Written Answers Nos. 718-736
718. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with his Ministerial colleague at the Department of Education in respect of the current employment agreements for behaviour analysts in special schools; and the supports his Department can provide in order to secure these workers’ places in the education system (details supplied). [21974/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on this matter. This is more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.
719. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1210 of 21 April 2021, if he will provide a schedule of the works completed in respect of the 45 of the 139 actions in the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020; if he will also provide a schedule of the outstanding; and or not yet completed and commenced actions. [21997/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA detailed description of the actions contained in the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 can be found at http://www.genderequality.ie/en/GE/Pages/NationalWomensStrategy.
The following actions have been completed:
720. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had engagements with an organisation (details supplied) regarding its concerns with the replacement of the National Standards for Foster Care 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22013/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has regular meetings with the Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) on a range of issues. In recent months my officials have engaged with the Association regarding their concerns about HIQA's draft Standards for Children's Social Services.
HIQA's proposal is to replace the current standards for Foster Care (2003), Children's Residential Care Special Care and Tusla Child Protection and Welfare Services with one overarching set of standard. These standards are based on four principles of human rights; safety, wellbeing, responsiveness and accountability.
The current National Standards for Foster Care have been in place since 2003 and have provided clear guidance to foster carers, social workers and inspectors. It is important that all standards are kept under review, to ensure that they remain fit for purpose. It also is essential that standards have the confidence of the sector, and in this instance, I am aware of the disquiet and concerns expressed by foster carers that the overarching standards are not suitable for family based care.
HIQA have an advisory committee on the development of the standards and my officials, and the IFCA are represented.
Following completion of a recent public consultation process HIQA will present the Draft National Standards for Children’s Social Services for consideration and approval by the Minister for Health in consultation with myself as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Standards must be accepted and approved by both Ministers before being implemented.
721. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of each contract entered into by his Department and the agencies under his remit to deal with Covid-19 management and reaction; and the name of the contractor in each case. [22133/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to provide the following information to the Deputy regarding the cost of each contract entered into by my Department and the agencies under my remit to deal with Covid-19 management and reaction; and the name of the contractor in each case.
DCEDIY contracted Holland Safety to provide bespoke Covid-19 Health and Safety Induction Training to all staff.
|
Body |
Cost of Each Contract |
Name of Contractor |
|
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) |
€27,650 |
Holland Safety |
|
Child and Family Agency (Tusla) |
Tusla will reply directly to the Deputy |
Tusla will reply directly to the Deputy |
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) |
The Adoption Authority completed a procurement exercise in April 2020 for a COVID-19 risk assessment and back to work protocol assessment. SHEQ – Centre Of Excellence Ltd were the successful contractor chosen. To date the Adoption Authority has paid SHEQ – Centre Of Excellence Ltd €6,340.13. As part of the Authority’s return to work a number of items were purchased to ensure that the office is compliant with our COVID return to work protocols. The following has been paid by the Authority to the following companies. All appropriate procurement protocols were complied with. |
Bizquip €6,812.91 RSPD €786.07 Flynn Sign Designs €1737.04 Eiremed €1,008.55 Clear Cut Marketing €544.40 PureMate €1,025.94 |
|
Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) |
The OCO will reply directly to the Deputy |
The OCO will reply directly to the Deputy |
|
Children detention school (Oberstown) |
Nil Reply |
Nil Reply |
|
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) |
IHREC will reply directly to the Deputy |
IHREC will reply directly to the Deputy |
|
National Disability Authority |
The name of the contractor, the cost and total cost in relation to contracts entered into to deal with Covid-19 management and reaction are as follows, noting that the staff of the NDA have worked remotely in line with government advice since 27th March 2020 with onsite attendance permitted on an exceptional basis for essential work only. |
LAWLOR OFFICE SUPPLIES €1,443.90 LEGAL-ISLAND LIMITED €420.90 LISSADEL STATIONERS LTD €498.59 PROPSERVE €6,461.40 QUADRA IRELAND LTD €4,305.00 SAFETY SOLUTIONS €685.00 |
722. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the allocations to the individual funding lines and schemes (details supplied) arising from the additional €5 million announced for youth work services in Budget 2021; and the current allocation to these funding lines and schemes in 2021. [22162/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll youth funding programmes received an increased allocation in 2021 arising from the additional €5 million in Budget 2021 for youth services. The table below details the exact amount increased in each funding programme for the Deputy. This increased the funding for youth services to €66.8 million and this is broken down as follows:
|
Scheme |
Allocation 2021 |
Allocation 2020 |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space (General Increase) |
€39,743,138 |
N/A |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space (new services and supports) |
€2,050,000 |
N/A |
|
TYFS/RYFS |
N/A |
€38,776,528 |
|
Youth Services Grant Scheme (YSGS) |
€12,261,532 |
€11,563,264 |
|
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) |
€2,254,664 |
€2,107,160 |
|
Youth Information Centres (YIC) |
€1,557,060 |
€1,347,492 |
|
ETB Youth Grant |
€4,675,018 |
€4,130,179 |
|
LGBTI Youth Strategy |
€600,000 |
€500,000 |
|
Other Youth Initiatives (incl. Leargas, Gaisce and smaller youth related projects) |
€3,647,205 |
€3,363,994 |
723. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the allocation of €1 million for six new projects under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme in Budget 2021; if the location of the new projects has been decided; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22163/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy points out, I secured an additional €1 million for the provision of new UBU services in 2021. Six Education and Training Boards (ETBs), who did not form part of the Sample Services process in 2016 and 2017, were pre-selected to establish new services. These ETBs are:
- City of Dublin ETB
- Donegal ETB
- Kerry ETB
- Laois Offaly ETB
- Louth Meath ETB
- Waterford Wexford ETB
My officials have met with the six ETBs to initiate the process. The mechanism by which selected ETBs undertake the establishment of new services is set out in the UBU Policy and Operating Rules. The six ETBs have commenced completing the Area Profile, Needs Assessment and Service Requirement (APNASR) which will identify the most pressing needs of young people to which the new services will respond. A provisional timeline of six months for the new services to become operational has been conveyed to these ETBs. I look forward to working with the ETBs to get new services up and running as soon as possible.
724. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a new youth strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22164/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commitment referred to by the Deputy sets out that the Government will develop mechanisms, through a new youth strategy, for the voice and views of young people to be part of decision-making at community, county and national levels.
Promoting and ensuring the participation of young people at all levels of decision-making is a key priority for my Department, in line with the National Strategy on Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-Making. Earlier this month, I launched a new National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making to support government departments, agencies and organisations to improve their participation practice with children and young people. I was delighted to see that the launch event was attended by representative of national, regional and local organisations including, for example, a number of government departments, Local Authorities, health services, and youth organisation.
I have also announced a Capacity Building Grant to support implementation of the Framework.
The production of a renewed youth strategy is a strategic action of my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2023. Covid has resulted in our finite resources having to be prioritised for pressing needs and some previously planned pieces of work have had to be delayed. The current National Youth Strategy, which was due to be replaced in recent months, continues to provide an overarching framework for the development of cross-government and cross-sectoral policy and service provision relating to young people aged 10 to 24. Its aim is to enable all young people to realise their maximum potential, by respecting their rights and hearing their voices, while protecting and supporting them as they transition from childhood to adulthood.
725. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1249 of 24 March 2021, if young persons taken into wardship in 2020 and to date in 2021 were sent for specialist treatment to other hospitals outside the State in view of the fact that a hospital (details supplied) is in the process of closing its children's unit; if so, the number of children; the details of the hospitals in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22199/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for her question. As this is an operational matter, it has been sent on to Tusla who will reply directly to the Deputy.
726. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding provided by his Department or agencies under his remit annually to family resource centres; the primary funding streams in each of the years 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22202/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme and provides funding supports to 121 FRCs across the country. Core funding for the national FRC Programme is provided from my Department (Vote 40), and, since 2019 has involved the allocation of approximately €18m annually to Tusla for this purpose.
FRCs will receive funding from Tusla other than core funding, as well as occasional one-off supports (for example in the context of Covid-19 in 2020). I have requested that Tusla respond directly to the Deputy with regard to the details of final funding amounts provided to FRCs annually since 2016.
In terms of funding from my Department, in addition to core funding provided by Tusla, some FRCs provide childcare services and would be eligible to sign funding agreements under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the Community Childcare Scheme Plus (CCSP) saver programme. Services operating any of the aforementioned programmes would also be eligible to apply for Programme Support Payments. My Department also has a number of strands of sustainability funding which are available for community services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. However, it is not readily feasible at present, to disaggregate the total amounts of funding provided to those childcare providers that are provided by FRCs.
