Written Answers Nos. 165-194
165. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to ensure the expansion of newborn screening of babies for diseases; his views on whether the current screening levels means that Ireland screens less than 75% of European countries, making Ireland a significant negative outlier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18205/24]
View answer175. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to further expand the medical conditions screened for under the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; the conditions currently being considered by the National Screening Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18225/24]
View answer180. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the progress of the work done by the Newborn Screening Programme Advisory Committee; the number of new tests for newborns that have been approved since 2019; when further additional screening tests are planned to be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18259/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 175 and 180 together.
Currently, all newborn babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’) for rare but serious conditions that are treatable if detected early in life.
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme continues to remain a priority of mine as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to note that the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been actively progressing work in this regard.
NSAC is an independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured, validated and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
Significant progress continues to be made on the expansion of the NBS Programme under this Government. As the Deputy will be aware, in November 2023, I endorsed the recommendation from NSAC on the addition and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NBS programme. This will bring the number of conditions screened for in Ireland to 11, once the implemented, representing a 37% increase over the lifetime of this Government.
I was pleased to allocate €1.4m of new development funding in 2024 to support the expansion of the NBS programme. This funding will allow for the rollout of testing for both SCID and SMA and represents a significant funding increase in a single year. The announcement further demonstrates my ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of these rare but serious diseases in children and infants. This investment will be crucial to providing additional funds for new equipment, staff recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training to facilitate addition of new conditions to NBS programme.
I can confirm that work commenced at the start of this year, with ongoing collaboration between officials in my Department and the HSE National Children’s Screening Programme on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of screening for SMA and SCID.
In terms of further expansion of our newborn screening programmes, Ireland has always evaluated the case for commencing a national screening programme against international accepted criteria – collectively known as the Wilson Jungner criteria. The evidence bar for commencing a screening programme should and must remain high. This ensures that we can be confident that the programme is effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards. There is no doubt that newborn screening programmes have the potential to be rapidly transformed by new technologies and new therapies but this highlights the need to continue with a robust, methodologically sound and detailed analysis of the evidence in each and every case against internationally accepted screening criteria.
The expansion of newborn bloodspot screening is being continually reviewed across Europe where the number of conditions screened for varies significantly. For example, the UK currently screens for a similar number of conditions as Ireland. However, as noted by HIQA in their 2021 ‘Review of processes in use to inform the expansion of newborn bloodspot Screening programmes’, international comparisons of the range of conditions screened is likely to reflect complex decision-making processes and local inputs. These may include differing opinions with respect to assessment of conditions against criteria, differences in practice with respect to organisational structure and laboratory implementation, differing levels of tolerance for false positives and false negatives and differing local epidemiology with respect to condition prevalence and the genetic composition of the local population.
Nevertheless, I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. This is why I remain committed to the further expansion of screening in Ireland in accordance with internationally accepted criteria and best practice.
166. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 22 November 2023, if he will provide an update on the current situation; the number of residents who have been moved already, those who have yet to be moved, and any whom have sadly passed away in the interim (details supplied). [18214/24]
View answer167. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health with regard to Cherry Orchard nursing home and the planned removal and relocation of elderly and vulnerable nursing home residents, the status of any engagement he and/or his Department have had with the affected persons and their families, advocates or representatives since the situation arose in late 2023, and in the intervening time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18215/24]
View answerAs Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I take the health and safety of residents in long-term residential care facilities very seriously. I will not ignore a directive from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) stating that there is a fire and safety risk in any facility that potentially jeopardises the welfare and wellbeing of nursing home residents.
In May 2023, a HIQA inspection identified concerns in relation to the flooring in both the Sycamore and Willow Units at Cherry Orchard Hospital. These presented a significant potential health and safety risk. A subsequent HSE review indicated that the flooring has underlying structural issues which require immediate remedial work.
In consultation with HIQA, the HSE has considered several plans to address the works required that would have allowed residents to remain on-site during completion of works.
