Wednesday, 17 Jan 2024

Written Answers Nos. 1831-1845

Third Level Education

Questions (1831)

Pauline Tully

Question:

1831. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in line with Action 61 of the Final Report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism his plans to provide multiannual funding based on the academic calendar to allow higher education institutions to undertake comprehensive, long-term planning to establish supports for disabled students as well as tailored supports for individual students before the beginning of the academic year. [57106/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I would like to thank the Oireachtas Joint Committee for their work on this area and I note the recommendations contained in their report.In 2022 I launched the fourth National Access Plan - A strategic action plan for equity of access, participation and success in higher education, 2022 to 2028.  This plan aligns with and builds on the wider ambitions of the Programme for Government to provide accessible, affordable education to all citizens with a mid-plan review in 2025.While higher education institutions are autonomous, the approach of my Department has been to offer a range of supports which enable them to meet national objectives, including those related to inclusion and supports for people with disabilities. Since the launch of the new National Access Plan I have provided a €12 million multi-annual fund (€3m per year over 4 years), known as PATH 4 with the aim of supporting universal design and enhancing provision for students with an intellectual disability. Phase 1 of this project saw a total of €3m in funding provided to support Universal Design to 19 Higher Education Institutions. The projects included Campus accessibility improvements, accessible learning resources, staff development and  small-scale capital works such as autism-friendly spaces or quiet zones. Institutions can also use funding from their Devolved Capital Grant as part of broader Universal Design for Learning upgrade projects.Phase 2 (2023-2025) involves a three-year pilot to support an enhancement of course provision for students with intellectual disabilities and to inform future policy considerations in respect of students with intellectual disabilities.  I have recently received the recommendations of the expert panel who assessed the proposals. I expect to be in a position to announce the results of funding for this multi-annual package in the coming weeks.

In relation to other measures as the Deputy may be aware, the Fund for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education will be topped up in 2024 by 5%, bringing the total to €8 million for the first time ever. This is paid out an calendar year basis by the HEA to the HEI’s, in line with the recommendations of the Review of the Fund for Students with Disabilities published in October 2017.

Departmental Data

Questions (1832)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

1832. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a schedule of the personal and or person-specific data sets his Department holds that have been provided and/or shared with other Departments and/or Ministers and/or State bodies and/or agencies and/or local authorities in the past 20 years to date; if he will clarify if the transfer of data and/or records was in aggregated form or on an individual basis; and the reason the data and/or records were provided. [57212/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

My Department does not hold a schedule of datasets shared with other bodies covering the past 20 years to date. The Department was established in 2020.Where my Department shares personal data with another organisation, it does so on the basis of one of the lawful grounds set out in Article 6 (and Article 9 if applicable) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 i.e. with the consent of the data subject, for the performance of a contract, for compliance with a legal obligation, to protect the vital interests of the data subject, for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the Department or for the purposes of legitimate interests.Currently, my Department shares data with other organisations for purposes such as compliance with employee tax obligations, in connection with legal proceedings, awarding of bursaries/scholarships and audit purposes. The transfer of data may be in aggregated form or on an individual basis depending on the purpose.The sharing of this data is notified to data subjects through the Department’s Data Protection Notice, which is publicly available on the Department's website, and through individual Privacy Notices associated with various data processing activities. Where such sharing takes place, appropriate governance agreements are in place to identify the roles and respective responsibilities of each party. When sharing personal data, my Department adheres to the principles set out in the GDPR including those of purpose limitation, data minimisation, and integrity and confidentiality.

Grant Payments

Questions (1833)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

1833. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the nature of documents previously accepted by SUSI as proof of estrangement or irreconcilable estrange of an applicant from their parents, for the purposes of assessing the means of a grant application; the number of cases between 2018 and 2023 that included a letter from a social workers, a court order, evidence from An Garda Síochána, and/or any other form of documentation that sufficed to prove estrangement, in each respective year, in tabular form; if he will detail the legislative basis under which SUSI will not accept a sworn affidavit as proof of estrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57232/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Only in exceptional cases can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address, Article 21(3)(b) of the Scheme refers. 