It may also be possible for FRCs to access youth funding programmes, from my Department's Youth Affairs Unit. For example funding has been provided to FRCs under the Follow Your Dreams project in recent years.
With regard to other agencies under my Department's remit, the majority do not provide funding allocations to FRCs. I have also requested that the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO) respond directly to the Deputy to outline funding, if any, allocated to FRCs since 2016.
727. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the direction he has given to the providers of catering in direct provision centres to accommodate the altered eating patterns of Muslim asylum seekers during Ramadan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22248/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll of my Department’s international protection accommodation centres are contractually bound to provide menus that reasonably meet the dietary needs of the different ethnic, cultural and religious groups accommodated at the centre and the reasonable prescribed dietary needs of any person accommodated at the centre including the provision of a vegetarian option.
All accommodation centres that offer catered options must provide three meals per day and must have a range of snacks and non-alcoholoic beverages readily available.
In addition contractors must consult with residents and resdient committees in the accommodation centres in relation to preferences for inclusion of specific foods on menus or any dietary requirement that they have and where possible this is facilitated. Arrangements are also be made to cater for any particular religious requirements of residents such as observing Ramadan.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) communicates directly with centre managers and residents via regular newsletters.
Prior to the start of Ramadan, the IPAS prepared and circulated information for centre managers and residents with practical supports on observing Ramadan during the current Covid-19 restrictions. The newsletter is available at https://www.accommodationcentres.ie/newsletters-updates/ .
728. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are funding streams available for community groups in County Donegal to provide for a wheelchair swing in a children's playground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22264/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne funding stream under the remit of my Department can be accessed by community groups through the Local Authority in which the facility for which funding is needed is or will be located. My department has administered the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation every year since 2013. This Scheme provides Local Authorities with the opportunity to apply for funding to support play and recreation facilities for children and young people. This scheme caters for the construction of new play and recreation facilities and the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and / or incorporating natural play elements, and a key criteria of the Scheme is that facilities funded are accessible to all children.
The Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation is run in conjunction with each of the 31 Local Authorities; via the Local Authority Play and Recreation Network (LAPRN). This approach is taken to allow each Local Authority to assess and prioritise needs in their area and to enhance the level of accountability under this grant heading. Each successful application must include a commitment to co-funding of 25% of DCEDIY funding, by the Local Authority in question making the application.
The closing date for applications was April 22 this year and demand for funding under this scheme this year was exceptionally strong. All 31 Local Authorities submitting applications, across some 52 projects. Following evaluation of all submitted projects; Local Authorities will be notified of the outcome of their applications as soon as possible..
I would suggest that the Deputy advises the relevant community group(s) to liaise with their Local Authority in preparation for an application to the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation 2022. This will allow the Donegal Local Authority to consider the project referenced by the Deputy, for possible inclusion in next years submission.
729. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by his Department on public relations advice and media advice since January 2020 to date in 2021; and the companies engaged for this advice in tabular form. [22268/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth has no spend on public relations advice and media advice in the dates January 2020 to date in 2021.
730. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by his Department on advertising and public messaging in print, broadcast and online since January 2020 to date in 2021; and the companies engaged to assist with placing the advertisements and the companies advertised with in tabular form. [22286/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra.
