Michael Healy-Rae
Question:850. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55355/23]
View answerHospital Procedures
Questions (850)
Written answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (851)
Róisín Shortall
Question:851. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 17 May 2023, if any beds, units or buildings have been closed in the Mater Misericordia University Hospital, Dublin 7, this year; if there are any plans to do so in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55360/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Budgets
Questions (852)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:852. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the budget allocation for St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, in 2022 and 2023; and the budget allocation for same in 2024, in tabular form. [55367/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (853)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:853. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on recruitment of PHNs for the CHO 5 area. [55368/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.The Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Ambulance Service
Questions (854)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:854. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of new HSE rapid response vehicles that will come into force in 2024; and the locations where these vehicles will be based, in tabular form. [55369/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (855)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:855. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the current grants being paid to medical card holders for wigs, hairpieces and so on. [55370/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Questions (856)
Mark Ward
Question:856. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for CAMHS for the month of November, by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55396/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Health Services
Questions (857)
Brendan Smith
Question:857. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a health service will be expanded (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55398/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Health Services
Questions (858, 859)
Róisín Shortall
Question:858. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the lack of capacity in PrEP services, particularly in view of the 68% increase in HIV diagnoses in 2022; how the additional €600,000 allocated to support PrEP services in budget 2024 will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55412/23]
View answerRóisín Shortall
Question:859. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in public PrEP services in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by location, in tabular form; the number of vacancies in the service in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55413/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 858 and 859 together.
Ireland established a national HIV PrEP programme in November 2019, following a HIQA HTA, which concluded that the introduction of HIV PrEP would be safe, effective and cost saving. The HTA also found that significant investment in public STI services was required to implement PrEP and €5.4 million was set aside in Budget 2020 to roll out a national HIV PrEP programme, managed by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP).
At present, there are 13 public PrEP clinics in Ireland, four of which are located in Dublin, and 16 private/GP providers who are approved to prescribe PrEP, 15 of which are located in Dublin. Dispensing PrEP is free of charge, as are appointments at the public clinics, however, the private providers are subject to consultation charges.
Since the PrEP programme commenced in November, 2019, significant progress has been made in PrEP rollout across Ireland. However, this occurred at a time of unprecedented challenges for the health service - the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic on access to clinical services, coupled with the effects of necessary Covid-19 restrictions on people's social interactions. This made it difficult to assess whether capacity would meet demand under normal circumstances, between 2020 and 2022.
Furthermore, in line with international trends, the eligibility criteria for PrEP have recently been revised to include anticipated risk of HIV infection. This has increased the overall numbers of individuals meeting the criteria for inclusion in the PrEP programme.
The relaxation of most Covid-19 restrictions, following the successful national vaccination campaign, has, in 2022-2023, permitted assessments that additional resources are required to meet additional demand, build capacity and invest in monitoring, evaluation and research to ensure that the PrEP programme in Ireland is reaching those in need, responsive to changing need and at the cutting edge of international PrEP programme delivery.
The HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme have put a number of additional measures in place to support the PrEP Programme, including updating the clinical PrEP Guidelines and approval processes and providing an e-learning module to enable greater access to the PrEP programme through GPs, allowing stable patients to undertake routine STI testing through the new home STI testing service, and working with other areas of the HSE to enable efficient data collection and identify resources to improve capacity.
Both my Department and the HSE SHCPP have identified monitoring and evaluation of the PrEP programme as a priority area of work, building on that which has been undertaken to date. Through Budget 2024, an additional €600,000 has been allocated to support the PrEP programme next year. A further €720,000 will support increased demand for home STI testing, which is being used in conjunction with the PrEP scheme as noted above. Development of the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2023 – 2030 is currently underway; capacity for PrEP during this longer time period will be further examined as part of the policy development process leading to the new NSHS.
In relation to the number of staff in public PrEP services in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 by location, the number of vacancies in the services in each year and the detail regarding allocation of the additional €600,000 supporting PrEP services in Budget 2024, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 859 answered with Question No. 858.
