Written Answers Nos. 1437-1456
1437. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the annual funding for Higher Education Authority for each year since 2016; the allocation for 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48495/23]
View answerMy Department provides grant funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to be used to meet the general running expenses of the authority.
The information requested by the Deputy is attached including the Oireachtas grant funding provided via the (then) Department of Education and Skills in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 prior to the establishment of my Department.
Please note the 2023 allocation is based on the 2023 Revised Estimates Volume and may be subject to change. Details of the 2024 allocation are not yet finalised and will be published in the 2024 Revised Estimates Volume in due course.
1438. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the annual funding for Solas for each year since 2016; the allocation for 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48496/23]
View answerMy officials are preparing a reply and a response will be issued to the Deputy.
1439. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that students attending an undergraduate course in a university (details supplied) are not eligible for Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant support; if he is giving consideration to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48497/23]
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.
The Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved full time courses in other EU Member States and in the UK including approved full-time undergraduate courses in the institution referred to by the Deputy.
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. Funding under the Free Fees Initiative is only available in respect of approved courses within the State.
The Student Grant Scheme is currently targeted at full-time students. Courses that are part-time, less than two years in duration, undertaken online or as distance courses, or which lead to a special purpose or distance award, are not currently approved for the Student Grant Scheme.
1440. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the transport supports that are available for a student (details supplied) with Asperger's, ASD with dyslexia, scoliosis, hip displacement who has recently commenced a PLC course following completion of their Leaving Certificate and is finding the commute from their home very difficult; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48520/23]
View answerMy officials have made enquiries with City of Dublin ETB (CDETB) in relation to your query.
We understand from CDETB, that when making their application for supports under the Fund for Students with a Disability (FSD), that the learner concerned did not declare that they had a physical disability.
CDETB have confirmed that they will now re-engage with the learner on their application for transport.
1442. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he visited Seoul National University during his recent visit to South Korea. [48755/23]
View answerAs part of the Team Ireland Trade Mission to South Korea, I led the Tertiary Education, Research, Innovation and Science mission. I visited Seoul National University on Friday 3 November along with a delegation of academics from a number of Irish higher education institutions including UCD, TCD, Maynooth University and TU Dublin. I toured the campus and met with an Irish student undertaking her studies in Korea. I facilitated discussions between Irish university representatives and their Korean counterparts, exploring opportunities for further cooperation on tertiary education, research and innovation.
1443. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether students who are liable for full third-level tuition fees are eligible for the reduction in fees for the academic year 2023/2024, as announced by him as part of the cost-of-living measures recently as part of Budget 2024; if not, if he will consider extending the supports to include students, such as repeat students, who are liable for full fees and who are also affected by the cost-of-living increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48763/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Budget 2024 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost of living. These cost of living measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for those higher education students who are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI). Under the FFI, the State provides funding, exclusive of the student contribution, toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students who are pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of study in an approved higher education institution in the State. The student contribution only applies in circumstances where a student is eligible for free fees, it is the students’ contribution towards their tuition fee within the terms of the FFI.
A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level.
The once off student contribution support of €1,000 therefore does not apply to students undertaking a repeat period of study if that period of study is not eligible for the free fees scheme in this academic year.
Where students are not eligible for free fees then, the student contribution arrangements under the FFI do not apply and students pay the applicable tuition fee to the higher education institution attended.
Students who are experiencing financial difficulties may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). 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. Students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in the higher education institution attended.
1444. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what action his Department is taking to attract women into agriculture specific scholarships, educational programs and third level courses and increase female representation in these areas going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48839/23]
View answerThere is scope for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to include actions targeting gender under-representation in institution-level gender equality action plans, which are required at institutional level to receive funding from the European Commission under Horizon Europe, or have been developed through HEI participation in the Athena Swan Ireland gender equality charter. HEI Departments/Schools can also develop gender equality action plans which may include actions targeting gender under-representation in specific discipline areas. For example, the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science holds an Athena Swan Silver level award, which includes a gender equality action plan.
The Agri-sector is a thriving area of expansion in apprenticeships. Arboriculture has been available since 2020, joined this year by Sportsturf Management, Farm Manager, Farm Technician, and Horticulture. As of end-October 2023, these programmes are already showing promising female participation levels, with 1 female arboriculturalist, 2 farm managers, 1 farm technician, and 1 hortorculturalist already registered.
