John McGuinness
Ceist:257. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the application to transfer the carer’s allowance payment to a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [36950/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Welfare Benefits
Ceisteanna (257)
Freagraí scríofa
Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
My department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 10 March 2021. The application was awarded on 1 April 2021 with effect from 11 March 2021 and the first payment issued to her nominated post office on 8 April 2021. Arrears of allowance due from 11 March 2021 to 7 April 2021 issued on 8 April 2021.
The person concerned requested that the date of award be reviewed and to have the payment backdated, and submitted additional evidence in support of her request. Following this and a subsequent review the decision remained unchanged.
She was notified on 22 May 2021 of the outcome of this review, the reasons for the decision and of her right of appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (258)
John McGuinness
Ceist:258. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a child benefit and family benefit application dating back to 2014 which is now under appeal with a request for an oral hearing will be expedited and approved in the name of a person (details supplied). [36951/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The appeal of the person concerned along with the file and submission papers, will be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office this week. Should the person concerned wish to provide additional information to the Department this will also be considered.
An Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (259)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:259. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the pilot programme for deaf remote interpreting services on an on demand app (details supplied) has now ceased; and her plans to resume this service on a long-term basis given the very valuable benefit it provided to members of the deaf community, particularly given that another service is limited to 22 minute calls creating difficulties for lengthy calls to services and financial institutions and so on. [37018/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory body under the aegis of my Department, provides funding to The Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) - the national service for the development, promotion and delivery of sign language interpreting services to the Deaf community in Ireland. The Remote Interpreting Application was a six-month pilot project developed by CIB and SLIS, and funded under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Innovation Fund 2020.
I am advised that the Pilot commenced on 1st January 2021 and ended as planned on the 30th June 2021. The Deaf community and service providers had already been made aware of this by CIB and SLIS. The CIB has informed me that due to the procurement arrangements in place, it is not possible to continue to operate the application on an interim basis during the review process.
CIB has also informed me that an external independent evaluation of the Pilot is currently underway and that CIB and SLIS will review the evaluation report and its recommendations in detail, in considering the continuation or mainstreaming of the Application. Based on number of calls and the duration of these calls during the Pilot, the average call time was just over seven and a half minutes per call.
The Irish Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS) ensures that a deaf person can pre-book a live video link to an Irish Sign Language interpreter, enabling access to services. If a deaf person may require a service beyond 22 minutes, they can book a second back-to-back appointment, thereby increasing capacity for longer calls to services, financial institutions etc. as may be required.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (260)
John McGuinness
Ceist:260. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a carer's allowance now under appeal will be expedited and approved in the case of a person (details supplied). [37026/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 16 February 2021. The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that although a certain level of care was being provided, the level involved did not amount to full-time care.
The person concerned was notified on 26 February 2021 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The outcome of the appeal is that the original decision was upheld, and the appeal was disallowed. The SWAO decision is final in this matter and can only be reviewed in light of new evidence or facts not previously considered.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Ceisteanna (261)
Kieran O'Donnell
Ceist:261. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied). [37034/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 10th May 2021. Applications are processed in date of receipt order, currently applications received at the end of April 2021 are being dealt with. The Deciding Officer will notify the customer in writing as soon as the application has been finalised.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (262)
Kieran O'Donnell
Ceist:262. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a review in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37035/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned reached pension age on 24 February 2021. According to the records of my Department, they had a total of 1,270 qualifying full-rate paid and credited contributions from their date of entry into insurable employment on 13 July 1971 to end-December 2020.
This person’s yearly average was calculated as 26 contributions and gave them an entitlement to a standard State pension (contributory) at 85% of the maximum rate. They were notified in writing of this decision on 12 February 2021.
The matter was referred to my Department's Central Records Section for a review of contributions for the period from 1972 to 1976/77. Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 11 February 2021. Their reply was received on 16 April 2021 and the case was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation.