Medicinal Products
Questions (860)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:860. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55415/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.The HSE is committed to providing access to as many medicines as possible, in as timely a fashion as possible. The HSE robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and/or reimbursed.
In February, I published the Mazars Review which examined the governance arrangements around the HSE’s Drug Pricing and Reimbursement Process. The Report found that the reimbursement process is operating in line with the legislation and that it is delivering results in line with international norms. I fully support the recommendations contained in the Mazars report around improving the process, increasing transparency, providing easier access, and supporting value for money.An implementation group has been established between my Department and the HSE to consider and progress the various recommendations contained in the Report. The membership of the Group includes representatives of the Drugs Group, the HSE, the NCPE, and the Department of Health. The Working Group has met frequently since its establishment, to consider the involvement of patients, industry, and clinicians, in each stage of the reimbursement process.Targeted stakeholder consultation commenced on the 31st of May and concluded on the 20th of June. The insights gained from stakeholders have been considered by the Group as it continues its work on progressing the various recommendations of the Review. The Group’s work is now nearing completion and a report on this will be submitted to me in the coming months
Third Level Education
Questions (861)
Sean Fleming
Question:861. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of people entering into a health profession (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55277/23]
View answerWritten answers
Our understanding of the information sought by the Deputy is outlined below. This data was sourced from the Student Records System in the HEA and is contained in the tables below.
Undergraduate courses are included in the Free Fees Initiative, the Department does not have information regarding places set aside by HEIs for fee paying students, typically from outside the EU.
The Dental Surgery programme in Trinity College Dublin is a post graduate course and is therefore not included in the Free Fees Scheme, fees are payable by all participants. Further information is available here: Dental Surgery (D.Ch.Dent.) - Courses | Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
|
Course Name |
HEI |
Programme Type |
Course.Code |
2018/2019 |
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
2021/2022 |
2022/2023 |
|
Dental Surgery |
Trinity College Dublin |
PhD (Postgraduate) |
PSDE-DSUR-1F |
15 |
20 |
20 |
15 |
20 |
|
PSDE-DSUR-1P |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
All enrolments Undergraduate Dental Science Programmes |
||||||
|
Institute.New.Combined |
Course.Name |
2018/2019 |
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
2021/2022 |
2022/2023 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
Dental Science |
220 |
225 |
230 |
235 |
235 |
|
University College Cork |
Dentistry |
185 |
175 |
185 |
190 |
210 |
|
University College Cork |
Dentistry (Graduate Entry) |
60 |
70 |
80 |
80 |
60 |
|
465 |
470 |
490 |
505 |
505 |
||
Equal Opportunities Employment
Questions (862)
Richard Bruton
Question:862. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the programmes of supported work experience or training which his Department or its agencies run for adult persons with a disability, and particularly those on the autism spectrum, who find it difficult to manage in conventional workplaces, in order that they can progress to regular work roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54608/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is committed to increasing inclusion levels for all by providing high-quality, more accessible and flexible education and training options.
This inclusive attitude to learning is supported by a new funding stream that I announced in June 2022, with a €12m investment fund over a four year period known as PATH 4 (Programme for Access to Higher Education). Phase 1 was launched in 2022 and €3m in funding was provided for Universal Design measures.
Phase 2 involves a call for proposals to Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) for additional course provision in Higher Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities. The competitive call which was launched on the 29th of June 2023 with a fund of €3m per year over 3 years is available to support enhanced provision. An external evaluation panel is currently evaluating these proposals.
There are a number programmes in operation across Further and Higher Education for example, DCU Access to the Workplace (ATTW) is an award-winning programme that provides professional summer internships for DCU Access students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and for neurodivergent students. Leading Irish companies, who also make a donation to support Access scholarships at DCU, host the internships.
The Further Education and Training (FET) sector caters for many learners/students, including those on the autism spectrum. FET is committed to increasing levels of inclusion through the provision of high quality, more accessible and flexible education and training programmes and supports suited to the identified needs of individuals, including autistic learners, with the aim of enabling every citizen to participate fully in society.
Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have reported their efforts to design inclusive programmes, which include some dedicated programmes that are specifically designed for autistic learners. In some instances these programmes are targeted towards the parents and carers of people with autism. Some ETBs have developed spaces and hubs specifically designed with the needs of autistic learners in mind. Others work with autism support groups, NGOs and charities to ensure staff are skilled in designing programme and learning settings that meet the needs of learners with autism.
While not specific to autism, FET is provided for persons with a disability who require more intensive support through the Specialist Training Provision (STP) programme. A budget of €43million in 2022 was provided to Education Training Boards to fund STP across the country. Over 3,000 learners availed of this intensive support. All programmes provide individual assessment of need, planning and supported learning, coupled with accredited and non-accredited training, and can provide pathways to higher levels of FET, Higher Education, and employment.
Third Level Fees
Questions (863)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:863. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a degree at a third level institution (details supplied) is not covered for the reduction of third level fees announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54611/23]
View answerWritten answers
As part of Budget 2024 the Government has approved a once off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution payable by full time undergraduate students eligible for free tuition fees under the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) in academic year 2023/24. Through the FFI, the State has assumed responsibility for compensating institutions for the income previously generated by student tuition fees payable by FFI eligible students exclusive of the student contribution. FFI eligibility is restricted to full-time undergraduate courses in public higher education institutions, as well as a limited number of designated courses in private not for profit institutions, such as the institute to which the Deputy refers.
The institute in question has two primary teacher courses which are eligible for free fees funding; the Bachelor in Education (Primary) and Bachelor in Education (Primary through the medium of Irish) are funded by the Department of Education. I have been advised that the Department of Education has put arrangements in place to ensure that free fees eligible students on those courses will avail of the student contribution reduction.
Independent institutions operating in the private sector, like the one to which the Deputy refers, can establish courses which operate outside of the Free Fees Initiative. Where such a course is established, the tuition fee payable is entirely a matter for the college as an autonomous institution. The Budget 2024 measure to reduce the student contribution by €1,000 does not apply to such courses. However, it is open to the institution in question, as a private autonomous institute, to apply a similar fee reduction, if it so chooses.
I am conscious that not all students are eligible for free fees. Therefore, as part of the cost-of-living measures announced in Budget 2024, I secured additional funding of €8.1 million for the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year 2023/24. Students experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund, including students attending the institution to which the Deputy refers. 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.
Third Level Education
Questions (864)
Ivana Bacik
Question:864. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 of 22 November 2023, his views on a matter (details supplied). [54682/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences is a privately funded institution and I have no role or remit in respect of this body. Munster Technological University (MTU) have advised me that the course in question was developed on request from Cuan Mhuire who were expanding their gambling addiction service provision and required education for their counsellors within the context of gambling addiction. MTU have been collaborating with Galilee House of Studies who are the education arm linked to Cuan Mhuire in the delivery of the BA in Counselling with Addiction for 6 years. Cuan Mhuire were openly engaging with GAT in supporting this course.The team at Cuan Mhuire identified that the Gambling Awareness Trust would support the students who participated by refunding the course fee to the value of 70%. MTU did not have direct contact with GAT as Cuan Mhuire administered the reimbursement of 70% of the fees.
The programme was developed and processed using the QA procedures required for all courses. Places were offered to practitioners who worked within the area of counselling and addiction from across the sector including Cuan Mhuire, Family Resource Centres, counsellors who had a special interest in gambling addiction. Learners were informed of the support provided by GAT and the CEO of GAT met the learners at the first session. The course is largely delivered by guest speakers in the areas of counselling and addiction. MTU have advised me that they do not stand to gain financially from hosting the course. Cuan Mhuire pays the guest speakers who facilitate the sessions. MTU receives no further resources for the delivery of this course.As you are aware, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) 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 in relation to decisions on research commissioned by bodies from academics in any HEI.
