Written Answers Nos. 514-541
514. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the new funding model and workforce development plan for the early childhood care and education, ECCE, sector. [6019/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirst 5: A Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, published in November 2018, sets out an ambitious programme of work across Government Departments to improve the experiences and outcomes of children in Ireland from birth to age 5 across all aspects of their lives in the coming ten years. Included in First 5 is a commitment to designing a new Funding Model to deliver additional funding to early learning and care and school-age childcare providers.
In September 2019, my predecessor announced the establishment of an Expert Group to develop the new Funding Model. The Expert Group is tasked with examining the current model of funding and its effectiveness in delivering quality, affordable, sustainable and inclusive services. The group is considering how additional resourcing can be delivered for the sector to achieve these objectives, drawing on international practice in this area.
The Expert Group has met twelve times to date.
The Terms of Reference for the Expert Group include the need to review existing measures and to draw on international evidence on how to structure funding. To support this, Frontier Economics was selected to deliver a significant programme of research to the Expert Group. Frontier Economics has delivered the following research papers, which have been published:
1. Comparative and Contextual Analysis of ELC and SAC Fees, Staff Wages and Public Investment
2. International approaches to funding ELC
3. Review of working conditions for ELC and SAC staff
4. Potential mechanisms to control fees charged to parents
5. Approaches to identifying children and/or services in need of additional support
Further papers, on disadvantage, quality and shared governance and collaboration, will be delivered and published shortly.
The Terms of Reference of the Expert Group also include the need for consultation and engagement with stakeholders in order to agree the principles to underpin the new Funding Model. The first phase of consultation and engagement took place between August and December 2020. The consultation included a call for submissions, a parental poll, two webinars and a focused discussions with providers, practitioners and parents. A report on key issues identified during the consultation will be published shortly. Further stakeholder engagement and consultation is scheduled for Q1 & Q2 2021.
Co-ordination with other significant reform projects planned for the sector in respect of Workforce Development and the Review of the Operating System is ongoing. A meeting between representatives of the Expert Group and the Workforce Development Plan Steering Group took place in January.
It is expected that a report on the Expert Group’s recommendations will be submitted to the Minister in November 2021 for consideration before submission to wider Government.
Material relating to the Funding Model, including meeting papers, research papers, and reports, is available on a dedicated website, www.first5fundingmodel.ie.
First 5 also includes a number of commitments related to the workforce for ELC and SAC, including development of a Workforce Development Plan (WDP). The WDP is intended to set out plans to achieve the First 5 workforce commitments, including to raise the profile of careers in the sector and to ensure sufficient numbers of staff at all levels within the sector. The Workforce Development Plan will set out plans to raise the profile of careers in the sector, establishing role profiles, career pathways, qualifications requirements, and associated policy mechanisms along with leadership development opportunities and work towards a more gender-balanced and diverse workforce.
Specific objectives include:
- To achieve a graduate-led (50%) workforce by 2028 for early learning and care.
- All regulated childminders will hold a minimum qualification.
- All regulated school-age childcare staff will hold a minimum qualification.
After a period of extensive public consultation on the subject of qualifications standards for childminding and school-age childcare in late 2020, the Workforce Development Plan will focus on the creation of pathways towards reaching an appropriate qualification standard for both, recognising their unique backgrounds and requirements.
Phase one of development of the WDP involved the drafting of an interim report. This report is being finalised before publication in the near future. Phase two will involve detailed implementation plans to be prepared by a number of working groups throughout 2021.
The WDP Stakeholder Group, consisting of a wide range of different voices involved in the sector, has been consulted on each piece of work to date and has provided valuable insights informing policy developments and the consultation process.
A programme of consultation on draft proposals on the WDP was rolled out, consisting of:
- A call for submissions, which ran from 19 August to 2 October, for all involved in the sector to have their say.
- Webinars on 22 September and 16 December informed the sector of work to date on the project and important details relating to the consultation process.
- A series of nine consultation events involving focussed discussions with practitioners over two weeks from the 12 to 23 of October. The themes of these discussions were recruitment and retention, qualifications and initial training and ongoing training and CPD.
