Written Answers Nos. 144-160
144. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what SUSI financial supports are available for single parents (details supplied) that have a personal insolvency arrangement, who are just over the income threshold but cannot afford college fees for their child, and are restricted from applying for loans from banks and credit unions when under a PIA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41734/23]
View answerUnder the Student Grants Scheme student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The student referred to by the Deputy was awarded €500 student contribution lump sum.
The student appealed to the Appeals Officer in SUSI and was issued with a determination on the 19th May 2023 that stated no change to original award. The student then requested a review of his application under a change in circumstances and SUSI determined no change to the original award. This was communicated to the student on the 20th September 2023 with the option to further appeal to the SUSI appeals officer within 30 days of this letter.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.
145. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how many students were registered in TU Dublin (headcount and full-time equivalent) at the annual census dates (details supplied), based on returns by the university to his Department and to the HEA, since its establishment in 2019. [41764/23]
View answerThe number of students registered in TU Dublin, by programme type, are outlined in the table below. These figures are recorded on the HEA's Student Records System (SRS), and are as of 1st March of the relevant academic year. Enrolments increased significantly across the higher education system in 2020, as employment and other opportunities were curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, data from the 2021/22 academic year is the latest available and data for 2022/23 will be published in early October.
The SRS records the number of student enrolled, and whether they are full time or part time, but does not record "full-time equivalent" (FTE) student numbers. Detailed enrolment statistics are published on the Statistics section of the HEA's website.
|
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
2021/2022 |
|
|
Foundation and Access |
132 |
137 |
98 |
|
Certificate |
1145 |
1337 |
941 |
|
Higher Certificate |
1620 |
1697 |
1543 |
|
Undergraduate Diploma |
24 |
27 |
0 |
|
Undergraduate Occasionals |
1174 |
1297 |
932 |
|
Undergraduate Ordinary Degree |
4654 |
4526 |
4311 |
|
Undergraduate Honours Degree |
13862 |
14539 |
14852 |
|
Higher Diploma |
354 |
300 |
215 |
|
Postgraduate Diploma |
256 |
285 |
286 |
|
Postgraduate Certificate |
253 |
307 |
412 |
|
Postgraduate Occasionals |
446 |
607 |
394 |
|
Research Masters |
78 |
65 |
40 |
|
Taught Masters |
1988 |
1969 |
1779 |
|
PhD |
543 |
553 |
605 |
|
Total |
26529 |
27646 |
26408 |
146. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in light of the larger than expected drop in FTE student numbers in 2022/2023 compared to 2021/2022 reported by TU Dublin to the HEA, he could confirm whether the HEA or his Department validate census data submitted by the universities. [41765/23]
View answer147. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the university census data returned to the HEA is validated, if he could outline the process involved. [41766/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.
The Student Record System in the HEA gathers headcount data on enrolments and graduates from HEA-funded higher education institutions. It does not gather full-time equivalent data. The headcount data is audited by the HEA, in collaboration with the HEIs, and signed off by the Registrar in each of the HEIs as an accurate and correct account of their Institutes student numbers. Furthermore, the HEA data on the Student Record System on enrolments and graduates has been assessed by the Central Statistics Office for ISSCOP (Irish Statistical System Code of Practice) and has achieved Official Statistics status after successful demonstration of alignment with and commitment to the principles of accuracy and reliability, coherence and comparability, sound methodology and appropriate statistical procedures.
FTEs are not available for the entire student cohort in an institution, a subset of student FTE data is prepared as part of the HEAs funding allocation process.
148. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how many full-time equivalent staff in TU Dublin were remunerated at the grades listed (details supplied) and on the following dates 01/01/2019, 01/01/2020, 01/01/2021, 01/10/2021, 01/01/2022, 01/06/2022. [41767/23]
View answer149. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will indicate the substantive grades of those remunerated at the grades listed in the table at each time point in the table (details supplied). [41768/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.
The information that the Deputy is seeking is not readily available. I am currently collecting and collating the data required and will respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm whether approval was sought by TU Dublin for the appointment of a Chief Operations Officer and of a Deputy President and University Registrar in advance of these positions being advertised in June 2019. [41769/23]
View answer151. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm that his Department had approved the appointments by TU Dublin of a Chief Operations Officer and of a Deputy President/University Registrar in 2019. [41770/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together.
In October 2019, the President of TU Dublin wrote to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) advising that TU Dublin had instigated a process to put in place the required senior management team. The letter advised that as part of this process, a recruitment competition had been held for Chief Operations Officer and Registrar & Deputy President posts, and two successful candidates had been identified.
It then became apparent that sanction for the appointments had not been sought in line with the requirements of the Technological Universities Act 2018. There followed engagement between DFHERIS, HEA, TU Dublin and DPENDPDR to ensure that the appointments were justified and necessary to support the development of TU Dublin as the first technological university. Sanction for the posts was confirmed in October 2022 following analysis of a submitted business case as the posts were deemed to form an essential part of the overall development of the TU Dublin management structure.
152. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm the grade and salary at which TU Dublin’s Chief Operations Officer was appointed in 2019. [41771/23]
View answer153. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm the grade and salary at which TU Dublin’s Deputy President and Registrar was appointed in 2019. [41772/23]
View answerMy Department understands that both the Chief Operations Officer and Registrar & Deputy President were appointed on their existing salary in 2019 pending approval for the two posts.
DFHERIS and DPENDPR sanction issued in October 2022 determined that the two posts should be remunerated in line with the grade of Deputy President/Registrar/Bursar/University Secretary of a Level II University.
154. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm that his Department approved an increase in the salary of the Chief Operations Officer and of the Deputy President and Registrar this year, and that this increase was backdated to their appointments in 2019. [41773/23]
View answer155. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm the salary level approved for the position of Deputy President and Registrar by his Department this year. [41774/23]
View answer156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm the salary level approved for the position of Chief Operations Officer by his Department this year. [41775/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 155 and 156 together.
My department has not issued any specific sanction to change or increase the salary or grade of the Chief Operations Officer or Deputy President & Registrar in 2023. Both posts are still remunerated in line with the grade of Deputy President/Registrar/Bursar/University Secretary of a Level II University as sanctioned.
It is however the case that the two posts in question do attract uplifts in line with national agreements. As of the 1st October 2022, the salary appropriate to these posts was €170,549, which included the relevant FEMPI pay restorations and pay awards due under the Building Momentum Agreement at that time. As the Deputy will be aware, there has been a further pay increase under the Building Momentum agreement (1 March 2023) with a second increase due shortly (1 October 2023). The application of these pay awards will bring the sanctioned salary to €176,569 for the two posts.
Given that both post holders were on their pre appointment rate of pay while awaiting sanction for the posts, it would have been incumbent on TU Dublin to apply any FEMPI restorations due to the post holders.
157. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm whether approval was sought from his Department by TU Dublin for the appointment of Vice Presidents and Deans in advance of the positions being advertised in December 2020. [41776/23]
View answer158. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm that approval had been granted by his Department for the recruitment of Vice Presidents and Deans in advance of posts being advertised and interviewed for between December 2020 and March 2021. [41777/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together.
TU Dublin advertised these senior posts to internal and external applicants on 15 December 2020 with a closing date of 18 January 2021.
Once it became apparent that sanction was required, TU Dublin submitted a number of documents as part of a business case seeking approval for a senior management team in the first half of 2021, with the first formal submissions seeking sanction received by DFHERIS in March 2021. There was then further engagement prior to a more detailed proposal being submitted in May 2021. Following analysis of the business case and proposal submitted, DFHERIS and DPENDPDR granted sanction for the Vice President and Faculty Dean posts in July 2021.
159. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to give a comprehensive update on the ransomware attack on TU Dublin’s Tallaght campus in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41778/23]
View answerOn April 1st, 2021, TU Dublin were targeted by a ransomware attack that specifically impacted the IT infrastructure of its Tallaght Campus. During the initial assessment phase, I am informed, it became evident that the ransomware had successfully infected multiple devices. It is my understanding that TU Dublin responded immediately and isolated the Tallaght campus from the broader TU Dublin network, a proactive measure taken to contain the attack and prevent the ransomware from spreading to other locations.
TU Dublin promptly notified relevant authorities, including law enforcement, the data protection commissioner, and their Cyber Insurance provider. The latter, in turn, deployed an external Cyber Incident Response team to assist in investigating the identified cyber incident within the university's IT environment. This external team collaborated closely with TU Dublin to formulate an incident response plan and subsequently initiated cyber incident response support services and forensic investigations. I am informed that TU Dublin successfully restored access to essential systems and data before the commencement of the academic year in September 2021.
TU Dublin have informed my Department that, in response to the incident, the university implemented several enhancements and improvements to further bolster the security and accessibility of its systems. This includes the implementation of enhanced security toolsets and capabilities, along with the integration of guidance and recommendations provided by external consultants.
TU Dublin have further informed my Department that their cybersecurity processes align closely with the NIST framework and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) baseline standards, encompassing the five key areas: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These frameworks, known for structured, risk-centric, and adaptable approach to cybersecurity, enabled TU Dublin to enhance its security posture, adhere to regulatory requirements, and effectively manage cyber risks. As a result of these enhanced cybersecurity measures, TU Dublin will continue to benefit from this more advanced and robust cyber insurance coverage.
TU Dublin have assured my Department that they continue to maintain close collaboration with the NCSC, security partners, and colleagues from other universities to ensure the adoption of best practices across all facets of cybersecurity.
It is important to emphasise that, as autonomous bodies, higher education institutions have governance and legal responsibility for their administrative and corporate affairs, including in their management of ICT infrastructures, risk management, including cyber risk, business resilience and contingency planning.
At Government level, NCSC, which is part of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has lead responsibility for cyber security in the State, with inputs from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. Their role covers incident response, cyber resilience and information provision, including to the tertiary education sector.
My Department, in close collaboration with the Department of Education, has an important role in resourcing and supporting the work of HEAnet, the education sector’s ICT shared services provider. My Department has provided additional resources to HEAnet, to strengthen their capabilities to support institutions in addressing cyber security risks.
Last year, my Department confirmed significant multi-annual funding for cyber-security resources to HEAnet. These resources will equip HEAnet to enhance its support to clients, including institutions across the tertiary education sector, in mitigating their cyber security risks. In particular, these new resources will allow HEAnet to provide advice and training and enhance support to institutions in preventing incidents and alerting them to potential cyber events.
160. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the CLÁR 2024 programme will open to applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41748/23]
View answerThe CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the Programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures.
Funding of €7.85m has been allocated for the 2023 CLÁR programme an increase of €0.5m on 2022.
I launched the 2023 Programme in March this year and the measures to be funded are:
• Developing Community Facilities and Amenities (Measure 1)
• Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport (Measure 2)
• ‘Our Islands’ (Measure 3)
Some 330 applications have been received across all the measures.
I announced the successful projects under Measure 2 in August 2023. The assessment process is underway for measure 1 and 3 applications and announcements of the successful projects under those measures will be made in the coming weeks.
I hope to launch the CLÁR programme again in early 2024 subject to budgetary discussions and a review of measures to be included.
