Written Answers Nos. 199-208
199. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views with regard to the new National Training Fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9620/24]
View answerFinancial challenges can be a key barrier to employer participation in apprenticeship. An annual grant of €2,000 is provided for employers who employ apprentices in consortia led apprenticeships that have been established since 2016 and which do not attract payment of off-the-job training allowances. This means that employers with apprentices on two-year programmes are eligible for a payment of €4,000 over the duration of the programme, and employers with apprentices on four-year apprenticeships are eligible for a payment of €8,000.
For craft apprenticeship programmes in place before 2016, apprentices are paid a training allowance by the State while they are on off-the-job training. The allowance varies based on the phase of training and the industry or sector of the apprenticeship programme. On average the allowance is approximately €5,000 per year or approximately €20,000 over a four-year apprenticeship programme. The rate is set and reviewed periodically by the State following consultation with social partner representatives and further details are available on the Generation Apprenticeship website.
The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 commits to consolidate the pre 2016 and post 2016 systems of apprenticeship into a single system. This would see greater alignment of the development, review, governance and funding arrangements for all apprenticeship programmes.
200. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the independent evaluation of the specialist training provision carried out by SOLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9651/24]
View answerSOLAS is undertaking an independent evaluation of the ‘Specialist Training Provision for People with Disabilities’ programme. Under this programme, the 16 Education and Training Boards contract Specialist Training Providers (STPs) to offer vocational training programmes, in specific settings, for persons with disabilities. The basis for this provision is that some people with disabilities have needs that may not be catered for through non-specialist vocational training provision. STPs provide intensive, tailored training and supports. Specialist Training Provision aims to meet additional needs relating to access and training duration and support.
The purpose of the evaluation is to generate evidence-based conclusions and propose recommendations about the quality, effectiveness, on-going relevance and overall value of vocational training that is currently delivered by STPs and the integration of this training within the wider further education and training provision by ETBs.
While there has been some delays, SOLAS expects the evaluation to conclude in the coming weeks.
201. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will agree to ensuring that a threshold of core funding is put in place to enable supported training organisations such as the National Learning Network to carry out their vital role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9652/24]
View answerSpecialist Training Providers (STPs) are significant partners in assisting us address the identified training needs of people with disabilities who are experiencing exclusion and labour market disadvantage in the form of vocational training programmes. The National Learning Network (NLN) is the largest STP and is a key stakeholder under the FET Strategy. The NLN delivers personalised education, training and development opportunities for people with disabilities on behalf of the ETBs. SOLAS allocates funding on an annual basis to ETBs, who in turn provide funding to the NLN and other STPs under the Specialist Training Programme. While the funding allocation for STPs for 2024 has yet to be finalised, the allocation is expected to be similar to the 2023 allocation, which was some €40m.
202. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on capital investment projects in the ATU Mayo campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9736/24]
View answerMy Department approved the allocation of €17m for the Higher Education Apprenticeship Expansion Programme 2023, to deliver an additional 132 apprenticeship craft training blocks, which will provide additional capacity at Phase 4 and Phase 6 in the higher education sector. This investment by my Department will facilitate the expansion of electrical apprenticeship provision (12 blocks) in the ATU Mayo campus with an allocation of €1.345m towards this project.
The Higher Education Devolved Capital Grant provides support for small-scale building works. Under this grant an allocation of €4,043,043.00 was issued to ATU for the academic year 2023/2024. Under the terms of the grant, it is solely a matter for ATU to determine how the funding is allocated across its campuses including the Mayo campus.
Last year the ATU Mayo campus, received an ex-gratia payment of €9,460 for a roof and fabric upgrade project and also €6,000 for 10 additional healthcare places.
203. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on measures to improve the backlogs in craft apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9737/24]
View answerI have a singular focus on securing sustained reductions in waiting times for apprenticeship training.
There has been a significant reduction in apprentices waiting longer than 6 months for their off the job training. The backlog stood at 3,817 in January 2024. It was as high as 5,212 in August 2023.
The progress achieved results from a cross-sectoral plan put in place by the National Apprenticeship Office for 2024. It is essential that this progress is maintained.
Successful delivery of priority Government strategies such as the National Development Plan, Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan require significant growth in our apprenticeship training capacity.
There is now also a strong and growing recognition of apprenticeship as a valuable employment and skills opportunity reflected in a 25% increase in craft apprenticeship registrations from 5,271 in 2019 to 6,588 in 2023.
Increased funding of €67 million allocated to apprenticeship secured through the Estimates for this year bringing total investment to €300 million is a vital step in building the capacity required to both reduce delays in apprenticeship training and meet future training requirements.
Key specific actions taken to address the backlog under the plan include:-
Education and Training Boards have been mandated to deliver 3 intakes of apprentices a year increasing capacity from over 5,500 places in 2023 to over 8,900 in 2024, a 60% increase.
