Written Answers Nos. 676-688
676. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the Horizon Europe consortia linkages between Irish universities and Israeli institutions, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2714/24]
View answerThe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - Horizon Europe is the European Union’s largest research and innovation programme, with a budget of €95.5 billion over its seven-year lifetime from 2021 to 2027. The Horizon Europe programme encompasses all European Member States as well as 18 Associated Countries from around the world.
Israel signed a Horizon Europe Association Agreement with the European Commission on 6 December 2021, allowing full participation in the programme. The negotiation process for incorporating new Associated Countries is the sole competence of the European Commission. EU Member States and the European Parliament have no formal role in these negotiations and are not required to approve the agreements. Israel has been associated to every one of the EU's research and innovation framework programmes since 1996.
One key objective of Horizon Europe is to foster large-scale collaborative research projects among geographically dispersed partners. 380 Irish organisations currently participate in 957 individual Horizon Europe consortia-type projects, involving Higher Education Institutes, small and medium sized enterprises, public bodies and research agencies.
Irish Higher Education Institutions are autonomous and join consortia consistent with their research objectives.
Since the beginning of Horizon Europe, 27 consortia-type projects have had at least one Irish Higher Education Institute and one Israeli participant.
These projects are listed by project title, research theme, project value, total participants, Irish HEI involved and Israeli members in the Table supplied. The smallest of these projects has 8 members situated across the European region, while the largest has 159.
Ten Higher Education Institutes from Ireland are currently taking part in these projects: Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Munster Technological University, Technological University Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Galway, University of Limerick and University of Maynooth.
In monetary value, these projects represent roughly 2% of the total drawdown by Irish organisations.
|
Title |
Project Net EU Contribution |
Thematic Priority |
Total Participants |
Irish HEI |
Israeli Members |
|
Integrated Services for Infectious Disease Outbreak Research |
€ 20,998,624 |
Research infrastructures |
159 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK |
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE |
|
Establishing of Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies |
€ 6,096,148 |
Health |
47 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
MINISTRY OF HEALTH |
|
Fostering a European Research Area for Health Research |
€ 33,045,067 |
Health |
44 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK |
MINISTRY OF HEALTH |
|
Demonstration of innovative functional food production systems based on a sustainable value chain of marine and freshwater raw materials for conscientious European consumers |
€ 5,999,989 |
Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment |
36 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK |
UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA, ISRAEL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND LIMNOLOGICAL RESEARCH LIMITED |
|
Federated decentralized trusted dAta Marketplace for Embedded finance |
€ 12,889,656 |
Digital, Industry and Space |
33 |
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY |
IBM ISRAEL |
|
ELIXIR-STEERS |
€ 3,062,192 |
Research infrastructures |
31 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE |
|
Innovative ligands for nuclear receptors to eradicate cancer relapse. |
€ 2,526,934 |
Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) |
31 |
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
SHAARE ZEDEK MEDICAL CENTER, BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV |
|
Gender Equality Network to Develop ERA Communities To coordinate Inclusive and sustainable policy implementatiON |
€ 2,999,814 |
Reforming and enhancing the European R&I System |
26 |
UNIVERSITY OF MAYNOOTH |
MINISTRY OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
|
European Glocal Counter-Terrorism |
€ 2,632,198 |
Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) |
25 |
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY |
REICHMAN UNIVERSITY, COUNTER-TERRORISM SOLUTIONS LTD |
|
Towards a functional continuum operating system |
€ 10,997,675 |
Digital, Industry and Space |
23 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
RED HAT ISRAEL LTD |
|
Marine forest coastal restoration: an underwater gardening socio-ecological plan |
€ 10,369,172 |
Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment |
23 |
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY |
V-CORALS LTD, ISRAEL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND LIMNOLOGICAL RESEARCH LTD |
|
Technology based impact assessment tool foR sustaInable, transparent Deep sEa miNing exploraTion and exploitation |
€ 11,845,429 |
Digital, Industry and Space |
22 |
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK |
AGORA P.S.V.D. |
|
European Citizen Science |
€ 3,999,043 |
Reforming and enhancing the European R&I System |
21 |
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
THE MOFET INSTITUTE |
|
Collaborative edge-cLoud continuum and Embedded AI for a Visionary industry of thE futuRe |
€ 4,497,178 |
Digital, Industry and Space |
20 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK |
MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES LTD |
|
Risk and Resilience in Developmental Diversity and Mental Health |