The feedback from the consultation process informed the drafting of the interim report, which is due to be published in early 2021.
515. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he has taken to date to progress the establishment of a joint labour committee in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, sector. [6020/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2020, working in partnership with SIPTU and Childhood Services Ireland (within IBEC), I began a short process in which interested parties were invited to discuss how best to address issues of pay and conditions in the sector and how a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) might support this. I appointed Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, to be an independent chair for this process.
The group has met three times in the last six weeks, and held its final meeting on 1 February. Discussions examined the nature of a JLC process and its relevance to the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector, and also explored what other mechanisms might be available to support improvements in wages and working conditions in the sector. Dr Duffy will shortly be reporting to me outlining the issues and possible solutions raised in the process, and making a recommendation on next steps.
While a number of important steps lie ahead, the commitment already shown by organisations that participated in the process to find a solution to issues arising is very welcome.
516. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [6035/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides funding to over 700 external organisations, mainly in the non-profit sector, to commission services to fulfil Tusla's statutory responsibilities, and to deliver on Tusla's strategic objectives and key actions.
Non-profit organisations operate independently of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed. I have a huge appreciation for the valuable contribution of such organisations in delivering important services to support vulnerable children and families. I am acutely aware of the financial constraints faced by many such organisations and indeed by Tusla in seeking to meet the extensive needs that exist. I acknowledge that significant challenges remain for frontline organisations, particularly for staff who may not have not seen pay increases in that time.
While I take on board the points raised, I think the issues in question are not unique to the service you mention or services generally that are commissioned by Tusla or funded by my Department. Issues such as rates of pay and other matters raised by the Deputy for employees of the non-profit sector will require wider consideration across Government.
I am pleased to have secured significant additional funding for Tusla in this year's Budget which, I believe, will help the Agency more fully achieve its vision. The exact details of where this additional funding is allocated by Tusla will be finalised in the coming weeks with Tusla’s Business Plan for 2021.
The funding arrangements between individual organisations and Tusla is agreed under a Service Level Agreement (SLA). As the funding arrangement for the particular service referenced by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested that the Agency respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
517. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will investigate the possibility of paying the once-off €250 grant to PhD students now rather than on graduation, as is the case for SUSI recipients and final-year students who do not have any outstanding fee payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5952/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students, financial assistance will be provided in academic year 2020/21 to all students who avail of SUSI grants and to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state.
The scheme will ensure students;
- Who avail of the SUSI grant will receive €250 top-up in their grant;
- Students who do not avail of the grant but attend publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state can reduce by €250 any outstanding student contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution
- In a small number of cases, alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to students at the discretion of institutions.
The latter two options, as outlined above, are designed to ensure students who are not in receipt of SUSI benefit from the measure. It is also the intention that these address circumstances where students are in final year, have paid their contribution fee and may not be on campus.
A key administrative feature of the fund is that it is being implemented with the assistance of publicly funded institutions in the State under the remit of my Department and that the institution determines the students status as a full time student.
Higher education providers have completed or are in the process of completing the allocation to students. The Department has requested that institutions provide any outstanding credits in a timely manner before 28 February 2021. In a small number of cases where a credit cannot be applied a payment may be facilitated at the discretion of the institution.
518. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the protections being provided for students in the 2021-2022 academic year in relation to the payment of accommodation on or near campuses; if students who are required to pay for accommodation in advance will have their payments refunded if the accommodation cannot be availed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5022/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious that students will wish for clarity as soon as possible in regard to the format of the 2021-2022 academic year. However given the evolving public health situation it is not possible at this time to provide any concrete information on what the new academic year may look like. I would encourage students to engage with their higher education institution regarding their plans for the 2021 academic year in advance of booking student accommodation.