The assessment of a case of estrangement is carefully considered to ensure there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the exceptional circumstances pertaining in such cases genuinely exists. The scheme does not stipulate precisely how the awarding authority satisfies itself that such circumstances prevail. This is to allow the awarding authority sufficient flexibility to assess the evidence of irrevocable estrangement in each individual case. The type of documentary evidence required is dependent on the applicant's individual circumstances.

While an affidavit, if accompanied by other supporting documentation, may be considered as part of supporting evidence of estrangement, an affidavit in isolation is not considered acceptable as sole proof of estrangement. This is on the basis that, in witnessing an affidavit, the role of a Commissioner of Oaths or practicing solicitor is to witness the signature of the person making the affidavit. They do not verify the contents of the affidavit and therefore an affidavit is not deemed acceptable evidence of estrangement for grant assessment purposes.

Please see below the number of applications from academic year 2017/18 to 2023/24 where documentary evidence confirmed estrangement.

Academic Year	2017/18	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24*
Total applications where documentary evidence confirmed estrangement	77	70	76	64	61	54	29

*Figures for current 2023/24 academic year are likely to change as processing is ongoing.

If an applicant considers they have been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, they may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. If they have had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remain of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in their case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant).

Technological Universities

Questions (1834)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1834. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to explain the delay in responding substantively to Parliamentary Question Nos. 148 and 149 of 27 September 2023; and to confirm when they will be answered. [57245/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I wish to apologise for the delay in providing you with the substantive information that you requested via Parliamentary Questions Nos. 148 and 149 of 27 September 2023 concerning the number of staff at senior levels in TU Dublin and  remuneration of same at various points in time from 1st January 2019 through 1st October 2023. The delay reflects the fact that the information had to be collated by TU Dublin, and it subsequently became apparent that the table supplied for completion did not enable the requisite information to be captured.  My officials and TU Dublin have therefore worked together to modify and expand the table to ensure it depicts the information you have sought in an accurate, clear and concise manner. This substantive response  was issued to your office on Friday 12th January 2024. 

Third Level Education

Questions (1835)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1835. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason for the delay in responding substantively to Parliamentary Question No. 871 of 11 July 2023; and to confirm when it will be answered. [57246/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I wish to apologise to the Deputy for the delay in the response to this PQ. This was due to an administrative oversight within my Department. Two of the Technological Universities have foundations to raise philanthropic donations for their university; the Munster Technological University (MTU) and the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin).The Atlantic Technological University (ATU), the Technological University Shannon (TUS), and the South East Technological University (SETU) have confirmed to my department that they do not have foundations to raise philanthropic donations for their university.TU Dublin has the TU Dublin Foundation and the accounts of the foundation are included in the TU Dublin financial statements.MTU has two wholly owned subsidiary foundation companies, one from Cork Institute of Technology and the other from the Institute of Technology Tralee.

The first question asked by the Deputy was: To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science if he will outline for technological universities with a foundation, how much money from the technological university funds has been spent on covering salary costs, operating costs, training or other costs of the associated TU Foundation for each of the past five years.

The information requested is below:

(a) Technological University (TU) Dublin

TU Dublin Foundation is responsible for all major fundraising activities for TU Dublin. 

 TU Dublin – Support Allocated & Provided to TU Dublin Foundation Relating to Sept 18 to June 23

Academic Year:

Sept 18 – Aug 19 = €630,691 (Payroll Support €325,069 Operating Support €305,623)

Sept 19 – Aug 20 = €1,176,075 (Payroll Support €403,791 Operating Support €772,284)

 Sept 20 – Aug 21 = €1,108,148 (Payroll Support €393,109 Operating Support €715,039)

Sept 21 – Aug 22 = €1,378,370 (Payroll Support €482,317 Operating Support €896,054)

 Sept 22 – Jun 23 = €978,248 (Payroll Support €449,459/Operating Support €528,789)

(b) Munster Technological University (MTU)

MTU has two wholly owned subsidiary foundation companies, one that originated from Cork Institute of Technology and the other from the Institute of Technology Tralee. Neither foundation has employees of its own.