After due consideration, the most expedient option is to close both Units and relocate the residents to Clondalkin Lodge, which is a private nursing home, on a temporary basis while the necessary structural works are completed. It is expected that the works will take a minimum of 12 months to complete.
I have been advised that there is no impact on other structures on the campus as the issues relate solely to the two modular buildings Willow and Sycamore units.
The safety and wellbeing of residents and staff remains a key concern. There will be a medical social worker and an Assisted Decision Making lead available on site for the duration of this move. In addition, all residents have on site details for an independent advocate service should they wish to contact them
The HSE is working in consultation with residents, their families and staff while giving full consideration to health and safety concerns and regulatory compliance.
There is on-going monitoring and risk assessment by the HSE to ensure that there is no immediate hazard to residents, while simultaneously ensuring that any and all supports that residents receive in the Community Nursing Unit, such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy, will be provided at no additional cost to the residents transferred to Clondalkin Lodge.
The transfer of residents has begun on a phased basis. The phased move will have due regard to their needs, current proximity to each other and relationships within the unit. 44 Residents have been transferred from Cherry Orchard Campus, with 16 residents still on-site.
This decision was made to ensure the timely completion of the works and, ultimately, to be less intrusive and inconvenient to residents.
When these extensive remedial structural works are complete, all residents will move back to the Cherry Orchard site.
The Department of Health has maintained open and transparent lines of communication with the families of the residents, and with the HSE, at all times throughout this process.
168. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the protocols for reimbursement of fees for blood tests for medical card holders; and if the procedure can be simplified. [18216/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of hours for each public health nurse in CHO7; and if these hours will be increased in light of the population increase, in tabular form. [18217/24]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
170. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the current number of applications for dementia care nurses in the CHO7 area, and in particular County Kildare, in tabular form. [18218/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
171. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant maxillofacial surgeons attached to the Mater Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [18222/24]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
172. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists based at the Coombe Maternity Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [18227/24]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
173. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE emergency medicine registrars based at CHI Blanchardstown in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [18228/24]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
174. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE neo-natal nurses working in the National Maternity Hospital in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased later this year. [18229/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
176. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he plans to add familial hypercholesterolemia to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; if this is being considered by the National Screening Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18226/24]
View answerThe expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme continues to remain a priority of mine as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to note that progress continues to be made in this regard.
The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is an independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. Its role is crucial in ensuring that Ireland has rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
Significant progress has been made on the expansion of the NBS Programme since I became Minister for Health. As the Deputy will be aware, last year I approved recommendations from NSAC for the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NBS programme, which will bring the number of conditions screened for in Ireland to 11, once the implemented. I would highlight that this will represent a 37% increase achieved under the lifetime of this Government.
I am committed to ensuring that any expansion of the programme will be safe, ethically robust and evidence based. In this regard, the work of NSAC is supported by specialist teams in the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), who examine the international evidence in terms of the conditions screened for in existing bloodspot screening programmes; the decision-making processes that lead to the inclusion of a condition in an individual country’s newborn bloodspot screening programme; and the role of emerging technologies in programme expansion. I am determined to see the foundations laid for the ongoing expansion of the programme that maximises health outcomes for newborn babies.
In terms of screening for Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), in 2023, NSAC decided that this condition would be suitable for an evidence review by HIQA and it has now been added to the HIQA work programme.
I was pleased to allocate €1.4m of new development funding in 2024 to support the expansion of the NBS programme. This funding will allow for the rollout of testing for both SCID and SMA and represents a significant increase in a single year. The announcement further demonstrates my ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of these rare but serious diseases in children and infants. This investment will be crucial to providing additional funds for new equipment, staff recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training to facilitate addition of new conditions to NBS programme.
177. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when testing for severe combined immunodeficiency and spinal muscular atrophy will commence under the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme, following the announcement of additional funding to expand the programme in February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18223/24]
View answerThe expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme continues to remain a priority of mine as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to note that progress continues to be made in this regard.