Students who are renting private accommodation under a lease are entitled to the same legal protections as any other tenant. Tenant rights are set out in the Residential Tenancies Act (2004, as amended). There is protection provided under this legislation for deposits, as as they are considered the lawful property of the tenant until the landlord establishes a right to it. Information on tenant rights and responsibilities are available on the website of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The emergency rental provisions brought in as part of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020, which expired on 1 August, applied to student accommodation. Any future legislation on this matter will also cover student accommodation.
For student-specific accommodation the license terms including cost, duration, refund and cancellation policies should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year. Under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 students residing in student-specific accommodation under licence agreements have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The Deputy will be aware that the university sector has been actively engaging with students on the issue of accommodation refunds for the current academic year. As a result of the decision to minimise on-site teaching, all universities have confirmed that students who opted to leave their university-owned student accommodation as a result of reduced on-campus activity will be offered refunds or rental credits. The processing of these refunds is a matter for the universities themselves, and any student who wishes to receive a refund for their on-campus accommodation should engage directly with their university’s accommodation office.
In the case of privately-owned student accommodation, I am urging providers to be flexible in finding solutions given the circumstances that students find themselves. There are, however, no powers available to me under the current legal framework to direct any particular course of action. Refund or cancellation policies in student accommodation should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year. In the first instance students should engage with their accommodation provider to see if an arrangement can be reached. If this is not possible, students have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board.
519. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who have dropped out of college to date in the 2020-2021 academic year. [5073/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra521. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to an increase in the number of first year students dropping out of college in the 2020-2021 academic year. [5076/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 521 together.
My Department is acutely aware of the additional challenges faced by students as a result of Covid-19, and is conscious that this could have the potential to impact on progression rates, particularly for first year students. We are engaging regularly with the sector to understand how the student experience is being impacted as the academic year progresses.
In the period to the end of 2020, we are not aware of substantial differences in withdrawal and deferral rates relative to other years. However, the beginning of semester 2 should give a clearer indication of these rates. Most Higher Education Institutions give students until the beginning of February to inform them of their intention not to continue with their course of study and therefore a better indication of non-progression rates will be available later in the semester. We will continue to liaise with stakeholders in this regard.
520. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place for social care students who undertake placements as part of their courses (details supplied). [5075/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra524. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps social care students (details supplied) should take in relation to completing the academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5107/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra547. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will request that CORU give leeway or offer alternatives to the requirement for social care students to complete a 400-hour mandatory work placement, given that students are struggling to find appropriate places due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5873/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra548. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will liaise with CORU to resolve the difficulties for students in level seven degrees where practical placements have been greatly disrupted by the closure of HSE agencies due to the level 5 lockdown, resulting in them being required by CORU to make up these hours in summer 2021 without any term-time alternative being offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5948/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra550. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his position on social protection payments for students who will have to complete course-appointed work placements during the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6001/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 520, 524, 547, 548 and 550 together.
I am aware that issues have arisen in relation to placement hours both for students of Social Care programmes and for placements more generally as the restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 have tightened. My Department is monitoring developments in this regard very closely.
From the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), and including the representative bodies of education providers and students to address issues relating to the maintenance of the quality and standards of:
- teaching and learning,
- assessment, and
- qualifications.
This group has focused on the implementation of alternative arrangements and methods of delivery, where appropriate and necessary, to meet both these standards and, where applicable, the educational accreditation criteria established by Professional Recognition Bodies (PRBs).
In the case of Social Care, the awards standards in place for these qualifications reflect the accreditation criteria and placement requirements that have been set out by CORU, Ireland's multi-profession Health and Social Care Regulator and consequently the relevant PRB for this profession.
Since March 2020, QQI has facilitated engagement between members of the stakeholders group and CORU which have taken place in parallel to direct engagements between CORU and individual education providers. The goal of these engagements has been to ensure that, where possible, necessary alternative arrangements are in place to maintain the standards of education and training in this area and that these issues are actively managed. These efforts are to ensure that students can progress in their programmes from one academic year into the next, or, where relevant, graduate with the necessary professional competencies that have been set out by CORU.
While I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts that have been made by CORU, QQI and our educational institutions to identify and implement flexible solutions for students up to this point, I am conscious that further efforts are now necessary.
