Written Answers Nos. 459-478
459. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the extent to which integration services are operational in all areas nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31660/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra460. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of persons interacting with integration services by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31661/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 460 together.
The Government is committed to the development and nurturing of an all-inclusive society in Ireland. We are in the process of implementing a number of key strategies which are helping to promote inclusion and diversity across Irish society. The Migrant Integration Strategy 2017 – 2020 is one such strategy.
The Migrant Integration Strategy runs until the end of 2020 and targets all migrants who are legally in the State. It contains 76 actions which are delivered by Government Departments, local authorities, local communities, the business sector, sporting and arts organisations and NGOs across a number of policy areas relevant to the integration of migrants, including employment; education and social inclusion. It also addresses racism and xenophobia, representing a whole-of-Government approach.
There are a number of funding streams available to support the integration of migrants.
- My Department administers a National Funding Programme to promote the Integration of migrants, which has 15 projects located throughout Ireland. Grants totalling almost €2 million (€1,987,890) are spread over three years to support the implementation of these projects. A call for applications under the National Integration Fund 2020 was launched on 11 August 2020 with funding of almost €2.2 million available over a three year period. The Fund will support communities to promote the integration of migrants and their children into Irish society and selected projects will help to combat racism and xenophobia. The closing date for applications under this fund was 22 September 2020 and applications are now being assessed.
- In addition, the Communities Integration Fund support local initiatives. There were 125 successful applications from 25 counties who received grants of up to €5,000 under the 2019 Fund. Applications for the 2020 Communities Integration Fund have been assessed and 114 projects have been successful. The 2020 Fund also has total funding of €500,000 available for these projects.
- The Funds Administration Unit of my Department administers larger grants and those for multi-annual projects using funding from European sources, including the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The 2019 AMIF allocation provided funding of €4,487,919 to 19 projects - 4 of which operate nationwide. There are also 4 operating in Dublin, 2 in Cork, and 1 each in Monaghan, Kildare, Meath,1 in Kildare, 1 in Meath, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Waterford, Mayo and Kerry.
- The 2019 European Social Fund (ESF) allocation provided funding of €3,288,498 to 5 projects. Two of the projects operate nationwide and the others were located in Dublin, Meath and Kilkenny.
The number of persons interacting with these services is not currently available to my Department.
461. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the extent to which equality prevails in the workplace in academia, health services and in the public and private sectors in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31662/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to achieving equality across all areas of society in Ireland. Ireland was ranked 7th in the EU-28 on the European Institute for Gender Equality's 2019 Gender Equality Index which is based on data from 2017. Between 2005 and 2017, Ireland’s score increased by 9.4 points (+ 1.8 points since 2015), showing faster progress towards gender equality than other EU Member States. Ireland has shown greatest improvement since 2005 in improving gender balance in leadership, reflecting the initiatives undertaken to improve the gender balance in politics, the Civil Service, academia, publicly listed boards, research funding organisations and publically owned broadcasting organisations.
My Department now coordinates the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020. The strategy includes measures advanced by the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority, to promote gender balance in higher education leadership. High level targets for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2016 HEA Gender Equality report and the 2018 Gender Taskforce Action Plan are included in the new System Performance Framework for Higher Education Institutions launched in 2018.
462. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the extent to which adequate reporting facilities are available in respect of children at risk; if augmentation of such services is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31665/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, implemented a national information system, the National Childcare Information System (NCCIS) in 2018. This system has improved the quality, safety, responsiveness and delivery of child protection services by supporting social workers in their practice, and capturing critical data on children who are the subject of a child protection or welfare referral. This information service allows for the provision of a timely, robust and effective information that captures details of screening, preliminary enquiries, assessments (initial or other) and case notes. As part of the implementation of the NCCIS the IT equipment for staff was upgraded and made fit for purpose.
Managers at local, area, regional and national level can now access real time data on the management of referrals and open cases, and can indemnify, at an early stage anomalies in service delivery.
Tusla has a Data and Analytics team and a Quality and Assurance Team. These teams produces monthly, quarterly and annual reports in respect of Tusla's functions, including detailed reporting on child safety and protection services. These reports are published on Tusla's website. Tusla also reports regularly on children in care, their placement type, care status, allocation of social workers and other relevant areas. These reports are reviewed by Officials and inform performance oversight including staffing and resource challenges. Officials from my Department meet Tusla management on a regular basis to review the level of service provision, including areas in need of improvement. The reports are also available to HIQA to inform their monitoring responsibilities.
Tusla have also introduced an online data hub where other agencies, researchers and the public can access aggregated non-personal information that Tusla produces. Tusla's Quality and Assurance team and their Data and Analytics team look at the metrics being produced, the work underway in Tusla and continually explore additional options for expanding or improving reporting.
463. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his plans to co-ordinate support services in respect of children at risk in order to ensure an adequate and readily available services in all instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31666/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy for your question. Proper coordination of service provision to children at risk is a core component of the response to risk mitigation and care for these children. The Child and Family Agency Tusla plays a significant role in the coordination of services.
In 2017 Tusla adopted the national approach to practice, Signs of Safety, which applies to intra-familial child protection and welfare cases whereby Tusla work closely with parents and extended family, around the alleged risk and harm posed to children. Safety Plans are formulated with parents, children and the safety network around them, to mitigate such risk and harm. The Signs of Safety approach is relationship based with a focus on safety and is supported by evidence in child protection practice.
The Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) is another programme that Tusla developed to ensure coordinated supports at a preventive level. The aim of the programme is to prevent risks to children and young people arising or escalating by enabling Tusla and partner organisations to engage effectively at an early stage.
Within the PPFS programme Tusla has developed the Meitheal approach to help children where they may need the support of more than one service. Meitheal is a case co-ordination process which families may agree to agencies sharing information in order to provide a better coordinated service.
Tusla social workers work with their colleagues in the Tusla Education Support Services to align provision to maximise supports for children at risk of educational disadvantage.
Children First outlines the Joint Working Protocol between Tusla and An Garda Síochána. Each agency manages the responsibility within its brief and their joint efforts are designed to ensure that the protection and welfare of children receives priority attention. A Liaison Team oversees the interagency relationship between An Garda Síochána and Tusla, ensuring communication is maintained and that each reported child protection and welfare concern receives an appropriate response.
As a critical service provider of essential frontline services for children and families, Tusla has been focused on ensuring continuity of supports and services while also balancing the needs and best interests of the child with public health advice to keep children, families and frontline staff as safe as possible during the pandemic. As the current public health crisis evolves, Tusla will continue to provide a service.
464. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of day care centres that have reopened in County Cork; and the number that will reopen before 1 November 2020. [31713/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation provided to my Department by Pobal confirms that on the week ending 12 March 2020, when childcare services closed due to Covid-19 emergency measures, there were 490 Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services with active child registrations in County Cork.
As of Friday 16 October, 483 services in County Cork have signed a funding agreement for at least one of my Department's childcare funding programmes for the 2020/21 programme year. Of these 483 services, 464 have active child registrations for the 2020/2021 programme year. ELC and SAC providers are not required to inform Pobal of the numbers of children who are attending their service but are not registered under Department funding schemes, and so they are unable to confirm how many of the 19 services which had signed a funding agreement, but have not yet registered children, intend to reopen by 1 November.
465. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his plans to provide financial support for childcare workers in view of the essential work they are providing at risk to themselves and the urgent need to provide these workers with a living wage. [31714/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully appreciate the essential role which those working in the early learning and care sector have played in recent months since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On 10 June 2020, a major funding package was announced to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services during the summer, including supporting services to retain their staff in a safe working environment. In this funding package, Government committed to a reopening support payment, a Covid-19 capital grant, continued access to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), and resumption of my Department's ELC and SAC funding schemes.
As part of the July stimulus package ELC and SAC services now have access to the Revenue-operated Employment Wage Subsidy scheme (EWSS), which funds up to €200 per week per staff member. This funding is now secured until 31 March next and I will continue to work to ensure that the needs of the sector are recognised in any reforms of the scheme thereafter. A special exemption for ELC services to the 30% turnover rule within EWSS has been included to recognise the need to retain capacity in the sector and support parents to access childcare places and get back to work.
I am very conscious of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in ELC and SAC services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. The most recent data available indicates that the average hourly wage in the sector was €12.55 in mid-2019. This rate is higher than the "living wage" of €12.30, although I acknowledge that approximately 60% of staff earn less than this wage.
As the State is not the employer, the Deputy will appreciate that my Department does not set wage levels nor determine working conditions for staff working in the sector. My Department has, however, over a number of years provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions. However, wages in the sector remain too low. As a significant funder of the sector, alongside parents, it is imperative that my Department works with provider representatives and staff representatives to address the issue.
In the medium-term, work that is currently under way to develop a new Funding Model and a Workforce Development Plan may provide new mechanisms by which the State can improve pay and working conditions in the sector. However, I am also keen to take further steps in the short-term that could support pay and working conditions. The Programme for Government commits to establish a Joint Labour Committee for the sector, with a view to developing an Employment Regulation Order.
466. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of dedicated spaces for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk in workplaces assigned to his Department in percentage and absolute terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31747/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in Circular 31/06 - Implementation of the Regulations of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004), breastfeeding mothers are entitled to paid breaks from work (one hour per day), or reduced daily working time (one hour per day) to facilitate breastfeeding or lactation (At present, breastfeeding or lactation breaks may continue until the child is two years of age).
My Department fully supports staff members to avail of breastfeeding breaks or a reduction of hours as appropriate to their circumstance and in this regard provides appropriate facilities for same.
There is a designated room that can be used for breastfeeding or expressing milk in the workplace on Floor 1 in Miesian Plaza.
Detailed documentation on breastfeeding and lactation breaks in the Civil Service is provided by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) under Circular 31/2006.
467. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his plans for the relocation of identified victims of trafficking out of direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31762/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation to suspected victims of trafficking who are in the International Protection process. Where requested by the HSE or An Garda Síochána, IPAS also provides accommodation to suspected victims of trafficking who are not in the protection process for a period of reflection and rest.
My Department will now consider this issue in the broader context of my Department’s newly conferred responsibility for the accommodation of International Protection applicants and the forthcoming white paper on the replacement for the current model of asylum seeker accommodation provision.
468. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the position regarding the lack of childcare funding increases in budget 2021, particularly the national childcare scheme and early childhood care and education scheme, despite a commitment to do so in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31775/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have secured a total of €638million for Early Learning and Childcare programmes and initiatives next year, despite the particularly challenging circumstances surrounding Budget 2021. In addition, I have secured access for the sector to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme with a critical exemption to the turnover rule. This is worth €60m to the sector for the first 3 months of the year. It is important to note that the sector received a quite unique and extensive range of supports in 2020 which is estimated at €180m above and beyond the childcare budget in place. This is indicative of the value and importance of this sector to me, my Department and to Government.
In 2020, and for at least part of 2021, a primary focus of my Department has been, and will be, on sustaining the ELC and SAC sector. We have kept services open through supporting them with the additional costs associated with following public health guidance, the cost of lower occupancy, and through encouraging greater uptake of childcare places.
As such, the key new contributor to the ELC and SAC sector in 2021 is the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme which funds up to €200 per week, per staff member. This funding in now secured until March 31 and I will continue to work to ensure that the needs of the sector are recognised in any reforms of the scheme thereafter.
A second key contributor to the sector in 2021 will be to encourage more parents to access safe and more affordable early learning and childcare services. Due to COVID, we have witnessed a reduction in demand for childcare in 2020 in terms of numbers and hours. Despite this, I have retained all funding in Budget 2021, meaning that there is funding available for up to 20,000 new families to join the National Childcare Scheme and access subsidies of up to €200 per child, per week. There is also funding available in 2021 for existing families in receipt of the NCS or other schemes, now on lower income as a result of COVID, to receive higher subsidies.
I look forward to building on these developments in 2021 when I receive the report of the Expert Group which is developing a new Funding Model and also when the Workforce Development Plan is completed.
469. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the evidence required to prove irrevocable estrangement from a parent for the purposes of applying for the SUSI grant as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30922/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the statutory based student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.
For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.
A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in studies of at least three years and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous October. Otherwise he or she would continue to be assessed on the basis of parental income.
Only in exceptional cases, where compelling evidence of estrangement from parents/guardians is provided, can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address, Article 21(3) (b) of the Scheme refers. Otherwise he or she is assessed as a dependent student for student grant purposes, i.e. assessed on the basis of the income and address of parents/legal guardians.
The assessment of a case of estrangement is carefully considered to ensure there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the exceptional circumstances pertaining in such cases genuinely exists. Cases of genuine estrangement are relatively rare and almost always will involve exceptional circumstances unique to a particular family situation. The scheme does not stipulate precisely how an awarding authority satisfies itself that such circumstances prevail. This is to allow the awarding authority sufficient flexibility to assess the evidence of irrevocable estrangement in each individual case. The type of documentary evidence required is dependent on the applicant's individual circumstances.
SUSI, the grant awarding authority, has advised that the student in question applied for student grant assistance on 8th May 2020 and declared that his sister was his legal guardian. SUSI requested evidence of legal guardianship but his sister had not been appointed as his legal guardian. As the student was under the age to be assessed as an independent mature student SUSI then wrote to the student to request evidence of estrangement from his parents. The student was advised by SUSI that accepted evidence of estrangement can include a letter from a Social Worker/TUSLA confirming estrangement or a Court Order. The student was also advised that other documentary evidence could be submitted but must specifically confirm irreconcilable estrangement from his parents. The grant awarding authority could not accept an affidavit from the student or his sister as evidence of his estrangement as it would not be independent documentary evidence of estrangement for the purposes of the grant scheme.
