Written Answers Nos. 1274-1293
1274. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that student accommodation providers are asking student to pay multiple months' rent in advance for the 2021-22 academic year despite the passing of the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 on 9 July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40210/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1276. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to third-level accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40251/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1282. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will request understanding and good-will from college authorities for students, parents and guardians regarding up-front payments for on-campus accommodation for the coming academic year despite Covid-19; if he will intervene before up-front payments become practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40365/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1296. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason students in UCC and UL are paying multiple month’s rent to secure accommodation in view of his commitment made earlier in the year that students would not be expected to pay upfront multiple month’s rent to secure accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40926/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1274, 1276, 1282 and 1296 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, officials from my Department have been working with the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government on measures to ensure greater affordability of student accommodation. Legislation has passed the Oireachtas which restricts the up-front payments required to secure accommodation, including student accommodation, to no more than the equivalent of two months’ rent, and limit payments thereafter to on month’s rent at a time and the Act was signed into law on the 9th July.
The provisions of the Act relating to upfront payments take effect for any tenancies that commence at least one month after the passage of the Act and will therefore be in force prior to the beginning of the academic year.
It is the legal obligation of landlords and accommodation providers to comply with this legislation, and if a landlord seeks from a person the payment of an amount which is more than the equivalent of 2 month’s rent, that person can take a case to the Residential Tenancies Board, which is the relevant enforcement body, for dispute resolution. If it is found that a landlord has breached the Residential Tenancies Act, a sanction of a written caution and/or a sanction of up to €15,000 and a further €15,000 in costs can be imposed upon the landlord. Information on the RTB Dispute Resolution Service can be found on their website rtb.ie. My Department does not have a role in the enforcement of this legislation.
1275. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the safeguards that are in place to ensure that landlords do not favour students that opt-out of the payment of multiple months' rent up-front if they wish which creates an incentive for students not to avail of the protection and favour of students that have the financial means to pay in advance given the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 allows for students to opt-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40213/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Residential Tenancies (No.2) Act 2021 restricts the up-front payments required to secure accommodation, including student accommodation, to no more than the equivalent of two months’ rent, and limit payments thereafter to on month’s rent at a time.
The legislation does contain an exemption for student specific accommodation, which was included to facilitate existing practice with regard to payment of tuition fees and accommodation fees for international students.
However the legislation states that this can only be invoked if the tenant so wishes and with the agreement of their landlord. Imposing such a payment scheme against the tenant's wishes would be contrary to the Act.
If a person feels that their rights under the Residential Tenancies Act have been breached that person can take a case to the Residential Tenancies Board, which is the relevant enforcement body, for dispute resolution. Information on the RTB Dispute Resolution Service can be found on their website rtb.ie. My Department does not have a role in the enforcement of this legislation.
1277. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the factors giving rise to non-permanent staffing arrangements other than the employment control framework as referenced in a recent contribution in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40278/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are many different factors giving rise to non-permanent staffing arrangements, which I understand are a feature of many higher education and research systems, and I have sought to ensure the necessary information is examined to see how the issue can best be addressed.
The Department has engaged with representative bodies of the Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and been advised that there are a number of factors that would lead HEIs to engage the services of temporary or casual teaching staff. These may include short-term replacement for sick leave and other leave, new activities, growth in student numbers, diverse sources of funding, or philanthropic activity. Those with full-time jobs elsewhere in the private and public sector are sometimes used in the HE sector in hourly-paid positions e.g. as visiting lecturers or as a way of bringing current expertise into the lecture theatre or tutorial room. It is also understood that some staff are engaged as exam invigilators, or to provide temporary cover at short notice due to staff absences.
As highlighted before, my Department is engaging with the HEA so that the necessary data can be collected and analysed in order to reach definitive conclusions to inform next steps in this important matter.
1278. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the HEA analysis on the scale of precarious employment in higher education over time was commenced; when the analysis will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40279/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the HEA confirmed in early May 2021 that it would meet with the HEI representative bodies in order to agree a definition of occasional staff, with a view to collecting data in respect of those staff. The HEA has confirmed that their meetings with the representative bodies are ongoing; that this is expected to lead to a revised reporting template for HEIs; and - given the complexity and challenges associated with defining and identifying casual/occasional staff - that it is likely to be Q4 2021 before revised reporting templates are in place.
My Department is also considering the question of precarious employment internally following the recent appearance by the HEA at the PAC. As I have highlighted before, there are a number of work streams which are relevant. I am engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and with the HEA regarding a revised employment control framework. The Deputy will be aware that we have established a subgroup of the national advisory forum for Ireland’s framework for doctoral education and the subgroup is considering the overall position as regards PhD students.
Building also on the ongoing work of the HEA, my Department will be engaging further with the Authority regarding analysis to reach definitive conclusions in order to inform how this issue can be further addressed.