|
Date |
Amount |
Company Engaged |
Company With |
|
August 2020 |
€4059 Inc VAT |
Mindshare Media Ireland Ltd |
Online Advertising |
|
2020 Total |
€146,513.54 Inc VAT |
Mindshare Media Ireland Ltd |
Sky Adsmart, YouTube PMP, GroupM Programmatic VOD, TodayFM, MediaCentral 6, IRS, GroupM PBU Audio, GroupM PBU Display, GroupM PBU Native, Search, Facebook/Instagram, Snapchat |
|
2021 Total |
€56,270.44 Inc VAT |
Mindshare Media Ireland Ltd |
Raidió Teilifís Éireann, IRS, MediaCentral, TodayFM, UrbanMedia, GroupM PBU Audio, Facebook/Instagram, Snapchat |
|
February 2020 |
€64.00 Not liable for VAT. |
Iris Oifigúil |
|
|
June 2020 |
€75.00 Not liable for VAT. |
Iris Oifigúil |
|
|
January 2021 |
€50,721.30 Inc VAT |
Mediavest Limited T/A Spark Foundry |
(National and local press) |
|
|
€68,552 Inc VAT |
Mindshare Media Ireland Ltd |
|
|
March 2021 |
€154,656.79 ex VAT |
Mindshare Media Ireland Ltd |
Local and National Irish newspapers (including NI) and on various Social Media platforms |
|
March 2021 |
STG£1750.00 ex VAT |
Embassy London |
two newspapers targeting the Irish community in the UK |
|
March 2021 |
$550 |
Embassy Washington |
advertisements in US based Irish Community newspapers |
|
February 2021 |
€15,829.06 Inc VAT |
Mindshare Media Ireland Ltd |
|
731. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has received any of the State allocation of the EU React funding; if so, the amount; and the areas of expenditure under the responsibilities of his Department it was spent on. [21335/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraREACT EU is a €47.5bn initiative under the European Recovery Instrument to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and to prepare a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy. The funding allocations are allocated in two tranches, for 2021 (80%) and 2022 (20%). The allocations will top-up existing 2014-2020 cohesion policy programmes and Member States can allocate the resources across their Operational Programmes under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) or the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).
Ireland’s allocation for 2021 is €83.2m (2018 Prices) and it is proposed to allocate this amount to the ESF OP, which is managed by the ESF Managing Authority in my Department to support training and employment measures across the economy and regions under the July Jobs Stimulus Package. An OP amendment is currently being prepared for approval by the Programme Monitoring Committee and submission to the European Commission.
The second tranche of funding is expected to be allocated through the ERDF, subject to agreement on the measures to be supported. This is currently under consideration and will be drawn up in the coming months.
732. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1298 of 21 March 2021, if the current intake quota for student nurses at third-level is due to limits on the number of clinical placements that can be facilitated by the health service; the predicted demand for additional nurses for the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22246/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra775. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1298 of 21 March 2021, the quotas for nursing students in each of the years since 2006, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22215/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 775 together.
The information requested by the Deputy on the quota for nursing students is available in the attached table. The figures are available from 2011 onwards as that is when funding for undergraduate nursing transferred to the HEA. The quota on EU nursing places is set by the Department of Health/HSE and any increases to the quota (as happened in 2016/17 and 2017/18) are at the request of the Department of Health/ and HSE.
The limits on the intake is due primarily to the cost of funding nursing education, and the limitations on the number of clinical placements that can be facilitated.
As we move to a population-based healthcare delivery model, this will affect the predicted workforce supply and requirement into the future. Allocating resources according to a population’s health and social care needs will enable more integrated, equitable care that can be more clearly linked to health outcomes and reducing health inequalities, and to value-for-money assessment.
In line with a population health approach championed in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and advocated for by the Oireachtas Sláintecare Report 2017, a blueprint for the development of a Sláintecare Citizen Care Masterplan (CCMP) is being finalised. The CCMP aims to inform policy decision-making around equitable allocation of resources of all types. The CCMP will consist of population-based health needs assessment and segmentation exercises. This information will inform the further development of frameworks for resource allocation, including workforce planning.
Quota for EU nursing students in Ireland, 2011 - 2020
|
Academic Year |
Nursing Student Quota |
|
2011/12 |
1570 |
|
2012/13 |
1570 |
|
2013/14 |
1570 |
|
2014/15 |
1570 |
|
2015/16 |
1570 |
|
2016/17 |
1630 |
|
2017/18 |
1819 |
|
2018/19 |
1819 |
|
2019/20 |
1819 |
|
2020/21* |
1819 |
*The 2020/21 figures do not include any additional places sanctioned as a result of the calculated grades process.
733. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will review the possibility of retrospective further tax relief on third-level fees; if measures will be considered which can be accessed later than the calendar year in which the fees were paid, for example, as part of the remaining balance of a student loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21299/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe timeframes for the claiming of all tax reliefs, including those on third level fees, are set out by the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and are managed by the Revenue Commissioners. There are no current plans to revise these timeframes as they relate to tax relief on third level fees. However, these matters remain under review.
Further information on the current tax relief scheme and options for claiming this relief can be found online here: https://www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/education/tuition-fees-paid-for-third-level-education/index.aspx.
734. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider amending the Student Support Act 2011 to support Irish students studying within the EU who would qualify for SUSI support if they were studying in Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that third-level education fees are lower in most other EU states than they are in Ireland; the estimated cost of such a change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21438/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States. Also, Student grant legislation was amended in 2020 to retain the status quo, thus allowing funding for eligible students attending an approved undergraduate course in the UK to continue post-Brexit.
In general, an approved undergraduate course in this context is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU Member State or the UK.
The student grant scheme does not and never has extended to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than for exceptional provision in respect of postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland. This provision is consistent with the principles of the Good Friday agreement and is intended to promote greater tolerance and understanding between both jurisdictions. The Scheme also does not extend to PLC courses pursued outside of the State or postgraduate study pursued outside of Ireland.
The extension of funding in this way would represent a major policy change which has the potential to impose very significant additional costs for the Exchequer. Any such decision could only be considered in light of available resources and in the context of competing demands within the education sector. Accordingly, at present I do not intend to depart from the current arrangements.
In terms of tuition fees in Ireland, the 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.
The State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. This support has played a very significant role in facilitating access to and growth in higher education. What was previously the preserve of a relatively small proportion of the school leaving population is now much more widely available, as reflected in the current transfer rate from second to third level.
This commitment is demonstrated through the Free Fees Schemes under which the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students attending approves courses in the State with students paying the student contribution. The student contribution applies to all students on an annual basis, who are eligible under for the free fees scheme. The current rate is €3,000 per annum. Currently 60,000 students have all or part of the student contribution paid on their behalf by the State via the Student Grant Scheme.
Funding under the Free Fees Initiative is only available in respect of approved courses within the State.
The development of a sustainable funding model for higher education is essential in light of the centrality of higher education to our progress as a country. In that context, a comprehensive economic evaluation of the funding options presented in the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education is underway supported under the European Commission DG Reform Programme. My Department is working closely with the European Commission and the independently appointed consortia of consultants. The key aim of this review is to investigate methods of increasing the sustainability of higher and further education provision in Ireland, including an examination of the funding options. This review commenced in early 2020 and work is expected to be complete towards the latter part of Q2 2021.
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
735. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places available for students wishing to study medicine in Irish universities; the annual intake of first year students; his views on whether the number of places is sufficient given the shortage of doctors in the Irish health system; his plans to increase same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21440/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra774. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1298 of 21 March 2021, the quota for EU medical students each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22214/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra777. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1298 of 21 March 2021, if an analysis has been conducted on the appropriate level to provide the quota for EU medical students since the Fottrell Report was published in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22217/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 735, 774 and 777 together.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the intake quota of medical students per year is available in the table attached.
The Medical Education in Ireland: A New Direction report, known as the Fottrell Report (2006) outlined a recommended quota of EU and Non EU Medical Students. No further analysis has been conducted on the appropriate level to provide the quota for EU medical students since the Fottrell Report was published in 2006.
Ireland is committed under the World Health Organization’s Global Code on the Recruitment of International Health Personnel to strive for self-sufficiency with regard to the training and supply of medical specialists. The goal of the Department of Health is to develop a sustainable medical workforce to staff the health service to deliver the service. Following Medical School the first year of post graduate medical training is the intern year. The Deputy may wish to note that the HSE intend to review the number of medical intern posts in a planned and targeted manner for July 2022 to ensure any increases in intern posts aligns with projected workforce planning and postgraduate training positions. The outcome of this review with the recommended number of intern places for July 2022 will be presented to the Department of Health, later this year.
Quota for EU medical students in Ireland, 2005 - 2020
|
Academic Year |
Medical Education Quota |
|
2005/06 |
320 |
|
2006/07 |
390 |
|
2007/08 |
490 |
|
2008/09 |
585 |
|
2009/10 |
585 |
|
2010/11 |
645 |
|
2011/12 |
705 |
|
2012/13 |
705 |
|
2013/14 |
705 |
|
2014/15 |
708 |
|
2015/16 |
708 |
|
2016/17 |
708 |
|
2017/18 |
708 |
|
2018/19 |
708 |
|
2019/20 |
708 |
|
2020/21* |
708 |
* The 2020/21 figures do not include any additional places sanctioned as a result of the calculated grades process.
736. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Irish students enrolled in Erasmus abroad and in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21464/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the most up-to-date HEA figures, there are currently 1,026 students from Irish institutions abroad on Erasmus+.