The current timing and the likely duration of Covid restrictions has created even greater disruption and uncertainty in this space than anticipated and has substantially impacted on the expected level of available social care placements. It is in this context that I have asked QQI, supported by my Department, to facilitate intensified engagements between CORU, education providers and relevant stakeholders on this issue. The focus of these engagements will be to identify solutions that can be swiftly implemented for the student cohort who are most impacted in the near term while also identifying flexible approaches that can be readily adopted within the system in the medium to longer term as the response to the pandemic evolves and changes. These engagements will facilitate a dialogue among stakeholders in developing these solutions and, most importantly, will ensure transparency and clarity for those students studying social care.
Students should continue to engage directly with their provider for further information on the arrangements being implemented for their particular year and course.
522. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who opted to defer their studies in the 2020-2021 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5078/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHigher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under this legislation the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to admissions and deferrals.
Deferrals are granted at the discretion of the Higher Education Institutions, and my Department does not hold any data on the number of deferrals granted in any given year. However the higher education sector has indicated that there was no significant increase or decrease in the number of deferrals in 2020 in comparison to previous years.
523. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to city and guild courses delivered through institutes of further education (details supplied) that have to date not been able to transfer their examinations online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5095/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI appreciate that this is a time of considerable stress and concern for all students and it is important that this is taken into account by further education and training (FET) institutions.
My officials contacted the FET institution referred to in your question and were advised that due to the nature of the course, City and Guilds were unable to offer students the opportunity to take the examinations online. Adaptations were made available by City and Guilds for year 2 students due to complete their qualification in 2020, and the FET institution arranged for students to complete these examinations outside of the institution. This concession was available following meetings with the awarding body, and the FET institution had to provide assurances and evidence that standards were being followed. It was only available to year 2 students who were due to graduate in 2020 and examinations for year 1 students were postponed until the following academic year.
An examination timetable was prepared for the postponed year 1 examinations and given to students when they registered for year 2 of the programme commencing in autumn 2020. I understand that all postponed examinations have taken place in accordance with the timetable. In January, a new timetable was prepared, and two examinations took place in January 2021, with the remaining examinations scheduled for March, April and May 2021.
The FET institution must comply with the requirements of the awarding body, City and Guilds, which currently does not allow examinations for this course to be completed online. The FET institution appreciates that many of their students are experiencing increased stress at present and are endeavouring to support them under very difficult circumstances.
525. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has considered additional financial supports for PhD students in receipt of a scholarship that do not benefit from the €50 million once-off Covid-19 payment scheme for third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5109/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. My Department will oversee the implementation of the review through a steering group with student representation as well as representation from SUSI. It is intended that the review will commence shortly and will report to me in summer 2021. Stakeholders will be consulted as part of the review process and it is intended that the future direction of the SUSI scheme will be guided by the outcome of the review.
The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme and the Programme for Government committed to addressing the gap in postgraduate grants. From September 2021 the postgraduate fee grant will increase to €3,500 from €2,000. This increase will allay some of the costs for postgraduate study and would give greater certainty for students in terms of supports. In addition the fee income threshold will increase to €54,240 from €31,500 from September 2021.
Under the Student Grant Scheme 2020, a student in receipt of a postgraduate research award where the stipend portion of the award does not exceed €16,000 may apply to the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) for financial assistance under the Student Grant Scheme.
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.
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
I recently announced enhanced funding of €3.2 million for the Irish Research Council to better support postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers in Ireland across all disciplines. This will directly benefit close to 1,300 early-career researchers across our higher education and research system. The additional investment will fulfill the long-standing priority attached by the Council to improving the support for its funded postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers at the earliest opportunity. The Irish Research Council’s postgraduate stipend will increase from €16,000 to €18,500 per annum and funding for its postdoctoral researchers is also increasing. The changes will benefit both existing and new Council awardees in 2021, effective from the beginning of January. Since my appointment, the funding gap for postgraduate students and post-doctoral researchers between the research funding agencies under my Department has been an issue I wanted to address. I am pleased I have been able to address this as part of Budget 2021.
526. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention had been drawn to the taxable nature of the €250 SUSI rebate given in November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5165/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra529. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will publish his correspondence with the Revenue Commissioners on the taxable nature of the €250 SUSI rebate payment he authorised in November 2019. [5168/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 529 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, while the operation of support measures for third level students is a function of this Department, tax matters are a function of the Revenue Commissioners.
The scheme ensures students who avail of the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant, including students studying abroad, will receive €250 top-up in their grant. The €250 grant is available automatically to everyone in full time third level education, including PLC courses, who avails of SUSI supports. Nearly 72,000 students received their top-up before Christmas. In some cases the payment will be made to registered students early this year, for example, if bank details were not submitted in time or if college registration is yet to be confirmed. There is no need to apply for it, and SUSI will be in touch with students.
Students who do not avail of the grant but attend publicly funded Higher Education Institutions under the aegis of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in the State can reduce by €250 any outstanding contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution. There is no need for students to apply for this funding and it is the intention that all students will have been contacted by their institution before the end of February.
In a small number of cases, alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to students.
SUSI payments, including this once-off additional €250 payment, are specifically exempt from tax.
The Revenue Commissioners have advised the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science that the non-SUSI credit/payment is income for tax purposes but would not give rise to a tax liability for the majority of full-time students.
The Covid Student Assistance Fund will provide financial assistance to all eligible full time third level students in recognition in recognition of the significant upheaval they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the options are designed to ensure students who are not in receipt of SUSI will benefit from the measure.
This measure builds on the specific student supports in response to Covid, which I announced in July including the provision of additional student assistance including a doubling of the Student Assistance Fund, and a €15 million technology fund for devices for students in further and higher education to assist with difficulties in accessing technology to facilitate their course work in a blended capacity. These supports are being distributed through the colleges and further education providers.
527. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students that drew down the €250 SUSI rebate by county and educational institution. [5166/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students, financial assistance will be provided in academic year 2020/21 to all students who avail of SUSI grants and to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state.
The scheme will ensure students;
- Who avail of the SUSI grant will receive €250 top-up in their grant;
- Students who do not avail of the grant but attend publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state can reduce by €250 any outstanding student contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution
- In a small number of cases, alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to students at the discretion of institutions.
The latter two options, as outlined above, are designed to ensure students who are not in receipt of SUSI benefit from the measure. It is also the intention that these address circumstances where students are in final year, have paid their contribution fee and may not be on campus.
A key administrative feature of the fund is that it is being implemented with the assistance of publicly funded institutions in the State under the remit of my Department. SUSI and Higher education institutions are in the process of communicating with students on the specific arrangements for disbursement of funds/credits.
To date, over 72,000 students have received their €250 through their SUSI payment. There are still a small number of SUSI grant holders to be paid; these would include late applicants, persons in the appeals process and/or persons who have not provided bank details to facilitate payment. SUSI has a number of additional payment dates planned to capture the last few remaining students. The details of their payment plan can be found at the following link: https://susi.ie/covid-19-once-off-emergency-grant
Higher education providers have completed or are in the process of completing the allocation to students. Details of students numbers will be available upon completion of the process by the institutions. The Department has requested that institutions provide any outstanding credits in a timely manner before 28 February 2021. In a small number of cases where a credit cannot be applied a payment may be facilitated at the discretion of the institution.
528. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the €250 SUSI rebate will be considered income for SUSI applications for the 2021-2022 academic year. [5167/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government approved once-off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year.
The funding, which was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the significant upheaval they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic will offer financial assistance to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEI).
The statutory based Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations are reviewed annually by my Department, following consultation with various stakeholders. The treatment of the COVID-19 Once- off Emergency Grant will be considered in the context of the review of the 2021 Scheme.
The Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations for the 2021/22 academic year, will be published towards the end of March/early April 2021. The opening of SUSI's online grant application system will coincide with the publication of the scheme.
530. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a list will be provided of higher education institutions that continue to charge repeat exam fees for modules taken during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5170/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHigher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under this legislation the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to repeat exams. Neither I nor my Department have a role in setting fees for repeat exams and therefore the information sought by the Deputy is not held by my Department. However, as the Deputy knows, I am encouraging institutions to demonstrate flexibility on these matters.
531. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to assist the large number of third-level students who paid for student accommodation and were subsequently directed to stay at home under Government guidelines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5425/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the challenges faced by students regarding student accommodation this year due to both financial pressures, and the blended learning format of the 2020/21 academic year.
The Deputy will be aware that the university sector has been actively engaging with students on the issue of accommodation refunds. As a result of the decision to minimise on-site teaching, all universities have confirmed that students who opted to leave their university-owned student accommodation as a result of reduced on-campus activity will be offered refunds or rental credits. The processing of these refunds is a matter for the universities themselves, and any student who wishes to receive a refund for their on-campus accommodation should engage directly with their university’s accommodation office.
In the case of privately-owned student accommodation, I am urging providers to be flexible in finding solutions given the circumstances that students find themselves. There are, however, no powers available to me under the current legal framework to direct any particular course of action. Refund or cancellation policies in student accommodation should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year. In the first instance students should engage with their accommodation provider to see if an arrangement can be reached. If this is not possible, students have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board.
I am of course very conscious of the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our students. In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students, financial assistance will be provided in academic year 202/21 to all students who avail of SUSI grants and to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state.
Under this initiative students who avail of the SUSI grant will receive a €250 top-up in their grant and students who do not avail of the grant but attend publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state can reduce by €250 any outstanding student contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution.
Additionally Budget 2021 provides further funding to enhance SUSI grant supports for post-grads and increase support for the PATH access initiative. In July I announced a range of additional student supports including a doubling of the Student Assistance Fund, and a €15 million technology fund for devices for students.
The combined impact of these supports and initiatives highlight the strength of the Government's commitment to supporting students in meeting the costs of third level education.
532. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to waive the fee for an institute (details supplied) for medical professionals who studied in the UK in view of the fact that mutual recognition of qualifications is an EU competence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5430/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Institute in question is a private body. It does not fall under the remit of this Department and is not designated as a Competent Authority under Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications.
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has no role in the setting of fees by this Institute.
533. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students enrolled in a graduate entry medical course can secure a loan for their fees if their parents are not in a financial position to guarantee the loan; if he will provide details of the other options available to students struggling to afford the €16,000 fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5526/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education. Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes.
Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses (including medicine courses). In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including previous education attainment.
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study undergraduate medicine. One of the recommendations of the Fottrell report (2006) was the introduction of a new graduate entry medicine programme (GEM). Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants.
However, in order to widen access to GEM programmes, and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU students are partly subsidised by the State via the HEA. Currently, the subsidy is €11,200 per student (2019/20 academic year) with the balance of fees payable by the student.
Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of fees to be charged in the case of GEM fees are therefore solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
There is no Department supported loan scheme in place for GEM students. There are various loans available for GEM students but these are private arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans and my Department has no role in such arrangements.
In terms of supports offered by institutions, HEIs may also offer financial support for students on such courses e.g. a Atlantic Philanthropies-funded scholarship in UL for students who entered their undergraduate degree through an access route but this, along with overall admissions processes, is a matter for each HEI.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie
534. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the inclusion of a special policy for biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis and other under investigated conditions in the first work programme of Horizon Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5507/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHorizon Europe is the ninth iteration of the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It will be officially launched on 02 February 2021.
It builds upon the activities and research funded by the previous Framework Programme, Horizon 2020.
Like Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe adopts a three-pillar approach:
- Open science pillar – which continues the focus on supporting excellent science through the European Research Council, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions and investment in research infrastructures;
- Global challenges and industrial competitiveness pillar – which takes a more ‘top down’ approach to addressing global policy and competitiveness challenges, grouped under six thematic clusters: health; culture, creativity and inclusive society; civil security for society; digital, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; and food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment.
