Written Answers Nos. 737-755
737. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Irish students enrolled on joint programmes abroad and in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21465/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority collect the data on the number of students on joint programmes with institutions in other jurisdictions.
738. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Irish students enrolled in third-level education abroad and in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21466/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording most recent enrolment data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in the UK, there were 9,140 Irish students in the UK in the 2019/ 2020 academic year.
The Department does not have ready access to data on the number of students in other countries beyond Ireland and the UK.
739. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the arrangements in place in relation to mandatory hotel quarantine for returning non-Erasmus third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21467/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to support Erasmus students was taken in the context of my Department's role as national authority for the Erasmus programme. It is not possible to extend the arrangements for other categories ofstudents who travel outside the State to pursue their studies in other countries.
740. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to the Exchequer of covering the cost of mandatory hotel quarantine for returning non-Erasmus third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21468/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have data on the travel arrangements of students who travel independently to pursue studies outside of the Erasmus+ programme. In the main, these students undertake their studies independently and as a matter of personal choice. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of costs.
741. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to allocate funding to pre-apprenticeship training programmes that work predominantly with early school leavers and offer them a pathway to mainstream trade apprenticeships. [21509/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding for pre-apprenticeship programmes has increased since 2018-2019, with a Pathways to Apprenticeship funding stream within the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) further education and training programme that targets specific disadvantaged cohorts, including early school leavers, who wish to progress to all types of the apprenticeship programmes, including craft apprenticeships. The overall aim of the PLC Pathways to Apprenticeship Programme is to provide opportunities for learners to gain experience in areas where they are considering undertaking an apprenticeship.
Funding is available within the overall funding allocated to PLC provision. Initial planning data indicates that 813 learners will benefit from this funding in 2021. However, like all FET provision, final numbers taking up places may be affected by Covid restrictions. A pre-apprenticeship initiative is also underway via Technological University Dublin, with their Access to Apprenticeship programme now in its third year. The TU Dublin programme aims to support individuals who have experienced particularly severe social and/or economic barriers to access the apprenticeship route.
SOLAS is also running a second year of a Generation Apprenticeship competition at second level, which is open to those at school, in Youthreach and in Community Training Centres. The competition aims to introduce young people, their families, teachers and guidance counsellors to all of the opportunities available within apprenticeship in Ireland.
In accordance with the Programme for Government, a new Action Plan for Apprenticeship to cover the period 2021-2025 was launched on 19th April. The Plan promotes access, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship by offering targeted supports to encourage participation from young people and under-represented groups such as women, those with disabilities and those from ethnic minority backgrounds. Relevant actions include publishing information on access to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship courses on www.apprenticeship.ie and labelling these courses clearly with progression routes into apprenticeship clearly identified.
742. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports his Department will put in place for early school leavers who wish to pursue a trade but do not meet the minimum educational standards for mainstream trade apprenticeships. [21510/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra743. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the services available for early school leavers in County Westmeath who wish to pursue a mainstream trade apprenticeship. [21511/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra750. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the services available for early school leavers in County Longford who wish to pursue a mainstream trade apprenticeship. [21518/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 742, 743 and 750 together.
The Youthreach programme is a national programme education and training for early school leavers. The programme is delivered in two settings, Youthreach Centres and Community Training Centres (CTCs).
The Youthreach programme provides two years integrated education, training and work experience for unemployed early school leavers without any qualifications or vocational training, who are between 16 and 21 years of age. The programme offers participants the opportunity to identify and pursue viable options within adult life, provides them with opportunities to acquire certification, and includes a work experience element to prepare participants for progression on to further study, training or working life.
Early school leavers who wish to pursue an apprenticeship and who may not have the minimum qualifications to do so, may attend a Youthreach programme and achieve a Quality and Qualifications (QQI ) award which will allow the young person to register as an apprentice. The Youthreach programme offers QQI Levels 3 and 4, which is a minimum requirement for progression into an apprenticeship. This provides work experience modules which create links with potential employers who offer apprenticeship placements. Learners are provided with career guidance in relation to apprenticeships and also undertake educational visits to locations where registered apprentices attend training.
Youthreach programme provision includes a broad range of practical skills which prepare learners to progress into apprenticeships and include:
- Hairdressing
- Engineering
- Woodwork
- Electronics
- Computer Aided Design
- Maths
- Short Order Cooking
- Breakfast Cookery
- Craft
- Entrepreneurial Skills
- Team Working
- Work Experience
The number of learner placements currently in Youthreach/CTC's in the counties of Longford and Westmeath are provided below:
|
County |
Location |
FET Provision |
Number of Learner Places |
|
Longford |
Longford Ballymahon |
Youthreach Youthreach |
25 30 |
|
Westmeath |
Mullingar Athlone Kilbeggan Delvin |
CTC CTC Youthreach Youthreach |
60 50 25 25 |
744. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the enrolment figures for mainstream construction trade apprenticeships in County Westmeath in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21512/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra745. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the enrolment figures for mainstream construction trade apprenticeships in County Longford in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21513/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 744 and 745 together.
Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) are responsible for managing apprentice registrations across both counties. The attached table provides the number of construction related apprentices registered to LWETB for the required timeframe.
746. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science he capacity in each of the youthreach services in County Westmeath in tabular form. [21514/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra747. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the capacity in each of the youthreach services in County Longford in tabular form. [21515/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra748. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the enrolment figures for each of the youthreach services in County Westmeath in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21516/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra749. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the enrolment figures for each of the youthreach services in County Longford in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21517/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 746, 747, 748 and 749 together.