To incentivise employers, the gender-based bursary, worth €2,666, is available to employers who employ apprentices in the minority gender on any national apprenticeship programme with greater than 80% representation of a single gender. Currently there are more than 40 programmes eligible for the bursary, including those in the agri-sector.
There has also been a specific focus on female participation as part of the Generation Apprenticeship national promotional campaign. For example, this year the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) launched an initiative called 'Facts, Faces, Futures' to coincide with International Women’s Day 2023. The purpose of the initiative is to communicate the growing participation and leadership of women and girls in careers available through apprenticeship. The campaign also aims to ensure that students in girls’ schools around the country are aware of the apprenticeship programmes now available and ensure that young women in Ireland can avail of the opportunities for women through apprenticeship.
Officials from the Department of Agriculture have advised that the Teagasc education programme is delivered through its network of seven colleges (four Teagasc colleges and three linked private colleges). In 2022, the net cost of education training for young farmers was approximately €14.2 million. Teagasc’s education activities focuses on equipping young farmers with the necessary knowledge to build successful agricultural careers.
Actions being taken to attract women into agricultural education include:
- This year for the first time Teagasc participated in the EUROPEA Agro Challenge competition in Slovakia. A team of four (full time students) was selected where Teagasc specified the team would include two males and two females. The team represented Ireland and competed against 17 other European teams.
- Teagasc continue to promote their courses at school open days and career evenings. All promotional material and prospectus highlight female representation across the courses
- Bursaries are offered across colleges in hoof pairing, study trips to Brussels, study bursaries for international placement. Bursaries are promoted across all student cohorts with strong female representation at both application stage and award announcement.
- Teagasc colleges organise inter college sporting events across the year. Gaelic football, hurling and now camogie are important activities in the calendar of their agricultural colleges. They were delighted to welcome camogie back to our activities
- In 2023, Teagasc Education streamed its first live webinar from Oakpark to promote all courses to career guidance teachers and second level schools. The event was hosted by a Year 2 female student – a first for Teagasc Education www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mq9ipkB0yU.
1445. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to detail any ongoing or previous use of artificial intelligence within her Department. [47342/23]
View answerMy Department's managed ICT service is provided through the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO).
I can confirm that my Department has not made use of artificial intelligence to support departmental functions.
1446. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there will be future calls to establishment remote working hubs in rural towns and village or community centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47354/23]
View answerOur Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents. The policy commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. The network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities, facilitating individual remote workers and companies of different sizes.
In 2021, I launched connectedhubs.ie, a shared online booking and payments platform for member hubs and their users. There are currently 330 remote and co-working facilities across the country on-boarded to the platform, meaning we are well on track to achieving our target of 400 hubs by 2025. An interactive map is available on connectedhubs.ie that shows the location and details of each remote working hub on the network. In addition to facilitating online bookings and payments, connectedhubs.ie is also a platform for collecting and disseminating information, including the types of hubs available in Ireland.
To date my department has also invested over €150 million to support the establishment, improvement and sustainability of hubs through the range of schemes which make up my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme. This includes an allocation of €14 million in funding to almost 200 projects via the Connected Hub Calls, which allowed for additional remote working capacity to be added to digital hubs and Public Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) throughout the country. The development of remote working hubs continue to be eligible for funding under schemes such as the Town and Village renewal scheme and the forthcoming call for applications under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund where a clearly identified need is established in the context of the significant level of investment to date.
Following the publication of Our Rural Future , my priority has been on establishing the National Hub Network, putting the necessary infrastructure in place and achieving this initial critical mass.
Following strong progress on the establishment phase of the project our focus has shifted to the next stage of development. To this end my Department is currently leading on the formulation of a National Hub Strategy to chart the future strategic direction of the hubs sector. Key to this approach is close consultation with stakeholders and our partners across government which will contribute to future decisions pertaining to the support that my Department will provide to the sector in future.
I am committed to ensuring that the National Hub Network will continue to make a central contribution to the achievement of the Government's vision for rural Ireland, as set out in Our Rural Future.
1447. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she intends to give a start date for the new Leader Programme to the companies who will administer the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47361/23]
View answerOur Rural Future is a whole-of-Government policy for the sustainable development of rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025 and supports the delivery of other key Government policies and objectives. Implementation of the LEADER programme is a central element of Our Rural Future and the new LEADER programme will continue to build on the success of LEADER over the last 30 years.
The process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is ongoing at present and the Local Development Strategies which were submitted by the applicant LAGs are currently being assessed.