When the investigation is complete, the person's contribution record will be reviewed. If their record is updated, a review of their State pension (contributory) entitlement can then be carried out and the person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (263)
Kieran O'Donnell
Ceist:263. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if homemaker's credits will be added to the social insurance record of a person (details supplied); and if a higher rate of pension will be awarded to them. [37036/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned reached pension age on 8 June 2015. According to the records of my Department, they had a total of 1,035 qualifying full-rate paid and credited contributions from their date of entry into insurable employment on 8 June 1965 to end-December 2014.
The Homemakers Scheme was applied to the calculation of the person’s pension entitlement under the yearly average method. This scheme was introduced on 6 April 1994 and allows up to 20 years (since 1994) spent caring for children under 12 years of age or for incapacitated person(s) to be disregarded in calculating an applicant’s yearly average, and for homemaker credits to be awarded for homemaking periods of less than a full contribution year. The effect of this is to reduce the number of years by which an applicant’s contributions are divided, thereby increasing their yearly average and making it easier for them to qualify for the most beneficial rate of state pension (contributory).
This person’s yearly average was calculated as 26 contributions and gave them an entitlement to a standard State pension (contributory) at 85% of the maximum rate. They were notified in writing of this decision on 5 June 2015.
An interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA), also known as the Aggregated Contributions Method, was introduced in January 2018 as an alternative to the yearly average method of calculating pension entitlement for those State pension (contributory) customers born on or after 1 September 1946 and therefore affected by post-2012 Budget pension rates. The TCA provides for up to 20 years of HomeCaring Periods (HCP) in their pension entitlement calculation for applicants who took time out of the workplace for parenting or caring duties.
The person concerned was invited on 4 April 2019 to apply for HCP and to have their pension reviewed, but did not respond at that time. Their application for HCP was received on 12 May 2021 by my Department and 1,222 HCP credited contributions were awarded in respect of childcaring duties for the person's five children. A maximum of 1,040 HCP plus credited contributions can be used in the calculation of an applicant's pension entitlement under the interim TCA.
On review of their State pension (contributory) entitlement, their rate of pension increased from 85% to 95% of the maximum pension. The revised decision issued to them in writing on 25 May 2021 with details of arrears due, backdated to 30 March 2018, in line with social welfare legislation.
The person concerned is now in receipt of the correct rate of pension payable commensurate with their social insurance record held by my Department.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (264)
Kieran O'Donnell
Ceist:264. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if homemaker’s credits will be added to the record of a person (details supplied); and if they have an entitlement to the higher rate of pension. [37037/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 841 full-rate paid contributions, 717 credited contributions and 754 HomeCaring Periods in respect of childcaring duties for their three children.
The person's entitlement to State pension (contributory) has been reviewed. They are entitled to 90.43% of the maximum rate of pension from 11 July 2021, their 66th birthday. They were notified in writing of this decision on 5 July 2021.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Ceisteanna (265)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:265. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if assistance is available to a person (details supplied) to retain the additional benefits for a disabled person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37040/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Payment of the secondary benefits outlined by the Deputy is directly linked to the payment of the primary payment – Disability Allowance. There are no circumstances where the payment of these secondary benefits can continue to be paid when the primary payment has ceased due to the person exceeding the income limit for receipt of the primary payment.
Any decision to allow a person to continue to receive the fuel allowance, free travel or HHB after the cessation of a primary payment would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.
A person in receipt of certain Social Security Payments from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement may have an entitlement to secondary benefits from my Department. Entitlement to these secondary benefits can only be determined following receipt of the necessary completed application forms and any associated supplementary information requested.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (266)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:266. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if contributions between the 65th and 66th birthdays are treated as full contributions and not credits to the 520 full rate condition (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37051/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A minimum of 520 full-rate paid contributions is required to qualify for the standard State pension(contributory). Full-rate social insurance contributions paid up to an applicant's 66th birthday can be included in satisfying this 520 full-rate condition. The maximum number of full-rate paid contributions which can be included in any one contribution year is 52.
While credits may be used in the calculation of the rate of pension entitlement once the qualifying conditions are satisfied, they are not included in the 520 full-rate condition to qualify for pension.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (267)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans on resuming availability of an application (details supplied) to support persons who are deaf with accessing key interpretation services in recognition of the accessibility the application offers and the commitment in the Programme for Government to equality-proof social protection supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37065/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory body under the aegis of my Department, provides funding to the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) - the national service for the development, promotion and delivery of sign language interpreting services to the Deaf community in Ireland. The Remote Interpreting Application was a six-month pilot project developed by CIB and SLIS, and funded under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Innovation Fund 2020.