1279. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a new higher education staffing agreement will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40280/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department are engaging with officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Higher Education Authority to agree principles for a new Higher Education Staffing Agreement. This committee intends to be in a position to consult with all stakeholders in Q4 2021 prior to any agreement being finalised.
A new Staffing Agreement will update the current Employment Control Framework and give particular consideration to :
- the different categories of staff covered;
- alignment with new funding streams and contractual commitments in the sector; and- the need for staffing decisions taken in the higher education sector to be affordable and sustainable both from a higher education perspective and also from an Exchequer and wider public service staffing and pension perspective.
My Department will continue to interact with the sector, the HEA and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to make progress in the light of employment data across the sector and the potential to improve the sustainability of arrangements within the resources available.
1280. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 360 of 24 June 2021, the number of both research and academic staff in the sector; the working definition of both research and academic staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40281/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand from data provided by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in returns made for 31 Dec 2020 that the total number (whole time equivalent or WTE) of academic staff in the HE sector was 15,147.17. This is broken down into Core Academic staff numbers of 10,668.95 WTE and Academic research and specialist numbers of 4478.217 WTE.
With regards to a definition for researcher and academic respectively, the Deputy will understand that there is considerable overlap in the work of research and academia, with many individuals engaged to some extent in both areas. Consequently this does not lend itself to easy definition. While contract researchers would be appointed on specific purpose contracts, academic staff across the university sector are expected to undertake research and to supervise research students as part of their role.
In light of the above, my Department is engaging with the HEA who collates data from the sector, in order to establish the approach applied by the Authority to categorise as academic or researcher or otherwise, when collating data for public sector staff returns. My officials will revert with further material to the Deputy once this engagement is complete.
1283. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of students from the UK coming to Ireland to receive some or all of their education; if their rights and entitlements associated with the Common Travel Area continue after Brexit; if host families are to be able to treat them as they would EU students as has been the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40367/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 14 July, along with the Minster for Education, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Secretary of State, confirming, inter alia, that UK higher education students in Ireland would be treated the same as Irish students for the purposes of fees. In addition, they would be eligible to apply for SUSI grants, which has been confirmed by a recent amendment to the Student Support Act, 2011.
With regard to rights outside of education, such arrangements have been similarly covered by Memoranda of Understanding dealing with general arrangements, as well as specific ones in the areas of social security and health.
1284. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for successful transition and increased sports participation and physical activity amongst third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40428/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has committed to planning for a significant increase in onsite attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year.
Following intensive consultation with sectoral stakeholders and Government approval, I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22.
The Plan reflects the essential nature of higher and further education and training, and research activities, and in that context provides for comprehensive on-site activity for the next academic year, with almost full scale on-site activities. Institutions and providers in the sector have committed to ensuring that all learners across all areas have significant scheduled on-site learning in the forthcoming year.
The protection of and support for students and learners is one of the central tenets of the Plan whose purpose, among others, is to enable maximum onsite provision of onsite activities, support the ongoing public health requirements, and support the ongoing needs of students and learners
Institutions and providers are currently progressing with their own detailed planning and work for a comprehensive return to on-site activity. This will include planning for orientation, re-orientation and transitions programmes to assist students in familiarising or re-familiarising themselves with the on-site environment and learning resources. Issues around supports for students returning to campus, and the need for resources to support these students, have been discussed by the Student and Learning Wellbeing and Engagement Working Group.
In June, together with my colleague the Minister for Health, I launched the Healthy Campus Charter and Framework, which was developed in partnership with the higher education institutions, the HSE and Healthy Ireland. This National Healthy Campus Framework will help higher education institutions across Ireland to embed health and wellbeing into campus life for staff and students, and this will include a range of opportunities to keep physically active. The Framework offers guidelines to third level institutions to build on existing wellbeing actions, and will assist with the integration of health and wellbeing into decisions surrounding teaching and learning. It will also assist in identifying opportunities in the college environment, whether social or academic, that can help foster an ethos of care, compassion and inclusion on campuses.
The Framework will be supported with seed funding for each of the institutions that commit to implementing the Healthy Campus Charter and funding of a national co-ordinator for 3 years. My department will be represented on an advisory group that will be established to oversee progress in implementation of the Framework.
1285. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeship registrations in the construction sector in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40469/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCovid-19 and the closure of the construction sector in March 2020 impacted heavily on apprentice registrations. Registrations recovered in the second half of the year with the support of the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme, reaching a total of 3,104 registrations on construction related apprenticeships by year end 2020. As of end June 2021, there have been 2,083 new registrations compared with 1,695 at end June 2019 and 1,085 at end June 2020.
The July Jobs Stimulus allocated funding to the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme which provides a grant of €3,000 payable over two years to employers who take on apprentices during 2020 and retain them into 2021. The Scheme has now been extended to include all apprentices registered to the end of this year.
The number of apprenticeship registrations in the construction sector from 2015 to date is set out in the attached spreadsheet.
