Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:85. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to fund laptops for third level staff to help teach remotely. [31246/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 20 October 2020
Ceisteanna (85)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware the Government has provided substantial additional funding in the amount of €168m to ensure third level institutions are resourced to respond to the challenges of operating effectively in the current environment. For the education providers under the remit of my Department, the allocation includes funding towards immediate ICT costs relating to the move to online provision for staff and students.
My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. The additional funding allocation has been assessed by the HEA and a final breakdown and distribution of funding allocation for the costs incurred is being finalised and correspondence is now being issued to all eligible providers.
As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of the allocated funding, including any expenditure in relation to area raised by the Deputy in his question, is a matter for the individual institutions. The institutions are best placed to make decisions on the nature of ICT provision to particular staff based upon the work they do and supports required.
Through Budget 2021 an additional €15million is being provided for the Devolved Capital Grant to higher education institutions for the academic year 2020/21. This recognises the significant adjustments that the sector has had to make to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some examples of how the funding may be used include:
- ICT-related capital investments to support blended and online learning
- Equipment procurement to support learning and research
- Minor building upgrades or health and safety-related works
- Building improvements that support access for all
- Capital investments that advance sustainability and decarbonisation goals
This funding is in addition to €25 million for the Devolved Capital Grant announced in August – the first time in nearly a decade that this flexible capital funding had been extended to the university sector.
I will continue to work with further and higher education providers, agencies and key stakeholders including staff representatives to mitigate the additional pressures faced as a result of Covid-19 and the very significant additional resources provided to the sector, which are available to support the effort.
Question No. 86 answered orally.