019, some 9,700 apprentices were being put through off-the-job training. This dropped to 7,000 in 2020 due largely to the impact of Covid, and returned to growth in 2021 with number of apprentices trained increasing to 7,300. My Department has worked closely with SOLAS and the ETBs to continue to increase training capacity, resulting in 13,000 places delivered in 2022, a very important step in responding to the challenge of apprentices waiting to access off-the-job training. It is intended to deliver some 15,300 places in total in 2023.
There is a crucial requirement to align training capacity in ETBs with the continued strong demand for apprenticeships - with particular focus on apprenticeships linked to the construction sector - and also to put in place further measures which will add to capacity over the period required to respond to ongoing delays in apprenticeship training.
In order to further accelerate and intensify delivery of increased apprenticeship training capacity, a taskforce chaired by my Department composed of representatives of SOLAS, the National Apprenticeship Office, the Higher Education Authority, Education and Training Boards Ireland, the Education and Training Boards, and union representatives has been established with responsibility to implement successfully a set of actions to address this very significant and important issue.
118. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans, if any, he has in relation to changes to the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40591/23]
View answerImprovements to the student grant scheme has been a priority for me since taking up my Ministerial appointment and I have made many improvements benefitting thousands of students. My Department will continue to invest in higher education in tandem with the reform programme.
The Budget 2023 package announced last October provided a number of measures that will offer relief to students for the 2023/2024 academic year including:
• An increase to Maintenance grants effective from January 2023
• A reduction of €500 in the student contribution fee for eligible grant applicants earning between €62,000 and €100,000.
• The threshold for the student contribution 50% grant has been increased from €55,240 to €62,000.
• An increase in the Post Graduate fee Contribution Grant by €500 on 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000 from September 2023; This measure will benefit Post Graduate Students who are eligible for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution towards the cost of their Tuition Fees.
• A €500 increase to the stipend baseline in 2023 for PhD students who receive an IRC or SFI award.
• A change to the eligibility criteria for “second chance” mature students as defined in the Student Grant Scheme reducing the period for a full break in studies from 5 to 3 years;
• An increase in the deduction allowable for student earnings outside of term time from €4,500 to €6,552 for academic year 2023/2024.
• Exclusion of rental income up to €14,000 declared to Revenue under the Government’s rent-a-room relief scheme when calculating reckonable income under the Student Grant Scheme.
• €3m in funding for mental health and wellbeing initiatives for the 2023/24 academic year.
You may be aware, just last month, I published an options paper which outlined various possible measures to address the cost of education. This year’s paper has been expanded to include options on cost reduction across Further & Higher Education, Research and Apprenticeships and sets out the various options available to Government to consider, in advance of Budget 2024, further options to reduce the cost of education for families and students.
You can access the options paper at this link:
gov.ie - Funding the Future - An annual options paper on the cost of higher education (www.gov.ie).
I will have regard to all options, including options in respect of the student grant scheme, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions
119. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for increasing North-South mobility in third-level education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40590/23]
View answerOne of the key instruments to enable North-South mobility is the Memorandum of Understanding on Education and the Common Travel Area, which I, along with my colleague, the Minister for Education and the UK Secretary of State for Education signed in 2021. This lays the foundation for North South student mobility in the basis that it ensured there was no change to the fee/ student support post-Brexit;
Furthermore, the Government and I are very conscious about impact of the UK's non-participation in Erasmus, and have committed to financially supporting Northern Ireland students to continue their mobilities, which is very important as many Northern Ireland students undertake internships in Ireland. More than €2 million has been allocated this year, and payments will be made to Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions within the next few weeks.
In 2022, the Taoiseach and I launched the Shared Island North-South Research Programme, which allocated some €37 million to promote research collaboration between institutions, North and South. This initiative is further enhanced by the recent announcement of the agreement between the EU and UK on the basis for the UK to participate in Horizon Europe, which will provide additional opportunities for mobility in the research domain.