€ 7,856,504 |
Health |
17 |
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY, K I RESEARCH INSTITUTE RA |
|
Integrating SOil Biodiversity to Ecosystem Services: testing cost-effectiveness of Soil Biodiversity indicators and the provision of soil biodiversity-based Ecosystem Services to build better land management solutions that effectively implement the EU Soil Strategy |
€ 7,213,229 |
Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment |
17 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION OF ISRAEL |
|
Innovative Mechanochemical Processes to synthesize green ACTIVE pharmaceutical ingredients. |
€ 7,438,705 |
Health |
16 |
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY |
|
An innovative non-contact and harmless screening modality set to change the course of breast cancer detection and patient monitoring |
€ 11,432,044 |
Health |
14 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK |
THERMOMIND LTD, ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ASSUTA MEDICAL CENTERS LTD, SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER |
|
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR MARINE AND FRESHWATER BASED INGREDIENTS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE FOODS AND VALUE CHAINS |
€ 5,995,287 |
Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment |
14 |
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK |
ESHKOL INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURE LTD |
|
INNOVATIVE TOOLS TO CONTROL ORGANIC MATTER AND DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS IN DRINKING WATER |
€ 3,994,707 |
Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment |
14 |
DUNDALK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY |
THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM |
|
NET4MAT - Building knowledge and tools for the sustainable microbial fighting through sensing and responsive polysaccharide-based materials |
€ 460,000 |
Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) |
14 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM |
|
Machine Learning for Autonomic System Operation in the Heterogeneous Edge-Cloud Continuum |
€ 5,711,250 |
Digital, Industry and Space |
12 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN |
MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES LTD |
|
Circularity and Remanufacturing-Enabling DIgital Twins |
€ 5,586,185 |
Digital, Industry and Space |
11 |
MUNSTER TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY |
NUREGO LTD. |
|
V A L I D A T E - Validation of a Trustworthy AI-based Clinical Decision Support System for Improving Patient Outcome in Acute Stroke Treatment |
€ 5,918,175 |
Health |
10 |
TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY DUBLIN |
HADASSAH MEDICAL ORGANIZATION |
|
Preterm Brain-Oxygenation and Metabolic EU-Sensing: Feed the Brain |
€ 3,554,156 |
The European Innovation Council (EIC) |
10 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK |
QULAB MEDICAL LTD. |
|
Wafer-scale platform for Photonic Programmable Multipurpose Integrated Circuits |
€ 4,994,184 |
Digital, Industry and Space |
9 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK |
MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES LTD |
|
ANion Exchange Membrane Electrolysis from Low-grade water sources |
€ 3,314,384 |
The European Innovation Council (EIC) |
8 |
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY |
ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY |
677. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how many instructors are employed by the Tipperary Education and Training Board to conduct commis chef apprenticeship training in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [2952/24]
View answerMy officials are liaising with Tipperary ETB to compile this information which will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.
678. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2975/24]
View answerAs Minister I have ensured an unrelenting focus on growing participation in apprenticeships. Underpinned by the measures in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship, the impact is very clear and positive, with significant growth of apprenticeship over the past number of years. Since 2021, over 27,000 people have registered as apprentices. Craft apprenticeship registrations for 2021- 2023 were 19,842, an increase of almost 49% over the preceding two years.
This increased demand for apprenticeship compounded by the impact of closures of apprenticeship training facilities during the pandemic challenged the capacity of the training system resulting in significant delays in off-the-job training in craft apprenticeships peaking at 11,859 in August 2021. While substantial reductions in this figure were achieved subsequently significant delays persisted into last year.
Consequently, intensive work was undertaken by SOLAS and the ETBs to secure a reductions in training delays.
I am pleased to confirm there has been a significant fall in the number of people waiting to 4,018 at the end of December 2023; 3,919 at Phase 2, and the remainder at Phases 4 and 6. This is the lowest figure since August 2021 and a 29% reduction since the end of June 2023.
The actions taken to achieve this include a targeted recruitment campaign for instructors and administrative support staff, a third intake of apprentices across all 16 ETBs, and temporary emergency provision by other partners such as higher education institutions and employers.
It is important to state while there have been some delays, the majority of apprenticeships are completed within the four year period. The only programme taking significantly longer is pipefitting.
It is a priority for me that progress is sustained in 2024 on the basis of the substantial funding of €67 million for apprenticeship secured in Budget 2024.