- Open innovation pillar – which focuses on enhancing Europe’s innovation performance by establishing a European Innovation Council (EIC), and also contains the work of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), and measures to improve the European Innovation ecosystem.
Individual Work Programmes under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme include a specific Health Cluster Work Programme. As with other work programmes, this is still under development by the European Commission and Member States and is strictly confidential until it has been finalised and approved. The expected timeline for approval and publication of the Horizon Europe Work Programme is mid-April 2021, but this is subject to change.
Ireland has dedicated resources under the National Support Network to support applicants in identifying opportunities for EU Funding, and stakeholders can contact the National Contact Points for Horizon 2020 Health for any future queries: Who To Contact - Horizon 2020 Ireland.
535. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to assist students who are required to complete a certain number of weeks of laboratory work in order to progress in their degree but are unable to do so due to restrictions on access to university laboratories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5573/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI appreciate that this is a time of considerable stress and concern for third level students and the challenging and stressful circumstances that students are facing are being taken into account by Higher Education institutions as they adapt and respond to the changing situation. This includes the consideration of issues around on-site access for practical work for students. The national co-ordination group for further and higher education is also meeting on a regular basis, and is closely monitoring the impact that Covid-19 is having on third level institutions and their students.
From the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), and including the representative bodies of education providers and students to address issues relating to the maintenance of the quality and standards of:
- teaching and learning,
- assessment, and
- qualifications.
This group has focused on the implementation of alternative arrangements and methods of delivery, where appropriate and necessary, to meet both these standards and, where applicable, the educational accreditation criteria established by Professional Recognition Bodies (PRBs).
The government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business and Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021, Plan for Living with COVID-19, combined with the HSA Return to Work Protocols and ongoing Public Health advice, provide the over-arching framework for all sectors of society for the operation of their facilities and premises in keeping with public health advice.
Specific to further and higher education, the government has also published “Guidance for Further and Higher Education for returning to on-site activity in 2020: Roadmap and COVID-19 Adaptation Framework for returning to on-site activity in autumn 2020” accompanied by “Implementation Guidelines for Public Health Measures in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)” and outbreaks protocols developed in collaboration with experts within the higher education sector and with the Department of Health. This suite of guidance provides robust advice to higher and further educational facilities on COVID-19 prevention measures, implementation of which will minimise the risk of infection for all students and staff. Further and Higher Education Institutes should adapt and customise these recommendations for their own particular settings, adhering at all times to the overarching Public Health principles on which the guidance is predicated.
As Higher Education Institutions are autonomous, and as such are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to access to laboratory facilities, and as there are a wide range of courses with practical laboratory elements, students are encouraged to approach their institutions directly if they have any queries in relation to the lab-based elements of their course.
However, my Department is continuing to work with all stakeholders to identify mitigating actions which can be implemented.
536. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will revise the current proposals by the Higher Education Authority and SOLAS to clear the backlog of apprentices due to finish a job block by teaching on evenings and weekends; if he will consider allowing apprentices to finish the required number of weeks to complete the job block in normal teaching times, given that apprentice students work full-time; if he will engage with the representative organisation (details supplied) on its proposals for teaching arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5594/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the 6 January 2021 Government advice to minimise movement, off-the-job training for craft apprentices moved to primarily online delivery. This approach is now continuing into February due to the extension of the Level 5 pandemic restrictions until the 5th March.
Apprentices due to begin off-the-job training during February and March will commence their training online. If a return to onsite training is possible during February, adequate notice will be provided to apprentices, training providers and other stakeholders. More detail is provided on the website www.apprenticeship.ie .
The Department, SOLAS and the HEA are working closely with further and higher education providers around the country to identify workable solutions which will support craft apprentices to complete their off-the-job training and assessment. This work is ongoing at the current time.
537. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to protect the access of Northern Ireland applicants to the Erasmus programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5623/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to expressed concerns by civic society in Northern Ireland, the Irish Government has committed to facilitating the continued access to Erasmus mobilities for higher education students in NI institutions. Officials in my Department have engaged with their counterpart in the Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland on this matter.