The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is an independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. Its role is crucial in ensuring that Ireland has rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
Significant progress has been made on the expansion of the NBS Programme since I became Minister for Health. As the Deputy will be aware, last year I approved recommendations from NSAC for the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NBS programme, which will bring the number of conditions screened for in Ireland to 11, once the implemented. I would highlight that this will represent a 37% increase achieved under the lifetime of this Government.
Regarding the implementation of testing for both conditions, I can confirm that work commenced at the start of this year, with ongoing collaboration between officials in my Department and the HSE National Children’s Screening Programme on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of screening for SMA and SCID.
I was pleased to allocate €1.4m of new development funding in 2024 to support the expansion of the NBS programme. This funding will allow for the rollout of testing for both SCID and SMA and represents a significant increase in a single year. The announcement further demonstrates my ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of these rare but serious diseases in children and infants. This investment will be crucial to providing additional funds for new equipment, staff recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training to facilitate addition of new conditions to NBS programme.
The introduction of screening for SMA and SCID will enable earlier identification and diagnosis, thereby facilitating earlier disease management and treatment. I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. Screening will make a real difference to their lives, which is why I am determined to see testing introduced for these conditions as soon as possible.
178. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason an operation for a person (details supplied) has not taken place; when this operation is expected to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18238/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
179. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health when a patient (details supplied) can expect to be called for the fitting of a permanent device to aid blood filtration; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18247/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
181. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if cold caps will be made available for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18265/24]
View answer182. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the hospitals that can provide cold caps for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18266/24]
View answerThe provision of systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) for patients with cancer can include many other additional elements to support the patient in the management of adverse effects associated with their treatment. Scalp cooling is an example of one such supportive care measure.
There are 26 public hospitals providing SACT in Ireland. A patient’s consultant will consider each patient’s supportive care requirements, taking into account the individual patient, their treatment, and the evidence relating to the supportive care measure.
There is no clinical consensus on the use of scalp cooling as a supportive care measure for patients with cancer undergoing SACT. It is made available in some of the public hospitals providing SACT, based on suitability of the patient, local availability of equipment, service needs, and capacity.
A scalp cooling service is provided in six hospitals nationally. These include St Vincent’s University Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, Tallaght University Hospital, St. Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny, Sligo University Hospital, and Cavan General Hospital.
183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if Beaumont Hospital surgery referral will be expedited for person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18307/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
184. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he plans to provide further supports and services for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18309/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
185. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a statutory right to homecare; the timeline he is working towards in publishing the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18326/24]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to "Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high quality, regulated home care".
In 2024, the Department of Health is focused on developing the regulatory framework for providers of home support services. It aims to ensure that all service users are provided with regulated care. Work is ongoing within the Department across four broad areas to progress this commitment: (i) Regulation of home support providers; (ii) the examination of future funding options for home support services; (iii) working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support; (iv) implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.
(i) Regulation of home support providers
In 2024, the Department of Health is focused on developing the regulatory framework for providers of home support services. It aims to ensure that all service users are provided with regulated care. It will consist of primary legislation, regulations and Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) national standards. This work is at an advanced stage, with ongoing engagement with key stakeholders and legal advisors.
The primary legislation provides for the licensing of home support providers. Transitional timelines are being finalised for the registration of home support providers under this framework. The General Scheme is currently being finalised and is expected to be published shortly.
The regulations will set out the minimum requirements that a home support provider must meet to obtain a license. Final revisions are being made to the draft regulations, informed by a public consultation.
Finally, the draft HIQA standards for home support will go out for public consultation in 2024.
(ii) the examination of future funding options for home support services.
Currently, home support services are fully Exchequer funded. How home support will be funded in the future will be an essential factor of the new Statutory Scheme. With this in mind the Department of Health is researching different funding models. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) also undertook a programme of work on behalf of the Department on the potential demand and cost of home support which culminated in two reports:
www.esri.ie/publications/demand-for-the-statutory-home-care-scheme/.
www.esri.ie/publications/home-support-services-in-ireland-exchequer-and-distributional-impacts-of-funding/.