The Pilot commenced on 1st January 2021 and as planned, ended on 30 June 2021. The Deaf community and service providers had already been made aware of this by CIB and SLIS.
CIB has informed me that an external independent evaluation of the Pilot is currently underway and that CIB and SLIS will review the evaluation report and its recommendations in detail, in considering the continuation or mainstreaming of the Application.
CIB has also informed me that due to the procurement arrangements in place, it was not possible to continue to operate the Application on an interim basis during the evaluation process.
It should be noted that although the Remote Interpreting Application is not currently available the Sign Language Interpreting Service is still available to deaf customers.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Assisted Decision-Making
Ceisteanna (268)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:268. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional capital and current funding needed to fully progress the decision support service to be fully operational and to be in a position to offer services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37020/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Decision Support Service (DSS) has made considerable progress in putting in place the administrative and IT systems needed to operate the 2015 Act. To this end a budget of €5.8 million was secured for the Decision Support Service for 2021, a significant increase on its €3.5 million 2020 budget.
The additional budget in 2021 is intended to ensure that there is no financial impediment to the establishment of the DSS. The funding, in the main, covers ICT development, Recruitment, Communications and Office Expenses. The DSS is on track to open for business, on schedule, in June 2022. Work is being undertaken within the context of the estimates process to identify the DSS's funding needs for 2022.
State Bodies
Ceisteanna (269)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:269. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of complaints made to HIQA regarding social workers in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [36929/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Information Quality Authority does not investigate complaints against individual health and social care practitioners, including social workers. The Authority may take into account information it receives in relation to a service when deciding on its inspection focus or timetable. In
CORU is the statutory body with responsibility to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education and training, and competence through the registration of health and social care professionals. This body handles complaints relating to social workers under fitness to practice.
In order to provide you with a comprehensive answer, I have referred your question to CORU and HIQA, asking them to provide the information you seek. As soon as information becomes available I will share it with you.
Ombudsman for Children
Ceisteanna (270)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:270. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of complaints currently awaiting an outcome from the Ombudsman for Children. [36930/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Ombudsman for Children Office, I have referred the question to that Office for a direct response to the Deputy.
State Bodies
Ceisteanna (271)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:271. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role HIQA occupies in the provision of safe and effective services provided by social workers. [36931/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), set up by the Department of Health and independent in its functions, was established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland.
In relation to my Department, HIQA is authorised, under Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991, as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011, to inspect child protection and foster cares services and Tusla children's residential services and to register Special Care Units.
It is important to note that social workers working in Tusla, in both management and practice are responsible for the planning and delivery of a wide range of child welfare and protection services and services to children in the community and in care, including emergency and urgent referrals that occur out of hours.
Over recent years Tusla social workers are responding to a demand led service with an increasing number of referrals annually, and growing calls to provide additional and more targeted services to groups of vulnerable children in society, for example children in direct provision and homeless hubs. Tusla are also asked to become involved with children known to criminal justice agencies and children with complex disabilities.
Tusla’s 17 operational areas are all inspected regularly by HIQA, as are a number of private foster care services which also employ social workers. While HIQA does not have a role in commenting on individual social work practice they have found that the majority of child protection and foster care teams provide a high or good level of service. Inspectors regularly comment in reports that social workers and other Tusla staff demonstrate a commitment to their work and a desire to see positive outcomes for children and families. Well performing areas are inspected through a quality assurance methodology. HIQA and Tusla have identified a minority of areas that do not meet standards to an adequate level and Tusla have dedicated action plans to improve these services. HIQA have identified that, in some areas, the social work resource, by way of numbers, stability or experience, is not in a position to adequately meet the demand for the service. HIQA adopt a proportionate approach to risk, and inspect areas that are not meeting standards more frequently.