Earlier this week, I launched the Economic and Social Research Institute Report - ‘Student Mobility in Ireland and Northern Ireland’. The report highlighted admission issues around the treatment of the A Levels for the purposes of accessing programmes in Irish Higher Education Institutions. While this is a matter for each HEI, I am delighted to note that a Working Group by Universities Ireland (a cross border group composed of the Presidents of all HEIs on the island of Ireland) has been established to take a fresh look to the equivalencies for A Levels.
Finally, my officials are working with their counterparts in the Departments for the Economy and Health in Northern Ireland on the provision of 'ring-fenced' places for CAO applicants for third level places available in healthcare courses, including therapy places to support disability services from September 2023. The Deputy will be aware that following engagement between Queens University Belfast and Ulster University, 200 places in nursing will be made available to students from the Republic of Ireland to be funded by?the Department of Health. Students will avail of these places on the same terms and conditions as other students on the programmes. A further 50 places were also made available in therapy disciplines in Ulster University – 20 places each in occupational therapy and physiotherapy, and 10 places in speech and language therapy.
Engagements are also taking place to advance proposals, which would allow for additional students from the Republic to study medicine in the north. It is hoped to make a number of places available in both institutions from 2024 for students from the Republic who would return to complete their intern year in the HSE.
Finally, the Deputy should be assured of my willingness to explore additional opportunities to promote student mobility, North and South.
121. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what measures are being taken to address the shortage of third-level student accommodation for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40266/23]
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.
To date, the Government has approved a total of up to €61m in capital and current funding to unlock the development of circa 1,000 beds, with delivery beginning in 2024. These developments have planning permission but have stalled as a result of increased construction costs. My officials are also examining additional proposals for potential developments within the HEI sector.
Support of €1m is also being provided to our Technological Universities (TUs) undertake a needs assessment response framework for provision of student accommodation in key areas. My Department is also examining the mechanisms available including a TU Borrowing Framework in conjunction with other Government Departments, as part of the range of student accommodation initiatives underway.
There are an additional 938 beds available in publicly funded Higher Education Institutions for the upcoming academic year. There are also over 2000 privately funded beds due for completion this autumn.
My Department is also supporting increased usage of "digs" accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme. The Government has introduced changes to the scheme; which provides a tax exemption for homeowners to earn up to €14,000 per annum in rental income. Income generated through the scheme may now be disregarded for the purposes of social welfare eligibility and also when calculating the qualifying financial threshold for medical cards and when examining reckonable income for support under the SUSI grant scheme. In addition work is ongoing with the DHLGH to facilitate Local Authority tenants to access the scheme. This summer, I launched a national media campaign to promote awareness of and participation in the scheme, targeted both at homeowners and students. My officials and I have developed guidance, which I will make available to assist students and homeowners in undertaking digs rentals. Based on date provided to my Department last week from the higher education institutions there are 2,311 digs beds currently available to rent near campus locations in Ireland.
The long term strategy is being actively developed in consultation with the relevant Departments, the HEA and through stakeholder engagement. It will also be informed by ongoing analysis across Europe and internationally for best practice for the delivery and management of student accommodation. I intend to bring this long term policy approach to Government in Q4, 2023.
122. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department is encouraging and supporting students to study to PhD level in Irish third-level educational institutions; the number of PhD qualifications awarded in each of these centres in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; the amount expended by his Department in each of these years in direct support to PhD students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40386/23]
View answerUnder Pillar 4 of our national Research and Innovation Strategy, Impact 2030, we have articulated very clearly the vision agreed across Government that, by 2030, “We will be a global leader in nurturing, attracting and retaining talent to drive research and innovation in our higher education and research system, enterprises, communities, communities and public services”.
In order to progress this commitment, I announced an independent national review of State supports for PhD researchers, appointing Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney as Co-Chairs. They submitted their first report to me last May which is available on www.gov.ie .
In this, a number of recommendations were made including one to increase the stipend level, with an optimum target of €25,000 subject to the availability of funding. They acknowledge the potential ramifications of any such change on public finances and recognise that significant additional work will be needed in order give effect to such a recommendation.