A rapid response from the European Observatory on Health Systems was commissioned and published in March 2023:
eurohealthobservatory.who.int/publications/i/improving-home-care-sustainability-in-ireland-are-user-charges-a-promising-option
This research will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home care services. No final decision on future funding has been made and further research is currently underway to enhance the evidence base.
(iii) working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support
The Department of Health is collaborating with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery. The national roll-out of interRAI as a single assessment tool is a priority for equitable allocation of home support services. The testing of interRAI use was evaluated in 4 pilot sites and recommendations (2023) have informed design and operational aspects of the service.
A National Home Support Office will be operational in 2024 and the Head of Service and other posts have been appointed. The HSE has established a Home Support Reform and Statutory Home Support Scheme (SHSS) Programme to support planning for the regulation of Home Support Providers and the establishment of a SHSS. One of the key programme priorities for 2024 is the procurement, design, development and implementation of the Home Support Services Case Management and eRostering System (CMeRS) and the National Nursing Homes Support Scheme and Statutory Home Support Scheme Information System (NHSS-SHSS).
(iv) Implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.
Addressing the shortage of care workers in Ireland is an urgent priority. In March 2022, I established the cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants. It set out to examine the challenges in frontline carer roles in the home support and long-term residential care sectors.
The report was published on 15 October 2022:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/492bc-report-of-the-strategic-workforce-advisory-group-on-home-carers-and-nursing-home-health-care-assistants/I
Implementation of the 16 recommendations is underway by a cross-departmental group, chaired by the Department of Health. The group meets quarterly and publishes progress reports thereafter. The implementation group met most recently on 1 February 2024 and a progress update has been published which can be found here:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/66dd1-strategic-workforce-advisory-group-on-home-carers-and-nursing-home-healthcare-assistants/#:~:text=Providing%20an%20overview%20of%20the,recruitment%2C%20pay%20and%20conditions%20of /.
186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if funding will be reviewed for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18360/24]
View answerI am aware that Parkinson’s Ireland (PI) has made an application for new funding under section 39 Grant Aid and Service Arrangement process to the HSE and I wish to confirm that the Department of Health does not have a role in relation to PI’s funding application.
The HSE has confirmed that its Disability Services are the point of contact for such funding proposals and that the HSE funds a range of community services and supports to enable each individual with a disability, including persons with Parkinson's disease, to achieve their full potential and maximise independence, including living as independently as possible. It is a matter for HSE in the first instance, to consider the application having regard to the annual estimates process and its overall budgetary envelope.
The HSE has advised that Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 2 Primary Care supported a local initiative with PI with €70,000 in funding to provide a level of Physiotherapy and other supports in counties Galway and Mayo. This was a discrete initiative funded at the local level via the CHO's own funding allocation. It has further advised that PI approached the HSE with a number of business cases to seek funding for the development of services in the other eight CHOs similar to that in CHO 2.
The HSE has been considering the most appropriate way to oversee this type of development, which relates to the overall National Strategy and Policy for the Provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland and associated priorities, which falls within the remit of DCEDIY and HSE Disability Services, whilst also recognising the essential input from acute and primary care services as part of an integrated services approach to both funding and delivery, consistent with the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy.
My Department will work in a collaborative way with DCEDIY to promote such an integrated approach to service delivery for people with Parkinson’s.
187. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the measures being undertaken by his Department to promote awareness of coeliac disease, particularly in the food and hospitality sectors; if coeliac disease is classed as a medical condition in the same circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18364/24]
View answerAwaiting reply from Department.
188. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18371/24]
View answer189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite blood test results for a person (details supplied). [18371/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number and details of the dentists providing dental care to medical card holders in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18384/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
191. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in his Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18394/24]
View answerThe amounts outlined in the table below is the amount spent on advertising over the years 2022-2023, Cost to Client including VAT. This includes Department of Health campaigns, departmental notices and Healthy Ireland campaigns.