HIQA publishes inspection reports which are reviewed by my Department as part of a more general root cause analysis of services. It is important that, in conjunction with Tusla and other agencies, we identify what part policy, resources and local management contribute to the standard of services for vulnerable children and act on these findings. Indeed, my department recently brought together all the key stakeholders in this regard, HIQA included, at a roundtable meeting to ensure that we harness the collective learning and apply this to policy and practice.
HIQA plays a vital role in providing assurance regarding Tusla services and their work has contributed to service improvements. With regard to Social Work practice, Irish social workers are required to register with CORU, Ireland's multi-profession health regulator. CORU promotes high standards of professional conduct, education and training, and competence through the registration of health and social care professionals. Where there is concern in relation to a particular social worker, CORU's complaints process is referred to as Fitness to Practise. Fitness to practice is concerned with those issues that affect a person's ability to practise in their profession, not just in their current job. This includes professional misconduct and poor professional performance. More information on making a complaint with CORU can be found here:
coru.ie/public-protection/fitness-to-practise/how-to-make-a-complaint-service-user-member-of-the-public-/
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (272)
Matt Shanahan
Ceist:272. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if ongoing funding being provided will not be reduced in any way to those who have had to raise their prices in view of the increasing costs profile occurring in early years childcare which is forcing some private providers to increase their charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37063/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am very concerned to hear of providers proposing to increase charges to parents at a time when the Government continues to support early learning and childcare providers very significantly. In view of the extent of State support, increases are not justified at this time.
The Government has been strongly supportive of the sector, particularly since the onset of Covid-19. We have provided substantial additional supports to allow services to operate sustainably throughout the pandemic, acknowledging that there are higher delivery costs and many extra practical and financial challenges to be met. One of the objectives of these supports was to ensure that the higher delivery costs due to public health requirements and lower occupancy were not passed on to parents.
In addition to my Department's funding schemes, services can currently participate in the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) which provides an average of 50% of normal operating costs for services. The EWSS has been paid at enhanced rates since October 2020, and is due to continue until the end of December 2021. Most businesses must demonstrate a 30% reduction in turnover to be eligible for supports under the scheme. When the EWSS was introduced in August 2020, I negotiated a special arrangement for registered ELC and SAC services to be exempt from this turnover test and I can confirm that these special arrangements will be extended for Quarter 3 of 2021. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Department of Finance in the context of wider proposals for the EWSS in Quarter 4.
I recognise that early learning and care and school age childcare services are private businesses and are free to set their own policies regarding the charging of fees and contract conditions. Given the substantial additional supports allocated to the sector, and the assurance that there will be no sudden withdrawal of Government supports, there is no case for an increase to fees paid by parents.
I might add that where providers require further financial assistance in addition to current supports available, my Department operates a Covid-19 Impact Support Scheme. This is additional to the existing financial supports for services. The purpose of the Covid-19 Impact support grant is to support the sustainability of ELC and SAC services who may be left with short-term sustainability concerns due to lower attendance or higher costs arising from COVID-19. This scheme will support services to remain open without increasing their Registered Fees to parents or guardians.
Funding is provided to successful applicants which have experienced an income/expenditure deficit in respect of the childcare aspect of their business/organisation, and do not have sufficient funds in reserve to absorb this deficit. Funding is not available to replace all lost income; funding is available only to fill an actual shortfall where the applicant cannot meet all of their current operating costs. The funding will be available on a rolling basis throughout 2021 for eligible ELC and SAC services that require further financial assistance. The process for accessing this funding begins with the City/County Childcare Committees; any service that has concerns about their viability should therefore contact their local CCC in the first instance.
Looking to the future, my Department will be developing a new funding model for early learning and care and school age childcare that provides additional resourcing to services subject to quality and affordability. An Expert Group has been progressing this work since late 2019 and I expect their report to be finalised in November. An essential and top priority for this Group will be to make recommendations on a mechanism to control fee rates for different types of provision for ELC/SAC in return for increased State investment in affordability, quality and sustainability, as set out in First 5. I anticipate that the Expert Group's work can contribute to informing the Budget 2022 process.