The student did not submit the required evidence of estrangement and cancelled his application for student grant assistance on 25th September 2020. The student would have had a statutory right to appeal the decision of the awarding authority if he had proceeded with his application.
SUSI’s online application process for student grant applications for the 2020/21 academic year opened on 23rd April, 2020. The closing date for receipt of late applications by SUSI is 5th November, 2020. The student may still submit a student grant application as a dependent student before the closing date.
470. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of applicants currently awaiting the renewal of their safe pass registration card; the way in which the matter will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31161/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSafe Pass, Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and Quarrying Skills Certification Scheme (QSCS) courses were included in Phase 2 of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. Safe Pass courses restarted on 11th June 2020 under strictly controlled Covid-19 precaution measures.
Since that date SOLAS has issued 28,815 Safe Pass cards. Comprising 10,325 new entrants, and 18,490 renewal cards. 52,497 Safe Pass cards expired between 1st March and 13th October. 40,833 of those expired cards still retain an expired card status.
The Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) introduced a legislative provision for Safe Pass cards that expired after 1st March, extending their period of validity to the end of the Covid-19 emergency period. This provision remains in force at the current time, however workers with expired cards are advised to renew their cards as soon as possible to prevent a significant backlog accruing.
SOLAS is also actively examining alternative delivery methods to identify a solution that is equitable with existing Safe Pass course delivery, in being accessible to all eligible workers, providing real time course participant supports and ensuring assessment integrity.
471. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31481/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe student in question submitted an appeal to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The Board considered the appeal on 6 October 2020 and based on the supporting documentation submitted with the appeal the Board accepted the documentation as sufficient proof of parental separation. As a result the Board overturned the decision of the appeals officer in SUSI and referred the case back to the grant awarding authority for a full assessment of the grant application with reference to the applicant's and her father’s income only.
The awarding authority has advised that this application was reviewed on 13th October 2020. All documentation has been reviewed and evidence of separation has been accepted by the awarding authority. The applicant was issued an award letter on 15th October 2020.
472. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with the HEA in relation to a GMIT decision to redeploy the GMIT Mayo campus business department to Galway with staff now reporting to Galway management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30923/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra473. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the date on which a decision will be made on a permanent vice president for the GMIT Mayo campus; the date on which he plans to fill this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30924/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra474. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the working group’s recommendations published in 2018, in tabular form (details supplied); the status of each recommendation over the period 2018 to 2022; when a review of progress at the end of year two will be completed by the HEA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30925/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra475. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the formal progress reports submitted to the GMIT governing body and the HEA every four months since the establishment of the working group’s recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30926/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra476. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the expenditure associated with the ring-fenced yearly funding of €750,000 for the GMIT Mayo campus that was allocated from 2018 to 2022 while the working group’s plan is being implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30927/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 472 to 476, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware a Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) Working Group was established in March 2017. The key objective of this group was to develop a plan to develop a sustainable future for the Mayo Campus arising from concerns about the financial viability of the campus. The Governing Authority of GMIT in consultation with the HEA have responsibility for the implementation of the recommendations of the report to promote the future sustainability of the Mayo Campus as an integral part of GMIT in the North West Region. The Report contained 33 recommendations for implementation and a status report on the recommendations in tabular form is attached.
Terms of reference for the mid-term review have been approved by the HEA and Mazars have been appointed as the independent assessor for the review. The report of the independent assessor will be presented to the HEA’s Finance and Governance Committee by the end of Q1 2021.
I can confirm that Professor Neville McClenaghan took up the post of Vice-President GMIT Mayo Campus in February 2019.
One of the key recommendations was the establishment of a sub-committee of the Governing Body of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) to oversee the management and development of the Mayo Campus. This sub-committee was established in early 2018 and has given campus issues more focus from a governance perspective and also facilitated the involvement of regional stakeholders.
The Mayo Campus is a regular item on the agenda of the Governing Body of GMIT, the following are some significant items recently addressed by the Governing Body:
- A Strategic Framework for the Mayo campus approved by Governing body
- Report form Mayo Campus Subcommittee
- Presentation by the President Dr. Orla Flynn on the Strategic Framework.
- Approval of revised Terms of Reference for Mayo Campus Subcommittee.
In addition the Mayo Campus is a regular item for discussion at the Governing body Finance Subcommittee and the Audit & Risk Committee. The Mayo Sub Committee of the GMIT Governing Body has met on 16 occasions since the publication of the report.