The second questions asked by the Deputy was:

To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science if any donations or portions thereof received by technological university foundations were returned to donors for any reason over the past five years; in cases where donations were returned, how much money was returned; the reason the money was returned; and who the donor was.Both of the relevant technological universities have confirmed that no donations have been returned from either foundation over the past five years. 

Departmental Data

Questions (1836)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1836. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of staff working on a full- and part-time basis, the number of posts in recruitment and number of vacant positions in each of the technological universities (details supplied). [57247/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The data  requested by the Deputy regarding staffing in each of the technological universities is not freely available to the HEA at this point. However, the HEA has undertaken to collect the information from the sector, and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Technological Universities

Questions (1837)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1837. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in relation to September 2021 when TU Dublin appointed ten new secretary/financial controller grade II positions, where eight of these were new posts and only two of these positions were across the three legacy institutions pre-merger, he will confirm whether TU Dublin sought approval from his Department for these appointments. [57248/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Staff appointments up to mid-ranking levels are matters for the institutes themselves in the first instance, subject to the parameters of the Employment Control Framework and public sector pay policy. My Department does not have to approve such appointments.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (1838)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1838. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if TU Dublin will run the commis chef apprenticeship programme on TU Dublin’s Tallaght campus in the coming academic year. [57249/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The Commis Chef Apprenticeship programme is currently run in two locations in the City of Dublin ETB area;

• Coláiste Íde College of Further Education, Cardiffsbridge Rd, Finglas West, Dublin 

• Crumlin College of Further Education, Crumlin Rd, Crumlin, Dublin 12

• The programme is also offered at 11 other locations nationally.

• At present there are no plans to run the Commis Chef Apprenticeship programme on TU Dublin’s Tallaght campus in the coming academic year.

Technological Universities

Questions (1839)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1839. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 proposed consolidation and mergers of institutes of technology to ‘improve resource efficiency, by taking advantage of economies of scale and opportunities for sharing services’ given the circumstances (details supplied); if his Department approved this significant increase in salary costs for non-academic staff; and the reason the economies of scale and efficiencies derived from sharing services envisaged in the national strategy were not achieved in TU Dublin. [57250/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 recommended significant reform of the higher education landscape, and in particular the consolidation of Institutes of Technology to become new step-change higher education institutions with expanded missions to better meet regional and national needs.The subsequent merging of number of Institutes of Technology since 2019 is creating institutions of sufficient size, capacity and critical mass to maximise previously dispersed strengths and attract greater investment for the regions. The benefits of becoming a successful TU are significant in terms of increased national reach, international recognition, research capacity building, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) attraction, skills retention and creation, regional development, enhanced staff and student experience and opportunities, enhanced regional development and socio-economic progression. Increased management and academic teams facilitated by the merger of institutions increase institutional capacity and facilitate enhanced performance in areas such as the winning of research funding. Government has worked to align the capital investment plans for the next decade to the most important strategic challenges currently faced, with higher education a key catalyst to advancing regional development and attracting investment both indigenous investment and FDI. In this context TUs represent a unique model for bringing together teaching and learning excellence, research aligned with enterprise and entrepreneurship, and locally rooted engagement with stakeholders and communities.In terms of economies of scale and sharing professional services the Deputy will I trust understand that while unified services continue to be rolled out across TU Dublin’s three campuses, it will take some time for the totality of unified shared services to be achieved across what is one of the largest, if not the largest, unified higher education institution in the state. However, significant progress continues to be made and since coming into being TU Dublin has established a single University Finance system which went live in 2021, a single University HR/Payroll system which went live in 2022 and the university continues to amend and enhance the processes supporting these two systems. TU Dublin also has a programme of establishing integrated university wide technology services being rolled out, some of which are completed and some ongoing. It has a cross-university library access system for all library users as  well as a project ongoing since early 2023 to deliver a new unified student record management system for the university rather than continuing to operate on three separate systems.  Finally, all professional service functions have been re-organised to be cross-university as opposed to campus specific service providers to the students and staff.