Extensive research has already been commissioned to inform the work of the Group. Frontier Economics, the Research Partner, have produced and published eight working papers, with three that directly address affordability issues including international comparisons of fees and public investment, approaches to funding the early learning and care sector, and mechanisms to control fees charged to parents. This research identifies international practice and learning that will be of value for the new funding model.
Anti-Racism Measures
Ceisteanna (273)
Steven Matthews
Ceist:273. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the work of a group (details supplied); if he will consider meeting with the group in order to show solidarity with its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36688/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Thank you Deputy for your question, and drawing my attention to the work of Bray for Love of which I was aware. I wish to commend Bray for Love on the work they are carrying out, and I would be delighted to meet with them.
As the Deputy is aware, I published the Interim Report of the Anti-Racism Committee back in April.
The Anti-Racism Committee is an independent Committee established by Government in 2020 to draw up a National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) for Ireland. This is in line with the commitment contained within the Programme for Government to publish a new NAPAR. The work of the Committee will help to strengthen the Government’s approach to combatting individual and institutional racism and will build on the anti-racism actions included in the Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS) and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS).
The Committee is coming to the end of its Public Consultation (21 April to 14 July 2021), and later this year the Committee will recommend its NAPAR to me.
The Deputy can access the Interim Report and the Public Consultation at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/c9325-minister-ogorman-publishes-interim-report-of-independent-anti-racism-committee-and-welcomes-the-launch-of-the-committees-public-consultation/
Technological Universities
Ceisteanna (274)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:274. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made on the acquisition of a site for the Wexford campus of the Technological University of South East Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37071/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The IT Carlow Wexford campus has been in operation since 1995. The current campus facilities consist of two separate rented sites which offer little opportunity for expansion. It has been a long term ambition of IT Carlow to secure a more suitable permanent campus site in Wexford. In the broader context of higher education progression and integration in the South East this is an objective I strongly support.
Should the application made by IT Carlow and WIT to establish a multi-campus TU serving the South East ultimately prove to be successful then any new campus of IT Carlow located in Wexford would, in turn, become a campus of the designated Technological University.
I can confirm that IT Carlow submitted an updated business case to the HEA earlier this year for a site purchase in Wexford. After a review of the business case, the HEA Board approved the proposal, including the value for money parameters. The proposal has been further approved by me and by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in line with the THEA Code of Governance, which applies to Institutes of Technology.
IT Carlow is now engaged in efforts to secure a site in line with the agreed parameters and has been liaising with Wexford County Council who are very supportive of the planned development.
The Deputy will appreciate that, as the site acquisition process is ongoing, the details are commercially sensitive. However, I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to bring this matter to a conclusion as soon as possible.
Grant Payments
Ceisteanna (275)
Danny Healy-Rae
Ceist:275. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the penalisation of students who received the pandemic unemployment payment when applying for the SUSI grant (details supplied) will be examined and addressed. [37068/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Student Support Scheme is a critical financial support for students participating in higher education. As of earlier this week, SUSI had received almost 74,000 applications from students. To date, almost 53,500 applications have been assessed with over 47,000 assessed as eligible for support for the next academic year.
As in any statutory scheme, a core principle is that there is consistency of approach and an equitable treatment for applicants as part of the means assessment process.
This applies to people who are dependent on different types of social protection payment.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been treated as reckonable income since it was introduced in March 2020 . Income from the Covid-19 payment therefore has the same standing and is treated in a similar fashion to other Department of Social Protection payments such as Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance.
This means that a student or a family on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment should be treated in the same way as a student or a family who are dependent on Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance. The holiday earnings disregard does not apply to these social protection payments, and it would not be fair or equitable to apply a different approach to the PUP.
However, a very important feature of the scheme that I would point to is the change of circumstances provision.
If an applicant or a family member has experienced a change in circumstances during 2021, then they can apply to SUSI for their application to be assessed or reassessed under a change in circumstances.
Such a change in circumstances would clearly include no longer being in receipt of a pandemic unemployment payment. Students will no longer receive the PUP from early September, in line with normal circumstances where students do not qualify for unemployment payments while at college.
The change of circumstances provision is a well-established procedure and it can also operate at scale. For example, over 10,000 applicants declared a change of circumstance in the 2020/21 academic year and some 40% of these applications related to COVID-19.