Departmental Funding
Questions (865, 866, 867)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:865. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the date the technological sector strategic projects fund was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54712/23]
View answerMairéad Farrell
Question:866. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the figure for the initial capitalisation of the technological sector strategic projects fund and the current capitalisation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54713/23]
View answerMairéad Farrell
Question:867. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if annual contributions are made to the technological sector strategic projects fund from the Exchequer; if so, the annual contributions to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54714/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 865 to 867, inclusive, together.
In February 2022, I announced the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF) a key capital funding programme which will strengthen the technological sector by supporting additional capacity and delivering core infrastructure improvements including research and innovation activity. This important capital investment will also support an ambitious transformation agenda including the strengthening of progression pathways from further education, realising the full potential of digital technologies and ensuring that our TU campuses are flexible and future-proofed.All TU’s and IOT’s were invited to submit up to three proposals for funding of works to existing buildings or new buildings under the TSSPF call. A total of 14 applications across the 7 eligible institutions were received. The assessment process consisted of two phases. Applications were initially evaluated and six projects were recommended to proceed following the submission of a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR). For these six projects which were successful at this stage, strategic and technical engagement took place with the HEA before the submission of a Preliminary Business Case. These business cases have now being fully evaluated and I am presently announcing those projects which have met the required criteria to be given approval to move to the next stage of the process which is to appoint a design team.
TSSPF was one of four new capital programmes which I launched in early 2022, that had a combined funding envelope of €450 million to 2025. The other programmes being the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund and two programmes targeted at the Further Education and Training sector – The FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund and The Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund. Annual contributions are not made to the overall fund available for these capital investment programmes. They are funded through the National Development Plan (NDP) and funding provision beyond 2025 will be considered in the context of the next NDP negotiations which are due to begin shortly.
Question No. 866 answered with Question No. 865.
Question No. 867 answered with Question No. 865.
Departmental Funding
Questions (868)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:868. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if annual distributions are made to the sector (institutions); and, if so, the annual distributions (related to capital expenditure) to date, together with the recipients, in tabular form [54715/23]
View answerWritten answers
My officials and I are working closely with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to realise our collective ambition for the delivery of Higher Education across the country. Rather than operating from an institution-specific annual distribution, capital projects across the Higher Education sector are identified through competitive processes, with successful projects progressing through the various stages of architectural planning, tender and construction in line with the provisions of the public spending code.
The revised National Development Plan (NDP) published in October 2021 provided clarity on Departmental capital ceilings for the period 2022 – 2025. Higher education capital funding is primarily organised on the basis of funding programmes, which have tailored parameters depending on the objectives that they seek to achieve.
The key Exchequer funding programmes to date include the following:- Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund - Higher Education Infrastructure Upgrade and Refurbishment Fund - Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (co-funded with SEAI)- Apprenticeship Grant - Devolved Capital Grant- Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF)
The Devolved Capital Grant is generally allocated to individual institutions in accordance with a model based primarily on student numbers, weighted by course type and mode of student.
The funding allocations under the co-funded Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF) and the EEDPP 2020, 2021 and 2023 programmes were done by way of competitive call against set criteria outlined in the call documents. Applications were appraised by assessment teams under the terms and conditions that issued to institutions.
Feasibility Study Investment fund of €1m in 2023/2024 is also available to support the TU’s in conducting activation feasibility assessments to ascertain student accommodation needs in campus locations.
Departmental Policies
Questions (869)
Cormac Devlin
Question:869. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the key policy achievements realised and new initiatives taken by his Department during 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54788/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has made significant changes in the further and higher education, research, innovation and science sectors since its establishment in 2020, and has since seen encouraging progress across these sectors over the past number of years.With 400,000 people enrolled in learning across further and higher education, the Department is responsible for a sizeable sector. Learning outcomes have a significant influence on people's life paths.Compared to the EU and OECD averages, Ireland has high levels of higher education attainment.Below is a list of my Department's policy priorities and achievements over the course of 2023 and information on the Budget for 2024 and the years to follow:
Unified Tertiary System: Work continued on the development of a new Tertiary Education Strategy, as provided for in the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, including through a series of regional dialogue meetings involving all regional actors, to shape and guide policy and ensure the achievement of major cross-Government policy objectives.My Department established a new National Tertiary Office. For the first time in September 2023, students entered new tertiary programmes outside of the CAO system. Starting their programme in further education, they will progress seamlessly to guaranteed place to complete a fully-accredited degree in higher education.