A number of strategies have been approved to date and the Department is now focusing on completing the selection of the remaining LAGs with a view to concluding this process by the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition from the 2014-2020 programme. All applicant LAGs will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in their sub-regional area as they are approved.
1448. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is carrying out a review of the funding allocated to Galway under the Leader Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47362/23]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development, which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy.
€250m has been made available for the LEADER programme for the period 2021 to 2027. This is comprised of €70 million for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 and an additional €180 million from 2023 to 2027, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. This funding has been allocated to each of the sub-regional areas which are, for the main part, aligned with the county boundaries. The methodology to distribute the funding used a baseline allocation together with an allocation based on the population density and the level of deprivation in each sub-regional area. There are no proposals to revise these allocations.
County Galway has been allocated €12,628,253 in funding for the programming period 2021-2027, which is an increase of 3.55% over the previous seven-year period.
I am confident that the level of funding allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period is sufficient to meet the demand for grant funding from rural communities and businesses and to continue the effective operation of the LEADER programme.
1449. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the acquisition of a property (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47483/23]
View answerThe provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the provision of library services in Ballybay is first and foremost a matter for Monaghan County Council.
In April of this year, my Department invited all local authorities to submit proposals for the development of public library infrastructure, facilities and mobile library vehicles under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027. Monaghan County Council submitted a proposal to conserve and refurbish the Market House in Ballybay, which would bring this derelict listed historical building back into use as a modern public community library facility.
My Department is currently assessing and scoring proposals received, and I look forward to announcing details of the projects that have been approved for funding under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027 before the end of the year.
1450. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the status of the upgrade to Mayfield library in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47514/23]
View answerThe provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in Mayfield is primarily a matter for Cork City Council.
I am advised that the extension and refurbishment of the Frank O’Connor Library, Mayfield, as a joint development with St Joseph’s Community Centre, is a priority project for Cork City Council and that the project is currently being progressed through my Department’s Four Stage Capital Management Process. This ensures that the project complies with the Public Library National Standards and Benchmarks which guide the development of the public library service. My Department issued Stage 2 approval for the Mayfield Library project on the 27th October 2022. It is also understood that the City Council expect to procure external design team consultants to prepare the pre-tender documentation, which will inform the Stage 3 application to my Department.
In April of this year, my Department invited all Local Authorities to submit proposals for the development of public library infrastructure, facilities and mobile library vehicles under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027. Cork City Council submitted a proposal for the extension and refurbishment of the Frank O’Connor Library, Mayfield. My Department is currently assessing and scoring proposals received, and I look forward to announcing details of the projects that have been approved for funding under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027 before the end of this year.
1451. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she can outline the next steps in the completion of the pier in Inis Meáin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47624/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands, including Inis Meáin.
A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department and Galway County Council meets fortnightly to monitor progress on the development of the piers on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin. The most recent meeting was held last week.
It is my understanding that officials from Galway County Council are preparing the necessary documents to appoint consultants to assist in preparing a Preliminary Business Case. This is required under the Public Spending Code in order to look at all possible options for providing safe harbour facilities on Inis Meáin.
My Department and Galway County Council agree that there will be clear engagement with island representatives and the independent consultants to be appointed, ensuring that the entire community has input into the process.
I can assure you that my Department will continue to engage with the local authority to ensure the process is progressed without delay and consultants appointed as quickly as possible.
1452. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of statements of interests for the purposes of Section 19 that have been filed by her special advisors in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will provide a schedule of same. [47653/23]
View answerI have one adviser in the Department of Rural and Community Development. They have returned a statement of ‘Nil’ interests to the Standards in Public Office (SIPO) Commission in respect of each of the years 2020, 2021 & 2022.
The Minister of State at this Department has one advisor and they have also returned a statement of ‘Nil’ interests to SIPO in respect of 2020, 2021 & 2022.
The deadline for returns to SIPO in respect of 2023 will be January 2024.
1453. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the building acquisition measure of the town and village renewal scheme will be announced (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47693/23]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Under the 2022 scheme, I introduced the Building Acquisition Measure (BAM) in recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres.
The purpose of this measure was to support local authorities to immediately acquire derelict or vacant buildings, with the intention of using these projects for town regeneration purposes in line with the aims of TVRS. Funding was again made available under this Measure in 2023.
Kerry County Council was approved funding under this measure to purchase buildings in Co Kerry. My Department is currently in consultation with Kerry County Council regarding submission of the relevant funding draw down documentation.