I am confident that the application of this provision will continue to allow the scheme to be flexible and responsive to people's circumstances.
Grant Payments
Ceisteanna (276)
Marian Harkin
Ceist:276. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the dependent status of students for the purposes of SUSI grants in cases in which their dependent status changes from the first year of application for a SUSI grant. [37058/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold, or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.
For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.
A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course, and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1st October. Otherwise, he/she would be assessed as a dependent student, i.e. assessed with reference to parental income and address.
A student’s status for grant purposes is defined at their first point of entry to an approved further or higher education course or at their point of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, and continues to apply for the duration of their studies.
However, there are points at which a student may reclassify from a dependent student to an independent student. These are where he/she:
- Progresses from further education to higher education.
- Is returning following a 3 year break in studies.
- Is returning as a "second chance" student after a five year break in studies.
The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
Applicants who do not meet the criteria to be assessed as an independent student for grant purposes, or who cannot supply the necessary documentation to establish independent living for the required period, may still apply to SUSI to have their grant eligibility assessed as a dependent student. The relevant information, including details of parental income, would be required by SUSI to determine grant eligibility as a dependent student.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI and subsequently to the Student Grants Appeals Board within the statutory timeframes.
Further information regarding class of applicant (independent or dependent) and the types of documentation accepted as evidence of living independently from parents is available from SUSI’s website: susi.ie/eligibility/applicant-class/
The scheme operates in the context of competing educational priorities and limited public funding. The aim of the scheme is to make a contribution to the cost of going to college. The existing rules reflect the fact that very significant numbers of third-level students move out of home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents, where their parents have sufficient means, while in full-time education.
In line with the Programme for Government, a review of the Student Grant Scheme is currently underway and is due to report in Autumn 2021. A public consultation process closed in April with over 280 submissions received. The views of students were sought via an online survey process in May and over 9,000 survey responses were received. It is intended that the future direction of the SUSI scheme will be guided by the outcome of the Review.
Further and Higher Education
Ceisteanna (277, 283, 294, 296)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of an adequate number of places for students wishing to pursue courses of an academic or technical nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37114/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he and his Department have planned for the likely increased demand in fourth-level education in the future with particular reference to the need to stay in pace with or at least on par with international trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37120/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:294. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he and his Department can foresee opportunities in the future for fourth-level graduates given current market demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37131/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:296. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which provision is being made throughout the third-level system to facilitate those wishing to achieve the highest possible qualifications in technical and academic areas through apprenticeships or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37133/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 277, 283, 294 and 296 together.
The further and higher education sectors have a number of key strategies in place at all levels to ensure that the educational opportunities being offered align with existing and future skills demands. These include policies designed to ensure a pipeline of suitably qualified higher education graduates and apprentices, and initiatives to equip young people and the working population more generally with the skills and capacity to meet these demands.
The identification of skills priorities to help inform and shape planning for graduate output from higher and further education, including in relation to apprenticeships, is guided by the National Skills Strategy. The Strategy provided for the establishment of the skills architecture that we have today, the National Skills Council and the nine Regional Skills Fora. Underpinning both the skills agenda and architecture are the skills forecasting and intelligence systems, made up of the contribution of a number of public bodies including, at present, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit in Solas and the statistical analysis and assessment carried out by the HEA. The detailed research and analyses carried out by these bodies feed into the work of the Skills Council in defining the priorities and delivering responses in the area of skills needs.
Two key initiatives in the higher education system which ensure that places are funded in courses in identified areas of skills need are Springboard + and the Human Capital Initiative (HCI). Springboard+ 2021 was launched on 14th June 2021. As a result of multi-annual funding of graduate conversion courses, there is a combined total of 13,444 places on 408 courses available in the 2021/22 academic year under Springboard+ 2021 and HCI Pillar 1. This year, there is a broad range of courses, including courses in areas of new and emerging technologies such Cybersecurity, and Virtual Reality. In addition, there are programmes in areas which have come to the fore as result of Covid-19 such as Health Innovation, Logistics and Online Retail.