The Research and Innovation Bill 2023: The Department continued development of a landmark Research and Innovation Bill to amalgamate the functions of Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council into a new Research Agency, to maximise the impact of approximately €300m of national competitive research funding (almost 40% of Government expenditure on R&D).
Impact 2030: The Department is leading a whole of government approach to the implementation of Ireland’s National Research and Innovation strategy, Impact 2030, so as to ensure the national research and innovation system supports key Government strategies such as the White Paper for Enterprise, the Climate Action Plan and Smart Specialisation of regions.Delivering greater engagement between the research sector and public policy development is a key action in increasing the impact of Ireland's research sector in the evidence base for public policy. The Civil Service Research Network has been established to bring together all Government Departments to improve engagement with higher education researchers. The results of a public consultation on researcher experience with public policy development are under review and will inform an integrated national framework in the early part of 2024 The Department is also continuing to pursue Ireland's application for membership of CERN, which has recently received approval from Government.
European Social Fund: My Department is continuing to lead Irish participation in the European Social Fund, where some €1bn has been drawn down to date.
International Education and Research Strategy: A new international education and research strategy will be published shortly. The Strategy will emphasise the importance of the Shared Island agenda, and the promotion of European and Global Ireland engagements across the spectrum of further education, higher education, skills, research and innovation.
Higher Education: Utilising enhanced funding and the Funding the Future reform programme, my Department has worked to drive performance & governance reform and improved outcomes.2023 saw further expansion in the training of healthcare students, with the creation of over 600 additional healthcare places in disciplines such as medicine, nursing, and speech and language therapy. For the first time ever, this included the Government funding places in universities in Northern Ireland for students from the Republic.Implementation of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 continues to be a priority; through this new legislation, we are able to bring additional support to the modernisation of governance and accountability mechanisms.The implementation of the International Education Mark is also being progressed. This will serve to strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a trusted destination and an educational hub with excellent standards for international learners seeking a high quality education experience.
Enabling Technological Universities: The Department is continuing to support technological universities in their post-establishment phase. In the summer, I announced a €50m fund, the Technological Sector Advancement Fund, to further this work.
Apprenticeship, Further Education and Training & Skills
Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–25: In 2023, the Department continued to:- address current backlogs in apprenticeship training and meet future demand projections as set out in the recent report on Skills for Residential Construction and Retrofit. - deliver on the Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan demonstrating public service commitment and leadership through increased availability of apprenticeship opportunities across the public sector.- develop a high-quality single national apprenticeship model embodying greater flexibility and responsiveness to workforce requirements and enterprise needs.- advance social inclusion measures to aid the apprenticeship population in becoming more representative of wider society.
Further Education and Training (FET): My Department continues to support SOLAS and the ETBs in implementing the FET Strategy: Transforming Learning. The provision of an additional €3m in Budget 2024 will consolidate and expand the progress made across the three core pillars of building skills, fostering inclusion, and facilitating pathways to deliver a more strategic and integrated FET system.
Adult Literacy for Life strategy: €1m was allocated to the 51 successful projects under the Strategy’s Collaboration and Innovation Fund and the National Literacy Coalition and Regional Literacy Coalitions are up and running.
The Prison Education Taskforce launched in May 2023 is pursuing education and training opportunities for prisoners and Budget 2024 provides for €1.5m to drive the work of the Taskforce.
Quality Assurance in FET - The Sectoral Report on the inaugural review of Quality Assurance of FET in the ETB Sector was published in March 2023.
Support for Ukrainians - Since the outbreak of the war, up to end September 2023, 31,980 availed of FET programmes, predominantly English language courses.
