Written Answers Nos. 327-339
327. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of a training programme (details supplied); and if he will meet with the organisation regarding expansion of cyber security programmes in the further education sector. [19560/24]
View answer328. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of a training programme (details supplied); and if he will meet with the organisation regarding cyber security for SMEs. [19561/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together.
Officials in my Department are making enquiries with SOLAS and Skillnet Ireland and a response will issue to the Deputy in due course.
329. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in relation to a matter (details supplied), he will identify the income that University of Limerick receives per annum from its commercial owned company in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19685/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information she has requested in relation to the University of Limerick is not held in my Department.
330. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a review of the college fees for a person (details supplied). [19839/24]
View answerHigher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies; responsible for establishing their own procedures for course transfers and determining if a student is repeating a period of study. In this regard, as the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for my Department to offer guidance on the repeat period of study arrangements that may apply for individual students, such as those that may apply in the case raised by the Deputy, or to intervene in the repeat period of study policy of the institution.
In relation to the Budget 2024 measure under reference, I can advise that the student contribution reduction applies to full time undergraduate students who are eligible for the free fees initiative (FFI) in the academic year 2023/24. In line with the progression criteria of the FFI, a student undertaking a repeat period of study, as determined by the institution attended, is not normally eligible to avail of free fees. Where students are not eligible for the FFI then the student contribution arrangements of the scheme do not apply, and instead students pay a repeat fee to the HEI attended.
As noted above, it is the HEIs themselves that determine if a student is undertaking a repeat period of study. I would encourage HEIs to have a responsive approach to student needs wherever possible. Where a student requires guidance or clarification on the fees that may apply to an academic year of study, they can contact the fees office of their institution for advice appropriate to their individual circumstances.
331. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of apprenticeships (that is, the number of individual apprenticeships that are available, not a list of the different types of apprenticeships) in each of the ETBs in the State. [19891/24]
View answerThe table below outlines the number of individual apprenticeships that are available in each of the ETBs in the State.
Number of Programmes offered
|
- |
Education Training Board |
Craft |
Consortia |
Total |
|
1 |
City of Dublin ETB |
7 |
4 |
11 |
|
2 |
Cork ETB |
10 |
4 |
14 |
|
3 |
Cavan Monaghan ETB |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
4 |
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB |
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
5 |
Donegal ETB |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
6 |
Galway Roscommon ETB |
5 |
5 |
10 |
|
7 |
Kilkenny Carlow ETB |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
8 |
Kildare Wicklow ETB |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
9 |
Kerry ETB |
7 |
3 |
10 |
|
10 |
Limerick Clare ETB |
12 |
3 |
15 |
|
11 |
Louth Meath ETB |
8 |
1 |
9 |
|
12 |
Laois Offaly ETB |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
13 |
Longford Westmeath ETB |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
14 |
Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB |
7 |
4 |
11 |
|
15 |
Tipperary ETB |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
16 |
Waterford Wexford ETB |
15 |
1 |
16 |
332. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures that are in place to ensure consistent oversight of burial ground management practices across all local authorities; how frequently these measures are reviewed for effectiveness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19553/24]
View answer333. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development given the critical role of burial ground management in public health and community welfare, if she will provide details of any existing national standards for these practices; if same do not exist, if she will provide an explanation for the absence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19554/24]
View answer334. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide insights into any known negative practices arising from the lack of standardisation in burial ground management across local authorities; the steps that are being considered to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19555/24]
View answer335. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development how her Department ensures it maintains adequate knowledge and expertise about sector specific challenges in burial ground management to provide effective guidance and support to local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19556/24]
View answer336. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is a formal mechanism for local authorities to report issues or challenges back to her Department concerning burial ground management and practices; if so, how this information is actioned to improve sector-wide practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19557/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 332, 333, 334, 335 and 336 together.
My Department has legislative responsibility for local authority burial grounds, however the actual operation of burial grounds (cemeteries) is the responsibility of the local authorities.
Under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 2001, local authorities are deemed to be burial boards for their respective functional areas. Acting in their capacity as burial boards, local authorities are responsible for the management, regulation and control of burial grounds in their functional areas.
Local authorities also have powers to make bye-laws in relation to burial grounds. They may appoint a registrar or caretaker for each of their burial grounds to manage the site, and in some cases to maintain the burial ground.
Regulations are currently in place regarding burials and burial grounds, namely Part III of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, as amended in Part VI of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1948 and more recently, the Local Government Acts, 1994 and 2001, and also in the Rules and Regulations for the Regulation of Burial Grounds 1888 and amendments thereto.
Having regard to other priorities and the broader range of legislative priorities to be progressed across my Department's remit, there are currently no plans to introduce new regulations in this area.
337. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of WTE accountants employed by her Department in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [19798/24]
View answerThe number of Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) accountants employed by my Department for the years in question is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Accountants |
|
2022 |
2 |
|
2023 |
2 |
|
2024 |
2 |
338. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to several Parliamentary Questions (details supplied), if she will identify the local authorities referred to in the replies provided; to list the amounts recouped from each local authority for each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19907/24]
View answerMaterial provided to the Deputy in Parliamentary Questions of 18th April set out details of amounts identified for recoupment on foot of inspections under the the Local Improvement Scheme across a number of years. My officials are currently collating data in relation to amounts subsequently recouped which will reflect the time lag between completion of works and inspections, the completion of any appeals in relation to such inspection findings, and the subsequent return of funding to my Department. This data will be forwarded directly to the Deputy at the earliest date possible.
339. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is concerned with the vast difference in the average price of LIS roads being improved by local authorities (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19908/24]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme supports improving rural roads and laneways that are not usually maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded in the future.
I recently announced revised funding of over €40 million, which has been secured for the 2024 and 2025 Scheme. This allocation brings the total amount of funding provided for the Local Improvement Scheme by the Department of Rural and Community Development since its establishment in 2017 to just under €170 Million.
While my Department funds the scheme, it is administered by local authorities who are responsible for the prioritisation and selection of eligible roads in accordance with the Scheme criteria.
My Department advises that improvement plans should be commensurate with the width and bearing capacity, and the standard of finishing surface should be related to the needs of the beneficiaries, with particular regard to the type of farm machinery using the road and, for example, the extent of tractor and lorry traffic.
This of course may differ significantly from county to county. The condition of roads prioritised by local authorities, their geographic location, the availability of contractors and other factors may all ultimately influence the final cost of repair. These are factors which can vary from location to location.
Local authorities are required to adhere to National and EU procurement rules and must also comply with appropriate financial and government accounting rules and regulations in relation to the expenditure, thus underpinning the delivery of value for money. Furthermore, in order to ensure best value for money is secured, my Department advises that the cost of any individual road project may not exceed 20% of the total annual allocation to a local authority.
Each year, my Department officials work closely with local authorities to ensure funding is fully utilised. On-the-spot checks may be carried out on any selected project payment claims to verify compliance with funding conditions, project delivery and the reality of expenditure where appropriate.