The information is being compiled by my Department and Solas and will be sent to the Deputy in the coming days.
751. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure financial assistance towards the cost of quarantine is put in place for returning students who are currently on unpaid placement or internship overseas; and if he will ensure that such students receive the same supports as those on Erasmus. [21550/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to support Erasmus+ participants with mandatory hotel quarantine was taken in the specific context of the Erasmus programme, for which my Department is the national authority.
Ireland is designated as a programme country under the Erasmus+ programme. As part of the programme, each programme country must nominate a national authority to monitor and supervise the management of the programme at national level. Ireland’s nominated Erasmus+ national authority is based in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
As national authority, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has designated the Higher Education Authority (HEA) as national agency for Erasmus+ in the field of higher education. As the national agency, the HEA is responsible for the participation of the higher education sector. The national authority provides co-funding for the operational costs to the European Programmes Unit of the HEA.
The policy of the national authority has always been to strongly encourage participation in the Erasmus+ programme. On this basis the Department, as national authority, has agreed to cover the cost of mandatory hotel quarantine for Erasmus+ participants at all levels who are returning to Ireland from countries on the quarantine list. We are not in a position to extend this support beyond the Erasmus+ programme.
752. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will extend the recent fee exemption for Erasmus students to all students that are required to spend time overseas as part of their course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21609/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to support Erasmus+ participants with mandatory hotel quarantine was taken in the specific context of the Erasmus programme, for which my Department is the national authority.
Ireland is designated as a programme country under the Erasmus+ programme. As part of the programme, each programme country must nominate a national authority to monitor and supervise the management of the programme at national level. Ireland’s nominated Erasmus+ national authority is based in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
As national authority, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has designated the Higher Education Authority (HEA) as national agency for Erasmus+ in the field of higher education. As the national agency, the HEA is responsible for the participation of the higher education sector. The national authority provides co-funding for the operational costs to the European Programmes Unit of the HEA.
The policy of the national authority has always been to strongly encourage participation in the Erasmus+ programme. On this basis the Department, as national authority, has agreed to cover the cost of mandatory hotel quarantine for Erasmus+ participants at all levels who are returning to Ireland from countries on the quarantine list. We are not in a position to extend this support beyond the Erasmus+ programme.
753. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional investment that will be required to reduce the staff-student ratio to 15:1. [21611/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the additional investment required to reduce the staff: student ratio to 15:1 across the university and technological sector is €147.480m per annum.
This is in accordance with the methodology used in the Institutional Profiles (published by the Higher Education Authority) and based on the 2017/18 enrolment figures for full time equivalent (FTE) students (full and part time) to academic staff as at 31 Dec 2017.
754. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who are Irish citizens that are denied the free fees initiative under the residency criteria, that is, having not been resident in three out of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21612/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to qualify for funding under the department's Free Fees Initiative students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the separate residency and nationality/citizenship requirements in their own right.
In order to meet the residency criteria a student must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. All students are required to meet the residency criteria of the scheme.
The assessment of eligibility under the Free Fees Initiative in individual cases is a matter for each institution to determine within the terms of the scheme and my department does not collate details on the number of students that were deemed ineligible under the terms of the scheme. There are currently no plans within my department to amend the residency criteria of the Free Fees Initiative.
Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee - either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution to determine.
My Department responded previously to concerns about the impact of the Free Fees Initiative eligibility criteria on Irish nationals who had, for occupational or economic reasons, to move abroad, requiring them to take their children out of the Irish education system in the process.
To this end, the department advised that, with effect from the academic year 2014/15 onwards, higher education institutions should charge the more moderate rate of EU fee for students that commence their first undergraduate course of study in an approved institution here and:
- Hold EU/EEA/Swiss/UK nationality but do not meet the residency clause of the Free Fees Initiative; and
- have completed five academic years of study (at either primary or post-primary level) in an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK State.
755. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of meetings he or his officials have had with stakeholders from the English language school sector; the status of his plans to ensure the survival of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21625/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnglish language education (ELE) in Ireland is a broad and diverse sector with the vast majority of activity undertaken by private sector providers. I am aware of the important contribution made by this sector and of the challenges that are being encountered given the substantial impact that the Covid-19 outbreak has had on students, teachers and providers.
As part of the response to the pandemic, my Department established a specific Working Group for this sector in March 2020 which has met 11 times to date. This group is comprised of representatives of relevant Government Departments and sectoral representatives of staff, students and providers. Further to the meetings of the Working Group, there has been a substantial level of engagement between my Department and representatives from the ELE sector over this period both bilaterally and in other forums.
As part of this process, the representative bodies for English language education providers have engaged with the Working Group surrounding their proposals for supports to aid the recovery of this sector. In this forum, the providers have been advised of the measures introduced by Government, as part of the wider Covid-19 response, to support businesses at this time. These measures included the temporary wages subsidy scheme (TWSS) to facilitate employers to keep employees on the payroll during the initial period of the Covid-19 pandemic in order to retain this link for when business increases after the crisis. Following the conclusion of the TWSS last August, it was superseded by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) which continues to provide payroll support to businesses. In addition to the subsidy that is being provided via the EWSS, this scheme also provides for a reduction in Employers PRSI.
Further to the above, the ELE provider representatives have been advised of the eligibility of businesses in this sector to apply, where appropriate, for further business supports made available by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland and through its network of Local Enterprise Offices. A full list of these supports and related information is available for providers here: https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
My Department has received the most recent proposals for supports from the sector and is continuing to engage with ELE provider representatives in this regard as this sector prepares to move towards re-opening, in line with public health guidelines, and continues on a path to recovery.