Reconfigure Ireland's Skills system
In response to the key recommendations of the OECD Ireland Skills Strategy Review my Department continues to reform the National Skills Council by:
1. Advancing a NSC with reconfigured membership, to act as a platform for strategic engagement with industry, enterprise community and other non-governmental stakeholders with a strong interest in skills and workforce development policy, facilitating a high-level and broad perspective on skills challenges, policies and priorities, and;
2. Establishing a High Level Skills Implementation Group (HLIG), intended to deliver the whole-of-government and whole-of-tertiary engagement on national skills policy and delivery, as recommended by the OECD. The HLIG, chaired by DFHERIS, will have a lead role in driving the implementation of the 2023 OECD Skills Strategy Review Recommendations and ownership of skills issues across relevant stakeholders, as has been called out as critically needed in the OECD Report.
The reform is well under way as the first meeting of the HLIG took place on the 27 November 2023 and the inaugural meeting of the reformed NSC is expected to take place in Q1 2024.
National Digital Strategy:
The Department continues to engage on the Skills dimension of the National Digital Strategy.
The Department is working in partnership with the ESRI on a research programme on Irish Skills Requirements.
The first project under the programme examines in-demand skills needs for emerging technologies in key occupations, and is nearly complete.
Construction Skills:
The Dept. progressed work to enact the Construction Safety Licensing Bill, 2023 to enhance certification and regulation of construction sector skills.
It also began work, through the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, on an analysis of the skills for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), to inform skills provision in 2024 onwards.
In addition, the development of the National Demonstration Park for MMC, based at the National Construction Training Campus in Co. Offaly has been advanced.
We have also seen an enhancement to the range of skills provision for construction, through initiatives such as the joint Laois-Offaly ETB and St. Andrew’s Resource Centre accredited construction skills course, which provides introductory training and links with employers to place graduates in employment.
Green Skills:
The Dept. continued to expand retrofit training through the programmes offered by the network of NZEB/Retrofit Centres of Excellence, with record numbers of students enrolling in 2023.
It is leading, with DECC and in collaboration with Wind Energy Ireland, on the skills responses required for the development of Ireland’s offshore wind industry, including through the establishment of a skills work stream as part of the cross-government Offshore Wind Energy Programme, and undertaking a detailed skills assessment report.
We have taken action to develop the skills required for the maintenance of electric vehicles, including through the announcement of the future development of a national e-mobility capability centre by Longford-Westmeath ETB in Mullingar.
Housing for All: We have progressed work to enact the Construction Safety Licensing Bill, 2023 to enhance certification and regulation of construction sector skills.
Adult Career Guidance:
In line with the recommendations of the Indecon Review of Lifelong guidance report and the OECD Ireland Skills Strategy Review (2023) which have identified the need to increase the navigability of the skills ecosystem, my Department set up an Oversight Group for a Single Portal for Career Guidance and Information.
The aim of the group was to provide advice on the next steps to support the establishment of a single portal/one stop information resource in relation to all tertiary learning options by my Department.
The work of the Oversight Group concluded in October 2023 with a comprehensive report outlining the recommended approach to the development of a Career Guidance and Information Portal and I am now considering its findings.
Access
The Department has continued to develop the national access plan to help underrepresented groups to gain access to Higher Education.
PATH 1: Three centres (MU, DCU, and UCC) requested additional once-off bridging funding totalling €347,549 to maintain project activities for the 2023/24 academic year. In addition, three centres (NISE, DCU, and UCD/NCAD) were approved no-cost extensions up until 2024 and 2025.
PATH 2: The rollout of ESF assisted funding means we have increased the number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 bursaries from 373 to 600 for the 23/24 academic year, comprising of 400 Tier 1 at €5000 and 200 Tier 2 at €2500 each. A centralised application system for these bursaries has been approved and rolled out this year.
Path 4: Phase 1. An additional €1.8m has been provided for the rollout and implementation of Universal Design across the HEIs. This is in addition to the $3m already provided.
Path 4: Phase 2. A call for proposals for courses for people with Intellectual disabilities has been completed and final assessment is underway. This will be completed by the Expert panel shortly.