A targeted national recruitment campaign for over 100 craft apprenticeship instructors is underway.
In conclusion, it is my priority to not only respond to the backlog, but to ensure the system is right-sized to deliver future demand for skilled tradespeople.
204. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an organisation’s application (details supplied) to Pobal for funding for an additional full-time worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9425/24]
View answerMy Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
An application window for funding additional staff posts for existing CSP funded organisations was opened on September 1st 2023 with a closing date of 29th September 2023.
Pobal, who manage and administer the programme on behalf of my Department, received a huge volume of applications from CSP supported organisations under this call for applications.
Pobal undertook an assessment of all applications received, with their recommendations submitted to my Department in recent days. I can confirm that the organisation in question did submit an application for additional supports. Due to the volume of applications received, it is anticipated that my Department's assessment process may take a number of weeks, following which notifications will issue to all organisations.
205. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision on an application to progress to phase 3 of upgrades to properties (details supplied) will be made, and if he will account for continued delays in this decision. [9436/24]
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 delivery of library services in Mayfield is primarily a matter for Cork City Council.
I am advised that the extension and refurbishment of the Frank O’Connor Library, Mayfield, incorporating St Joseph’s Community Centre, is a priority project for Cork City Council. The library element of the project is currently being progressed through my Department’s Four Stage Capital Management Process. This ensures that the library complies with my Department's Public Library National Standards and Benchmarks which guide the development of the public library service. My Department issued Stage 2 approval for the Mayfield Library project on the 27th October 2022. It is also understood that the City Council expect to procure external design team consultants to prepare the pre-tender documentation, which will inform the Stage 3 application to my Department.
In April of last year, my Department invited all Local Authorities to submit proposals for the development of public library infrastructure, facilities and mobile library vehicles under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027. My Department has assessed all proposals received. I look forward to shortly announcing details on the projects that will be approved for funding under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027.
206. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if emergency grant funding is available to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9453/24]
View answerI have put in place an integrated programme of capital funding supports for the development of community facilities right across the country which are relevant to the case raised by the Deputy.
For example, under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund in particular, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment of over 860 existing community centres across Ireland. Following on from that, I launched a specific measure for new build community centres and I expect to announce the successful projects under this measure in the coming weeks. In addition, the Community Recognition Fund also provided funding for organisations such as that referred to by the Deputy, with €50 million allocated under that scheme last year.
I can confirm that an application from the centre referenced by the Deputy has been allocated €258,853 under the Community Centre Investment Fund 2022 for upgrades that address health and safety concerns. To date €232,968 has been provided to the organisation for these works.
There is no mechanism for emergency support under these schemes, however the additional works required may be eligible under future iterations of my Department's schemes. The details of any new iterations of these schemes will be made available on my Department's website as and when they are launched. In particular, I have been in discussion with my Government colleagues in recent weeks in relation to a further iteration of the Community Recognition Fund and would hope to make an announcement in this regard shortly.
207. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the names of external cleaning companies that provide cleaning services to her Department in 2023 and to date in 2024 and the amount paid to each company for such works in tabular form. [9538/24]
View answerI have set out in the following table details of the cleaning contractors servicing my Department's offices in Trinity Point in Dublin and Ballina, Co Mayo, and the respective payments for 2023 and to date in 2024.
|
Company Name |
5 Star Cleaning (Trinity Point) |
MOUNT CHARLES GROUP FACILITIES MANAGEMENT IRELAND LTD (Ballina) |
|
2023 |
€ 15,874 |
€ 18,550 |
|
2024 |
€ 1,424 |
€ 1,278 |
|
Total |
€ 17,298 |
€ 19,828 |
208. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is aware that the lift in the recently opened library in Portlaoise is not suitable for most wheelchair users; if she is also aware that the chief executive officer of Laois County Council has effectively stated that no further consideration is to be given to this serious oversight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9656/24]
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. As the first step in the development of a public library, local authorities are required to submit an application for approval in principle to my Department as part of my Department's Four Stage Capital Management process, where we consider the physical location, size, and access to the proposed library.
Laois County Council engaged fully with my Department's Four Stage Capital Management process as they advanced the Portlaoise Library application. In October 2019, my Department issued its final Stage 4 approval for the project. This approval included a Funding Agreement between my Department and Laois County Council, setting out the roles and responsibilities of both parties.
Section 1 of the Funding Agreement set out the local authority’s role and responsibilities and provided that the Local Authority “be responsible for the overall co-ordination, management, planning and implementation of the project and must establish effective cost controls from the onset;”.
I have been advised by Laois County Council that a professionally certified compliance report was provided to the building control authority at building completion stage. A Disability Access Certificate was subsequently granted by the building control authority on 11th July 2023. This certificate confirms the library and the passenger lift is compliant with the standards set out in the “Building Control Regulations 2010, Technical Guidance Document M - Access and Use”, which were applicable at the time.