This will enable growth in the craft system from 13,000 places in 2022 to over 16,000 places in 2024 - an increase approaching 25%.
I look forward to continued progress in achieving further reductions in training delays on the basis of the work led by the National Apprenticeship Office, working with Education and Training Boards, and staff representatives.
679. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the SUSI grant scheme to recipients of the back-to-work education allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3047/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Students in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) are not eligible for maintenance support under the Student Grant Scheme, as this would result in a duplication of income support payments. On this basis, there are no plans to amend the current arrangements. However, students in receipt of BTEA may be considered for SUSI fee supports up to a maximum of €6,270 under the Student Grant Scheme.
In terms of other financial assistance available, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.
680. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will clarify whether the transfer of data and/or records from his Department that is transferred to other departments, State bodies and local authorities is in aggregated form or on an individual basis; and the reason the data and/or records are provided. [3083/24]
View answerMy Department shares data with other organisations for varied 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 specific purpose in question. For example, the data of Department employees is shared on an individual basis with the National Shared Services Office, which operates the payroll for Department staff, in order to facilitate payment of salary.
Where my Department shares personal data with another organisation, it does so on the basis of the lawful grounds set out in the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 and with appropriate governance arrangements in place. The sharing is notified to data subjects through the Department’s overall Data Protection Notice and Privacy Notices.
681. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the up-to-date position with the delivery of an infrastructure project in south Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2854/24]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to Local Authorities and other State-funded bodies.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
To date, 215 projects have been approved for RRDF funding of €414 million for projects costing €567 million. The fifth call for Category 1 projects is currently open for applications and closes on 8 February 2024.
The Barrow Blueway project was approved for funding of €5,067,941 from the second call for Category 1 applications to the RRDF. The cost of the project was €6,757,254.
The project is led by Kildare County Council. The Deputy may be aware that I only recently approved additional funding of €2.5m for Kildare County Council so that they can proceed with construction work at a separate RRDF project in the county to develop the Shackleton Museum.
The Barrow Blueway project aims to create a community recreation resource and develop a tourism facility of regional, national and international importance and will act as an economic driver for the area.
Following a tender process for road crossing works and pedestrian bridge, a funding shortfall of €3,436,000 has been identified by Kildare County Council. The Council has sought additional RRDF funding of €2,577,000 towards this shortfall.
My officials have engaged extensively with Kildare County Council in relation to this project. Our shared objective is to ensure the delivery of a high quality and value for money project for the local community. With this in mind, and given the fundamental and substantial changes to the scope and costing of this project my officials have advised Kildare County Council that consideration should be given to reapplying for funding for the revised scope of the project under the current round of Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which is now open for applications.
682. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current progress and eventual timeline for the provision of an extension for Carlow library (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2613/24]
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 an extension to Carlow County Library is a matter for Carlow County Council.
I am aware that the refurbishment of the Presentation Building is classified as Priority Level 1 in the Carlow County Council Multi Annual Capital Programme 2023 – 2025, subject to funding.
The project is currently being progressed through my Department’s Four Stage Capital Management Process to ensure that it complies with the Public Library Standards and Benchmarks which guide the development of the public library service. My Department issued Stage 3 Approval for this project on the 17th August 2022 which permits Carlow County Council to proceed to publish a tender for the works in accordance with the Capital Works Management Framework. I am advised by Carlow County Council that the tender will issue once funding is secured for the project.
In April 2023, 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. Carlow County Council submitted a proposal for a project that included refurbishment and conservation works on the Presentation Building and also the addition of a modern extension.
My Department is currently assessing proposals received, and I look forward to announcing details of the projects that have been approved for funding under the Libraries Capital Programme in Q1 2024.
683. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the plans for the provision of a community hub in Carlow on the Tullow Road (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2614/24]
View answerCommunity centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.
With this in mind, my Department has put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the new Community Centres Investment Fund.
The 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was warmly welcomed and over €45.8 million has been committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland.
Following on from this, I wanted to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs. I introduced a new iteration of the Community Centres Investment Fund with funding of €20 million to support communities with ‘shovel-ready' projects on green or brownfield sites. This targets areas which do not have an appropriate facility to meet the needs of their area. The deadline for receipt of applications has now passed and the assessment process is ongoing.
I can confirm that Carlow County Council have submitted an application in relation to Tullow Road Community Hub, with over €4.1 million being sought from the fund. All applications are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in the coming months.
684. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for a status update on the provision of a water activity hub in Carlow town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2615/24]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, blue ways and bridleways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of almost €109 million has supported more than 1,550 projects across the country.
I launched ORIS 2023 last June with an allocation of €16 million. No application for the water activity hub referred to by the Deputy was received under ORIS 2023.
I understand, however, that it is the intention of the local authority in Carlow to apply to the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund for the proposed water activity hub in Carlow Town Park. This scheme falls under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
685. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of official flights and costs of same taken by her in 2023; if a schedule will be provided of all hotels she stayed in in 2023, including hotel name and cost per night while on official State business; and if the same information will be provided in respect of all accompanying staff and advisors. [2650/24]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are outlined in the following table. Information relating to the destination and cost of Ministerial foreign travel are regularly updated on the Departments website and are available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ee623f-ministerial-expenses/
|
Name |
Date of Travel |
Return Date |
Destination |
Purpose of visit |
Total Cost of Flights incl accompanying officials |
Hotel |
Total Cost of Hotel incl accompanying officials |
Number of accompanying staff and advisors |
|
Minister Humphreys |
23/01/2023 |
25/01/2023 |
Berlin |
To attend the ZFLE Conference (German Forum for the Future of Rural Development) |
€1,645.28 |
Intercontinental Berlin |
€1661.25 |
3 |
|
Minister Humphreys |
10/03/2023 |
14/03/2023 |
London |
St. Patrick’s Day Trip |
€799.74 |
The Clermont Hotel |
£2736 |
2 |
|
Minister Humphreys |
19/03/2023 |
20/03/2023 |
Manchester |
To mark the anniversary of the Warrington bombing. |
€1,239.62 |
The Midlands Hotel |
€641.49 |
2 |
|
DRCD Official |
25/05/2023 |
27/05/2023 |
Porto |
To accompany Minister Humphreys. Minister Humphreys travel costs are covered by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). |
€739.88 |
The Crowne Plaza |
€394 |
- |
686. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of 23 November 2023, in respect of the drawdown of a grant for a project in Kerry, the outcome of discussions by her officials with the local authority regarding efforts and timelines to complete this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2711/24]
View answerThe Community Recognition Fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities going to great lengths in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.
Funding of €50 million for over 880 projects is supporting the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is important to note that this is separate from other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of new arrivals into Ireland.
Through this initiative, communities are being assisted to develop projects such as large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities, walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals. Vehicles have also been funded to address transport needs in communities.
The delivery of this funding is being managed at a local level by each individual local authority. My officials liaised with Kerry County Council in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy and they have been assured that the local authority is engaging with representatives of the project.
I understand that the community committee delivering this project are currently preparing a planning application for consideration by the local authority. Kerry County Council have advised that this project will be delivered by Q3 2024.
687. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 1868 of 17 January 2024, if she will provide the date that she expects the process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme will be completed. [3066/24]
View answerThe process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is ongoing at present, with the selection complete in 16 sub-regional areas to date.
Strategies in the sub-regional areas where the process is not yet finalised are being considered by the Independent Selection Committee (ISC) with a view to completing the selection of the remaining LAGs in a timely manner. Once decisions have been taken by the ISC, an appropriate period of time must be provided to address any appeals that may arise and therefore it is not possible to be more specific with regard to a completion date for this process. However, I am committed to ensuring that the new LAGs are appointed in all areas without any unnecessary delays.
Applicant LAGs will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in their sub-regional area once it is completed. Once a LAG is approved it can commence the delivery of the programme in their area.
688. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will clarify whether the transfer of data and/or records from her Department that is transferred to other departments, State bodies and local authorities is in aggregated form or on an individual basis; and the reason the data and/or records are provided. [3088/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department has a wide range of functions, and data sharing with various public bodies is required for operational reasons. This data sharing may involve aggregated and/or individual-level information.
In the majority of cases where data is shared with other bodies the information is aggregated. With regard to individual-level information, my Department holds limited data of this nature, as data sets for our funding schemes are generally of a non-personal nature.
Where individual-level data is shared this is generally relate either to employee information, or where personal data of a limited nature is required for the administration and payment of grant funding under one of the funding schemes operated by my Department.
It is important to note that my Department shares data sets with other public bodies only where there is an explicit need for such sharing in order to carry out the performance of our functions and in strict accordance with the GDPR principles.
Where such data sharing is undertaken there are agreements in place setting out how personal data is used and the roles and responsibilities of each of the parties involved in the data sharing.