Mental Health: An additional €3m has been provided in funding this year
Student Assistance Fund: An extra €8.54m has been provided this year to the SAF fund.
Ukrainian SAF: I have again approved €300,000 this year which is dedicated to the Ukrainian SAF
Pathfinder Programmes: We continued to implement the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme for the Higher Education Sector to test decarbonisation approaches, build capability, provide an evidence base and establish a pathway for a large-scale building decarbonisation programme as well as development of an equivalent programme for FET in 2023.
Student Accommodation: In the area of Student Accommodation, the Dept. continued to prioritise both short term solutions and longer term measures, including through commitment of funding where appropriate. The Development of Technological University Capacity to borrow from the Housing Finance Agency and others to fund student accommodation is also being supported.
Capital Programme
Four programmes, with a combined funding envelope of €395 million to 2025, are being progressed:
• a Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund focused on investments that provide essential additional capacity and strengthen the role of Technological Universities as drivers of regional development
• a second round of the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which is open to all higher education institutions and will co-fund strategic projects to a maximum of 50%
• a FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, which will support projects that can help drive reform of the FET sector, including consolidation of provision in high quality facilities, integration of further education and training, realisation of centres of excellence, and unified tertiary planning
• a Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund, which will support smaller-scale investments in existing FET infrastructure, ensuring that works are progressed within the context of an overall strategic plan for the building and aligned with FET College of the Future principles
Delivery on NDNA Commitments
Support for Northern Ireland Higher Education student mobilities.
€2.4 million has been allocated by DFHERIS to support HE students in NI to avail of mobilities and internships across Europe. Following detailed engagement with DFHERIS, QUB and UU have each been allocated €1 million each, while St Mary’s University College and Stranmillis University College was allocated €70k and €50k respectively. Further allocation (estimated at €153k) will be made to the Regional Colleges within the next week.
Co-centres Programme
The Co-Centres programme takes forward an Irish Government commitment in the Programme for Government and under the New Decade, New Approach Agreement to establish all-island research and innovation hubs, working with partners in NI and the wider UK. The programme is jointly funded up to €70 million by Science Foundation Ireland, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in NI (DAERA) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and will focus on Climate/ Biodiversity and Water, and Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems.
HE Funding and Student Supports
In 2023 and into 2024, €192 million will be provided to higher education including €60 million in core funding to address student staff ratios, plus a further €35 million to address pay shortfalls.
In addition to the above, the recent Budget announcements also saw positive developments for this sector. These include: - A €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for the free fees initiative. When taken together with the new €500 student contribution grant the student contribution fee will be halved to €1,500 for eligible families with a household income of between €62,000 and €100,000.
- An increase to the Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant from €4,000 to €5,000.
- A once-off reduction of 33 percent in the contribution fee for apprentices in higher education.
- A further €8.1 million investment in the Student Assistance Fund for the 2023/24 academic year bringing the total to over €17 million.
- The removal of Post Leaving Cert (PLC) fees from September 2024
-An increase to all non-adjacent maintenance rates by €615 and adjacent maintenance rates by 10% from September 2024, with a pro-rata increase effective from January 2024.
- The full restoration of student maintenance grants for post graduates from September 2024 for the first time since the financial crash. A pro-rata increase will also be effective from January 2024.
- From September 2024, student contribution fees will be abolished for all incomes under €55,924. For the first time ever, this will include students on specified undergraduate part time/part-time online courses. In addition, maintenance grants will be available to households with incomes up to €50,840 (up from €46,790).
- Renters’ tax credit is being extended to parents who pay for student children’s rent in the case of Rent a Room accommodation or “digs”. This change will also apply retrospectively for the years 2022 and 2023
Budget 2024 saw a budget of €4.148 billion for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science including: - funding of € 4.1 million to increase the number of medicine places.
- funding to support the National Tertiary Office in expanding the number of joint degree programmes outside the CAO.
- funding of €67 million for continued growth of apprenticeship from 13,000 places in 2022 to over 16,000 places in 2024, helping boost skills development.
- the start of a new scheme to help employers with the cost of upskilling and reskilling staff.