Department of Health advertising spend included the first national Government-led menopause awareness campaign, the departments ongoing response to the COVID-19 and Winter Viruses, raising awareness of the expansion of the Free Contraception scheme, raising awareness of the expansion of the GP Visit Card scheme, as well as raising awareness of various public consultations and public notices.
The overarching aim of Healthy Ireland is to bring about a healthier population by supporting people to enjoy the best possible health and wellbeing. It is the Government-led initiative aimed at delivering the Sláintecare objective of preventing ill-health and keeping people well. Since 2018, Healthy Ireland developed a number of public engagement campaigns designed to raise public awareness of how to improve health and wellbeing.
The figures requested are listed below:
|
Year |
Total Advertising Spend |
Local Press Advertising Spend |
Regional Radio Advertising Spend |
|
2022 |
€1,149,630.00 |
€5,309.00 |
€151,438.00 |
|
2023 |
€2,375,022.72 |
€0.00 |
€442,380.31 |
The Department of Health engages the services of various agencies for the purposes of advertisement placement and reaching audiences across a range of mediums including online, print media, radio, outdoor and TV. A media buying agency secures advertising space on behalf of the Department. They develop media plans selecting a media mix which will reach as large as group as possible among the target audience and make them aware of the message. Their selection of media is based on the most effective use of budget guided by the reach of media matched to the target audience.
192. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18446/24]
View answerMy Department has not made any payments to this company, nor are they registered as a supplier with the Department.
193. 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. [18181/24]
View answerThis Government is committed to removing accommodation as a barrier to education. In November 2022, the Government approved the development of both a short and long term policy responses to increase the supply of student accommodation. In the short term, as part of this response, Government supported the activation of student accommodation projects in our Universities with planning permission that had stalled due to cost viability challenges.
As part of the recent NDP windfall announcement by Minister Donohoe, Student Accommodation has been prioritised and allocated €100m in windfall funding which will enable progression of a 493 bed project in UCD, a 405 bed project in DCU and 116 beds in Maynooth University. In addition, the Department is continuing to engage with Trinity College Dublin in relation to a potential 358 bed project. Assessment is going on project proposals at University of Galway and University of Limerick.
These short-term activation measures under which these projects are being funded, is the immediate response in advance of implementing the long-term policy, which focuses on regional needs and responses.
The long term policy on student accommodation was approved by Government on the 16th January 2024. This policy will inform future student accommodation strategies and schemes which will be developed throughout 2024.
This includes the next phase of the TU study which will assess mechanisms for delivery of student accommodation with a key regional focus with each technological University and an assessment of option proposals is being undertaken by the HEA currently. In addition the standardised design review will promote the development of a model of accommodation which demonstrates value for money and affordability.
To inform the policy and future strategies phase one involved extensive data-gathering across all TUs, Universities and Colleges, comprising a data collection framework, one to one meetings with HEI representatives, and a centralised student survey on student accommodation.
In recognition of the immediate of students my officials and I are working with Government colleagues to extend the rent a room scheme and ensure sustainable transport links are available in campus locations.
194. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of apprenticeships that are available in the Louth and Meath region; the number of apprenticeships available in counties Louth and Meath in each of the years 2022 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18138/24]
View answerIt is not possible to provide the requested information on a county-by-county basis. The information is available by Education and Training Board (ETB). Therefore, the following information is for Louth & Meath ETB (LMETB), which operates in the Louth and Meath. However, its catchment area may extend beyond these counties.
The list of apprenticeship programmes currently available at LMETB is as follows:
Carpentry and Joinery
Electrical
Metal Fabrication
Motor Mechanics
Pipefitting
Plumbing
Toolmaking
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing
In each of the years 2022 to 2024, the above 8 apprenticeships were available at LMETB.