The Co-Chairs are preparing a concluding review report and I look forward to receiving their independent final report shortly.
I would also like to bring the attention of the Deputy to the revised National Framework for Doctoral Education (NFDE) which I launched last June. This Framework identifies the next steps to support and develop Ireland’s research culture, research capacity, and infrastructures via our higher education and research system and how best to ensure our researchers continue to produce research with impact nationally and internationally.
Regarding the number of PhD qualifications awarded in Irish third-level educational institutions, 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.
|
Institute |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Atlantic Technological University |
15 |
10 |
10 |
|
Dublin City University |
95 |
100 |
100 |
|
Dundalk IT |
10 |
5 |
5 |
|
Mary Immaculate College |
20 |
20 |
25 |
|
Maynooth University |
70 |
70 |
50 |
|
Munster Technological University |
20 |
10 |
20 |
|
Royal College of Surgeons |
40 |
45 |
50 |
|
South East Technological University |
30 |
25 |
15 |
|
Technological University Dublin |
60 |
90 |
55 |
|
Technological University of the Shannon |
10 |
10 |
15 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
320 |
230 |
330 |
|
University College Cork |
220 |
180 |
195 |
|
University College Dublin |
340 |
290 |
285 |
|
University of Galway |
170 |
210 |
255 |
|
University of Limerick |
140 |
125 |
120 |
|
Grand Total |
1560 |
1420 |
1530 |
With respect to costs expended in direct support to PhD students funding, the table below (extracted from the Co-Chairs' first report on PhDs, which I mentioned above, outlines public expenditure on stipend supports for PhD researchers for 2021-2022:
|
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.
A breakdown on costs was available only for the academic year 2021-2022 (see above).
The total number of PhD students between 2019 and 2022 is set out in the table below.
|
Academic Year |
Number of PhD Students |
|
2018-2019 |
8,643 |
|
2019-2020 |
8,890 |
|
2020-2021 |
9,532 |
|
2021-2022 |
10,013 |
Source: HEA
123. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how many third-level institutions have plans to provide/increase student accommodation on their campus; and the lead-in time for same. [40602/23]
View answerIn recognising the challenges facing our higher education students in accessing affordable supply of accommodation Government approved a new policy led by my Department, to provide State assistance to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation. 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.
Within our Short-term Activation Programme, the Government has approved a total of up to €61m in capital and current funding to unlock the development of circa 1,000 beds, with delivery beginning in 2024. These developments have planning permission but had stalled due to increased construction costs. My officials are also examining additional proposals for potential developments within the HEI sector.
There are an additional 938 beds available in publicly funded Higher Education Institutions for current academic year with 255 in UCC, 674 in UG and TCD expect an additional 8 beds to open in the coming weeks. This brings the total of publicly owned beds to over 15,200. There are also over 2,000 privately funded beds due for completion this autumn.
Since 2017, almost 13,000 purpose built student beds have been built. Work is underway on an additional 7,165 beds, with planning permission obtained for a further 10,872 beds while 2,019 beds are awaiting a planning decision. The total stock of purpose built student accommodation equates to almost 47,000 beds.
In addition, investment of €1m was also announced to support the Technological Universities in conducting activation feasibility assessments to ascertain student accommodation needs across their various campus locations. This will include data led projections of student numbers and engagement with local authorities to examine potential vacant stock.
Department officials and I continue to engage with the sector in relation to the feasibility study. In June I announced the commencement of phase one of this study as part of the Governments’ commitment to support TUs in the development of student accommodation strategies. To date my officials and the HEA have engaged with all publicly funded institutions to examine current proposals and to develop plans assessing regional needs for accommodation. I am very encouraged by the commitment and dedication being demonstrated by our higher education sector in this process.
My Department and I are working with relevant Government Departments and Agencies to explore the development of a specific borrowing framework for the Technological University (TU) sector. The outcomes of the TU feasibility study will inform this ongoing engagement. 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.