In addition, a fundamental overhaul of key organisational and staffing requirements includes consideration by the Government and the entirety of the TU sector of the OECD review of 16 December 2022 in relation to academic career paths, contracts and organisation in Irish TUs with the aim of ensuring that TUs are fully fit for purpose in these areas in order to assist in the delivery of national strategic priorities and individual regional missions of the institutions. The OECD note in this report the distinct differences in the organisation of administrative and professional support functions between international benchmark institutions, and Ireland's emerging TUs. It notes the contrasts in ratios of professional administrative staff to academic staff. Over time the strengths of TUs are becoming ever more evident as they further develop and become more embedded as unified entities across multi-campuses in their regions. TUs currently produce 2 in every 5 graduates in Ireland and are responsible for 51% of all graduates in STEM.  More than 3 out of every 4 part-time STEM students are registered in a TU. TU Dublin provides 17% of STEM, 14% of business and 20% of services sector national provision as well as 20% of the national craft apprentice cohort.Legislatively prescribed budgeting provisions for TUs are set out in section 20 of the Technological Universities Act 2018. Similarly, staffing provisions including approval and sanctioning requirements are set out in section 14 of the 2018 Act.   Staff appointments up to mid-ranking levels and encompassing certain senior posts at appropriate pre-existing grades in TUs, in particular posts falling outside the core senior university executive team, are matters for the institutes themselves in the first instance, subject to the parameters of the Employment Control Framework and public sector pay policy.Section 22 of the 2018 Act requires all TUs to furnish annual accounts for audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and for those accounts and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

Technological Universities

Questions (1840)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1840. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm what reserves TU Dublin holds; how much of these reserves are unencumbered (details supplied); and the actual reserves TU Dublin holds that can be used to offset the deficit. [57251/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

TU Dublin holds €559.154 Million reserves  (per the audited Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 31 August 2022). €262.384 Million of these reserves are unrestricted reserves, including capital development reserve of €37.372 Million.The actual reserves that TU Dublin holds that can be used to offset the deficit is €224.912 Million, this being the income and expenditure reserve (per audited Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 31 August 2022).

Technological Universities

Questions (1841, 1842)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1841. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason he sanctioned retrospectively the appointment of a Chief Operations Officer and of a Deputy President and Registrar at TU Dublin in October 2022, given that he must have been aware at the time of the €10 million increase in salary costs for non-academic roles in the university, the decline in market share leading to a decrease in funding and given as he confirmed previously the appointments breached the Technological Universities Act 2018. [57252/23]

Paul Murphy

Question:

1842. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in light of his admission that the Technological Universities Act 2018 was breached by the appointment of the Chief Operating Officer and of the Deputy President and Registrar in October 2019 at TU Dublin, he will outline what actions his Department took as a response to this breach of the Act. [57253/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1841 and 1842 together.

In October 2019, the President of TU Dublin wrote to the Higher Education Authority advising that TU Dublin had instigated an open recruitment process for elements of their required senior management team and that suitable candidates for the posts of Chief Operating Officer and Registrar and Deputy President had been identified.

On receipt of the information from the Higher Education Authority, also in October 2019, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform, examined the submitted business cases. It was determined that the posts were an essential part of the overall development of the TU Dublin management structure.

As such, and in accordance with the terms of the Technological Universities Act, Ministerial approval and consents were obtained for the appointments in October 2022.  Sanction for the posts was confirmed to TU Dublin that same month. Although my Department accepts that TU Dublin were premature in advertising the posts, it is important to stress that all the necessary approvals and consents required under the Act were obtained prior to the confirmation of the appointments and at no point was there any breach of public sector pay policy. 