Due to the commercially sensitive nature of property purchases under BAM, details of the approved applications will be released only when the details of the sales have been concluded by local authorities and assessment of the payment draw down is completed by my Department.
1454. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a breakdown of the advertising spend of her Department and agencies under the remit of her Department, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet, for each of the years 2020 to 2022, in tabular form. [47738/23]
View answerMy Department contracts media buying agencies for the purpose of purchasing newspaper advertising. The specific amount allocated to each outlet is determined by the buying agency, based on the objectives of the campaign and agreement on the appropriate mix of national and local coverage. The total amount spent on newspaper advertising by my Department for each of the years 2020 to 2022 is detailed in the tables below.
My Department did not have any broadcast media advertising expenditure for the period in question.
Department of Rural and Community Development Newspaper Advertising expenditure 2020 to 2022
2020 - Newspaper advertising expenditure for 2020 was nil
2021 – Newspaper advertising expenditure:
|
Campaign |
National newspaper |
Total national newspaper cost |
Local newspaper |
Total local newspaper cost |
Overall total |
|
Statement Of Strategy |
Irish IndependentThe Irish Examiner The Irish Times |
€4,184 |
Nil |
Nil |
€4,184 |
2022 – Newspaper advertising expenditure
|
Campaign |
National newspaper |
Total national newspaper cost |
Local newspaper |
Total local newspaper cost |
Overall total |
|
LEADER Programme 2023 - 2027 |
Irish Farmers Journal Farming Independent The Irish Examiner |
€4,431.76 |
Anglo CeltKerrymanKilkenny People Leinster ExpressLimerick LeaderLongford LeaderMidland TribuneMunster ExpressRoscommon HeraldSligo ChampionTipperary StarWaterford News And StarWestern PeopleWestmeath IndependentWexford PeopleWicklow People |
€10,487 |
€14,919.16 |
|
Campaign |
National newspaper |
Total national newspaper cost |
Local newspaper |
Total local newspaper cost |
Overall cost |
|
Public Consultation on New Public Library Strategy |
Nil |
Nil |
Anglo CeltCarlow NationalistClare ChampionConnacht TribuneDonegal NewsDundalk DemocratKerrymanKildare NationalistKilkenny PeopleLaois NationalistLeitrim ObserverLimerick LeaderLongford LeaderMeath ChronicleNorthern StandardNorthside People (East)Northside People (West)Offaly IndependentRoscommon HeraldSligo ChampionSouthern StarSouthside PeopleTipperary StarWaterford News And StarWestern PeopleWestmeath IndependentWexford People |
€32,628 |
€32,628 |
|
Campaign |
National newspaper |
Total national newspaper cost |
Local newspaper |
Total local newspaper cost |
Overall cost |
|
TidyTowns Recruitment of Trainee Adjudicators |
Irish Independent The Irish Examiner The Irish Times |
€5,785 |
Nil |
Nil |
€5,785 |
There are four agencies under my Department’s remit: the Western Development Commission, POBAL, Water Safety Ireland, and the Charities Regulator. They are all independent legal entities responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with their statutory obligations. The details of the Oireachtas contact point for each of the agencies, who would be in a position to provide the Deputy with the requested information in respect of their organisation, are set out in the table below:
|
Pobal |
oireachtasqueries@pobal.ie |
|
Charities Regulator |
oireachtas@charitiesregulator.ie |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
oireachtas@wsi.ie |
|
Western Development Commission |
oireachtas@wdc.ie |
1455. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagements her Department, or any agency or body under her direction, has had with the government of Israel, any state body of the government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel, in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47813/23]
View answer1456. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagements her Department, or any agency or body under her direction, has had with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in the years 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47831/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1455 and 1456 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy that neither myself, officials of my Department, or any of the four agencies under my Department's remit have had any engagement with the government of Israel, any state body of the government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel during the years specified.
I can also confirm that neither myself, officials of my Department, or any of the four agencies under my Department's remit have had any engagement with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the Occupied Palestinian Territory during the years specified.
In relation to Minister of State O’Brien, I am advised that he undertook an official visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in March 2022. In Israel, he held a number of meetings, including with a member of the Israeli Knesset who advocates for Palestinian rights. In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he undertook another meeting with a member of the Israeli Knesset who advocates for Palestinian rights. He also held a number of meetings with civil society organisations, the United Nations, and met with the Chair of the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority in Ramallah. He also visited a refugee camp, a school, and a checkpoint.
Minister of State O’Brien also met with the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland on 9th November 2022.