GMIT submits discrete budgetary reports on the Mayo Campus to the HEA. The Mayo campus is a standing item on meetings between GMIT and the HEA; the CEO of the HEA met with the President of GMIT in June 2020 at which the campus was discussed.
At the time of publication of the report in 2017, overall expenditure in the Mayo campus was estimated at c.€2.4m over income. While implementation of the plan will assist in the reduction the deficit incurred by the Mayo campus, the plan will naturally take time to come to fruition. Interim ring-fenced funding of €750,000 per annum for five years was awarded to support the costs of the Mayo campus for a fixed time period as the plan is implemented and as the campus hopefully moves to a more financially sustainable position. Additionally GMIT receives ring-fenced funding annually under the HEA’s Multi-campus funding initiative.
My Department also provided €2m in funding arising from the recommendations to provide building works on the Mayo campus which is a strong demonstration of the commitment to its future development and growth.
I have been assured that GMIT is fully committed to multi-disciplinary provision at its Mayo campus and this includes business, but is also examining opportunities arising from the growing critical mass and expertise on the campus in health care and wellbeing to protect the future sustainability of the campus.
I am also assured that the Mayo campus of GMIT is an integral part of the Institute with the development and success of the Mayo campus a priority for the Governing Body and executive leadership of GMIT.
Given its location and hinterland alongside that of IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT – GMIT’s partners in the Connaught Ulster Alliance consortium in establishment of a proposed multi-campus Technological University spanning the West and North West – the development and success of the Mayo campus remains a priority for the Governing Body and executive leadership of GMIT. The creation of a Technological University by the Connaught Ulster Alliance will provide enormous opportunities for all stakeholders in the region, including those in Mayo.
I understand GMIT, following engagement with Mayo campus staff over an extended period, is undertaking a strategic reorganisation process as part a critical element of the transformation process required to realise these benefits from TU designation.
I also understand the GMIT President has confirmed that the intention of this process is to enhance offerings and services, not diminish them. I am very supportive of the continued success of the Mayo Campus as part of the future of GMIT and progression towards TU designation.
It is vital for GMIT and the future TU to offer an integrated service to all stakeholders working across the region and acting as one. All GMIT schools are intended to have a GMIT-wide remit including Mayo, Galway and beyond. The strategic re-positioning of GMIT now underway encompasses the commitment to ensure the long-term sustainability and future development of the Mayo Campus.
477. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if grants will be made available to student nurses and midwives who are unable to work in healthcare facilities other than their student placements due to cross-contamination concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30942/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate 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.
SUSI’s online application process for student grant applications for the 2020/21 academic year opened on 23rd April, 2020. The closing date for receipt of late applications by SUSI is 5th November, 2020. Further information in relation to student grant assistance is available from SUSI’s website, www.susi.ie. The telephone number for SUSI’s Helpdesk is 0761 087 874.
The issue of paid placement for student nurses is a matter for the Department of Health and the HSE. My Department has no role in this matter. Any student in receipt of a maintenance grant who takes part in a placement as part of their course continues to receive payment of a their maintenance grant while on that placement.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, the Deputy will be aware that in July I announced a funding package of €168m for the return to education. This package includes a €10m access support package for higher education students. I have approved the allocation of €8.1m of this funding to top up the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
The €168m funding package also includes €15m in IT equipment grants for disadvantaged students in further and higher education and a €10m access support package for higher education students. An additional €3m has also been provided for investment in supports for mental health services and well-being initiatives.
As announced as part of Budget 2021 we will provide financial assistance through a once off €50 million fund for students to mitigate against the impacts of the changed learning environment. My officials and I are developing the process on how this once-off fund will operate for submission to Government prior to commencement. Further details will be available for student shortly.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.
478. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place to support students in third level education who report sexual assaults and to ensure that colleges take these reports seriously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30998/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am greatly concerned by the issues of sexual harassment and assaults within higher education institutions.
Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to their safety and their active participation in college life.
On 4 August 2020 I wrote to the Presidents of all publicly funded higher education institutions requesting that they develop and publish, by February 2021, specific institutional action plans on tackling sexual violence and harassment. These actions plans will involve the implementation of systems that record the number of incidents of bullying, intimidation or harassment including sexual harassment. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has oversight of the Framework for Consent in HEIs, and these statistics will be reported annually to the HEA once the action plans in each institution are in place.
I have also requested that a survey be undertaken on harassment, sexual harassment and bullying of both staff and students in the higher education institutions. The planning of this survey has commenced, and the HEA is consulting with the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Higher Education Association in this regard.
I am committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all staff and students in our Higher Education Institutions, and the steps I am undertaking, I believe, will contribute significantly to the realisation of this objective.