Question No. 1842 answered with Question No. 1841.

Third Level Fees

Questions (1843)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1843. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if TU Dublin increased student fees for international students and part-time students without Governing Body approval; and if students were reimbursed. [57254/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Higher education institutions, like TU Dublin, are autonomous bodies. As such, the tuition fee payable in respect of part-time and international students, and the process for agreeing the fee amounts, are matters for the college to determine in accordance with section 24 of the Technological Universities Act, 2018 and its own internal governance arrangements. In this regard my Department does not have a role in determining such fees or advising on fee arrangements.Notwithstanding the above, my officials have been advised that TU Dublin did not increase any 2023/24 tuition fees without Governing Body approval.TU Dublin can advise students on the tuition fee applicable to a course of study, including any changes in 2023/24. Students with queries regarding the fee costs should contact the Fees Office in TU Dublin. The Contact details for the Fees Offices in TU Dublin and details of the various fees charged are available via the following link: www.tudublin.ie/for-students/student-services-and-support/fees-grants/contact-us/The Deputy may also wish to note that I have recently announced details of an additional €1.476m for the Student Assistance Fund (SAF), bringing the total amount available for the 2023/24 up to €19m. This Fund assists both full-time and part-time 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 TU Dublin.

Technological Universities

Questions (1844)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1844. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the President of TU Dublin sought approval from the governing body for the proposed organisation design and were the consultants’ costings showing an increase in salary costs of approximately €10 million shared with the governing body members in advance of a decision to approve or not approve. [57255/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Simon Harris)

Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Technological Universities Act 2018 and the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under this legislation the institutions are charged with regulating their own academic affairs and administrative processes. The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 sets out the oversight role of the HEA, and the relevant measures which can be taken by the Authority in exercise of its responsibilities.

Under section 11 of the Technological Universities Act 2018, it is the Governing Body's responsibility to satisfy itself that the appropriate systems, procedures and practices are in place for the internal performance management and accountability of the technological university. The Governing Body's role includes the following functions, namely to:

• review and oversee the implementation of major plans of action and provide strategic direction;• delegate such functions as may be appropriate to the president;• manage the financial affairs of the technological university to ensure value for money and its financial viability;

Operational matters, such as those raised, are for individual institutions to address in the first instance, in line with their statutory autonomy and having regard to appropriate institutional and public sector procedures. I have asked that your query is brought to the attention of the TU Dublin Governing Body and for them to respond to the Deputy directly.

Technological Universities

Questions (1845)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1845. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in relation to media reports over the summer period reporting a drop in full-time equivalent students of in excess of 2,400 over the previous year at TU Dublin, and given that the FTE figure is calculated for funding purposes, he will confirm what the actual drop in this FTE figure was for TU Dublin; and what the decrease in funding will be as a result. [57256/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

In terms of State recurrent grant funding provided towards the operating costs of public HEIs my Department allocates recurrent grant funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA funded institutions.

A Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) is in operation in the university and technology sectors and the annual core grant is allocated by the HEA to the HEIs as a block grant towards teaching, research and supporting activities. The allocation of the core grant is determined on a formula basis, based on a per-capita amount in respect of weighted eligible EU student numbers. RGAM is a distributive model therefore the annual amount per capita depends on the overall number of weighted full time equivalents (FTEs) within the overall sector and the overall level of funding available for distribution. FTEs calculated for grant allocation purposes differ from student numbers published for other purposes where different methodologies apply, such as those reported in the HEA's student records system.Work is currently underway to determine institutions’ core grants and it is currently not possible to determine the impact of the change of FTEs in TU Dublin on the institution's core grant for 2024. The Deputy may wish to note that the RGAM utilises a moderating mechanism to ensure that variations in core grant from one year to the next are limited. Further detail on the RGAM is available on the HEA website here: hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/how-we-fund/