It is planned that eligible students studying in Northern Ireland will register with higher education institutions in this jurisdiction for the duration of their planned mobility. Officials in my Department have been working with the Higher Education Authority as the National Agency for Erasmus in Ireland, along with representatives from higher education institutions, North and South to develop detailed operational procedures for the scheme.
It is intended that the scheme will be in place for 2021/ 2022 academic year.
538. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with his UK counterpart and relevant EU officials offering a pathway back into the Erasmus+ programme for students in Scotland, Wales and England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5633/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraProvision was made in the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement, which would enable the UK Government to continue its participation in Erasmus programme. However, it decided not to avail of this mechanism.
It is open to the UK Government to apply to the EU Commission at any future stage to participate in the scheme. Acceptance of such an application would facilitate the participation of Scottish, Welsh and English in Erasmus mobilities.
539. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if plans are in place to ensure that third-level students will have access to the Erasmus+ programme in the academic year 2021-2022 despite Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5634/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Erasmus+ programme is the main avenue through which my Department and the Higher Education community support studying abroad for third-level students. The European Commission has been engaged in work to examine what is possible given the current state of the pandemic across Europe.
The European Commission approved the new work programme for Erasmus+ (2021-2028) in December 2020. The Higher Education Authority (HEA), which acts as the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Higher Education programme, is expecting to announce a call for applications to all participating Higher Education Institutions in March 2021. The HEA is working with the Sector to help it to benefit from the flexible approach proposed in the new Erasmus programme. In response to suggestions to the European Commission made over a number of years, shorter duration mobilities and the use of blended modes of participation are now being introduced. These measures will help widen opportunities for learning mobilities in our higher education sector, but the ability to take these up will of course depend on the prevailing circumstances at the time.
In 2021/2022, students and staff will have the opportunity to undertake a physical mobility to their chosen destination, depending on restrictions in place at at that time, should the circumstances surrounding international travel and the Covid-19 pandemic permit this. Students can also undertake a blended mobility approach, combining a period of physical mobility with a period of virtual learning. If international travel is not possible, students can do a virtual mobility for the entire duration of their Erasmus experience
540. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown of third-level students who have availed of the Erasmus+ programme in the 2020-2021 academic year; the number of third-level students who abandoned their plans to avail of the Erasmus+ programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5635/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDespite disruptions to the programme caused by the pandemic, the Higher Education Authority (HEA), which is the national agency with responsibility for the Erasmus+ programme at Higher Education level, oversaw 4079 Erasmus outbound mobilities from Ireland (3876 students and 203 staff) and 8655 incoming mobilities to Ireland (7648 students and 1007 staff) for the 2019/2020 period. The Higher Education Institutions are still in the process of returning the 2020-2021 figures to the HEA, but initial indications are that these figures will be just under half of the previous year's totals.
My Department and its Agencies and Higher education institutions will continue to take into consideration the public health advice available during these challenging times and will continue to work with students, their representatives and the European Commission to ensure a safe and continued Erasmus+ experience.
541. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if provisions will be made for third-level students that planned to avail of the Erasmus+ programme in the 2020-2021 academic year but subsequently abandoned their plans to study abroad due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5636/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Commission has provided funds to assist Erasmus students with costs incurred as part of cancelled or rearranged mobilities this year. In cases where students had to cancel their Erasmus mobility due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the student is entitled to receive support in covering their travel expenses if they were not able to cancel their travel booking and where reimbursement from the carrier company/insurance was not possible.
In any case, the student should provide evidence that a booking was made and that their efforts to recover the costs from the airline/insurance were unsuccessful. If a student had already paid a deposit for accommodation or had incurred additional costs in advance of their departure, this will also be accepted as eligible for reimbursement provided evidence is given which indicates that this expenditure cannot be recovered.
These measures are being managed by the Erasmus coordinators in the education institutions, and they will be able to offer guidance and assistance with any issues Erasmus students may be experiencing.