The new Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 which was launched on 19th April last sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The actions set out in the plan seek to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. A key strength of the apprenticeship model, is that it is a demand-led approach to meeting workforce and skill requirements in our economy. Therefore the number of places is determined by employers with off the job training delivered to all registered apprentices.
Of the 61 apprenticeship programmes currently available, leading to qualifications at level 5-10 on the National Framework of Qualifications, eight are at level 7; five are at level 8; three programmes are at level 9 and the Principal Engineer (post graduate) programme is at level 10. There are a further 17 apprenticeships in development of which 5 are expected to be offered at level 7 and 4 at level 9.
It is important to note that the off the job training for the phases 4 and 6 of the 25 craft apprenticeships is delivered Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities.
A full list of the available apprenticeship programmes, the apprenticeship programmes in development, and their NFQ level are available in the attached spreadsheet.
My Department will continue working with enterprise agencies and industry groups, as well as the higher education institutions, to assess the future demand for higher education graduates and apprentices as well as our ability to meet this demand, and ensure we are prepared for the challenges ahead.
|
Apprenticeship Programme |
Launch Date |
Category |
NFQ Level |
Duration |
|
Arboriculture |
2020 |
Horticulture |
6 |
2 |
|
Accounting Technician |
2017 |
Finance |
6 |
2 |
|
Agricultural Mechanics |
pre-2016 |
Motor |
6 |
4 |
|
Aircraft Mechanics |
pre-2016 |
Electrical |
6 |
4 |
|
Auctioneering and Property Services |
2018 |
Auctioneering |
6 |
2 |
|
Brick and Stonelaying |
pre-2016 |
Construction |
6 |
4 |
|
Butcher |
2018 |
Hospitality |
5 |
2 |
|
Carpentry and Joinery |
pre-2016 |
Construction |
6 |
4 |
|
CGI technical Artist |
2018 |
ICT |
7 |
2 |
|
Chef de Partie |
2018 |
Hospitality |
7 |
4 |
|
Commis Chef |
2017 |
Hospitality |
6 |
2 |
|
Construction Plant Fitting |
pre-2016 |
Construction |
6 |
4 |
|
Cybersecurity |
2019 |
ICT |
6 |
2 |
|
Electrical |
pre-2016 |
Electrical |
6 |
4 |
|
Electrical Instrumentation |
pre-2016 |
Electrical |
6 |
4 |
|
Electronic Security Systems |
pre-2016 |
Electrical |
6 |
4 |
|
Engineering Services Management |
2019 |
Engineering |
7 |
2 |
|
Equipment Systems Engineer |
2021 |
Engineering |
9 |
2 |
|
Farriery |
pre-2016 |
Engineering |
6 |
4 |
|
GEO Driller |
2019 |
Construction |
6 |
2 |
|
Hairdressing |
2019 |
Hair |
6 |
3 |
|
Advanced Healthcare Assistant Practitioner |
2021 |
Healthcare |
6 |
2 |
|
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
pre-2016 |
Motor |
6 |
4 |
|
Industrial Electrical Engineer |
2016 |
Electrical |
7 |
2 |
|
Industrial Insulation |
pre-2016 |
Engineering |
6 |
4 |
|
Apprenticeship Programme |
Level |
|
Advanced Quantity Surveyor |
Level 9 |
|
Applied Horticulture |
Level 6 |
|
Bar Manager |
Level 7 |
|
Commercial Driver (2015) |
Level 6 |
|
Executive Chef (2015) |
Level 9 |
|
Farm Manager |
Level 7 |
|
Farm Technician |
Level 6 |
|
International Financial Services Advanced Specialist (2015) |
Level 9 |
|
Manufacturing Data Integration Engineer |
Level 7 |
|
Precision Machinist and Quality Control (2015) |
Level 6 |
|
Roofing & Cladding |
Level 5 |
|
Scaffolding |
Level 5 |
|
Science Aircraft Asset Management |
Level 7 |
|
Software Solutions Architect |
Level 9 |
|
Sports Turf Management |
Level 6 |
|
Stud Farm Assistant Manager |
Level 7 |
|
Wind Turbine Maintenance (2015) |
Level 6 |