1286. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding that has been allocated by his Department for projects and initiatives in County Tipperary over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40501/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has allocated the following for projects and initiatives in County Tipperary in 2021:
- €29m allocated to Tipperary Education and Training Board through SOLAS, the national Further Education and Training Authority, for the provision of Further Education and Training in County Tipperary. This funds a wide variety of programmes such as apprenticeships, traineeships, Vocational Training and Opportunities Scheme, Youthreach and training people in employment.
- €435k Devolved Capital allocation was provided to enable Tipperary Education and Training Board to carry out important improvements across their estates.
- €50k allocation for programmes run by the Regionals Skills Fora in partnership with Tipperary Education and Training Board: EXPLORE programme to help address the issue of Ireland’s low level of participation in lifelong learning amongst the workforce, , and the DigiEco programme designed by Regional Skills Fora, to help SMEs & Micro Enterprises prepare for the Green Economy.
The published Estimates for my Department’s Vote provides information regarding expenditure and may be of assistance to the Deputy.
1287. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the acquisition of a site for the County Wexford campus of the technological university of south east Ireland; the timeframe for the progression of this campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40618/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
1288. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the last occasion on which a Department-wide review of all funding within his Department took place; the frequency of such reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40637/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed in summer 2020.
The funding allocated to my Department, as set down in the annual Estimates, is used to meet costs associated with the provision of further and higher education, labour market initiatives including skills, and Irish research and development. The allocation is provided both directly and through my Department’s aegis bodies to fund: i) the salaries and pensions of public sector workers in the higher education, further education and research sectors, ii) the day to day running costs and capital investment needs of higher and further education institutions, iii) Irish research including through Science Foundation Ireland, iv) skills and labour market initiatives through SOLAS and the National Training Fund, v) the general administration costs of my Department, etc. Funding is also allocated for a range of programmes and initiatives.
As part of the yearly Estimates process, my Department’s funding is scrutinised by the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science before being approved by the Dáil. There is also monthly scrutiny of budgeted allocations against actual expenditure by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In addition, other organisations including the Comptroller and Auditor General Office and the Parliamentary Budget Office conduct ex-ante scrutiny of funding for the Oireachtas.
Since 2017, the Spending Review has become a key platform for evaluative analysis across the Civil Service. While Value for Money Reviews continue to be produced across a number of Departments, some of this work is now completed as part of the Spending Review which is led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. More details on the process can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/7dc2b1-spending-review/. Since its formation, the Department has not been involved in any Spending Reviews.
The published Estimates for my Department’s Vote provides information regarding expenditure and may be of assistance to the Deputy.
1289. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the State funding provided to Dublin City University in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [40653/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions via the recurrent funding model.
The HEA also allocates funding under specific initititives and programmes including Skills funding under the NTF; access initiatives; capital grants; research grants; Erasmus; superannuation and other initiatives.
Please see table attached outlining funding provided by the HEA to Dublin City University (DCU) from 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021.
1290. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department provides funding for the DARE and HEAR programmes; if so, the funding which is provided; if his Department lays down conditions as to the way this funding is administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40737/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the HEAR and DARE schemes are reduced points mechanisms for entry into higher education.
The schemes are managed and operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who are autonomous bodies. Participating higher education institutions provide the funding for the IUA to manage the schemes on their behalf.
1291. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of Irish and Israeli Government agencies, research institutes, institutions of higher education and or third-level colleges and industrial sectors and or companies that his Department has engaged with in the past three years in relation to Article 1 of the Memorandum of Understanding for a Framework of Co-operation between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of Ireland in the field of Industrial Scientific Research and Technological Development (details supplied). [40864/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1292. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department will take to ensure the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding for a Framework of Co-operation between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of Ireland in the field of Industrial Scientific Research and Technological Development is line with European law in relation to differentiation between Israel and the illegal settlements and territories that have been illegally occupied and annexed by the state of Israel (details supplied).. [40866/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1291 and 1292 together.
40864 and 40866 together.
The Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) for a Framework of Co-operation Between The Government Of The State of Israel and the Government of Ireland in the Field of Industrial Scientific Research and Technological Development was signed on 27 October 1999. As far as my Department is aware, there has been no bilateral activity under the MoU since the early 2000s. It is not unusual for countries to sign bilateral agreements to promote research and innovation collaboration, only for levels of activity to diminish or cease over time.
The most effective way for a relatively small system like Ireland to collaborate on research and innovation projects with other countries is through the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation. A new framework programme, Horizon Europe, was launched earlier this year. Israel’s participation in EU programmes, including Horizon Europe, is governed by the specific conditions laid down in the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
1293. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he has taken to ensure that students who sat the leaving certificate in previous years are not disadvantaged by any potential grade inflation in the 2021 results and the impact this may have on their ability to receive the courses of preference on the CAO. [40915/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUniversities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous and determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf.
Decisions on admissions are made by the higher education institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore neither I nor my Department have a function in relation to such matters and it is not within my remit to determine admissions criteria or direct HEIs to give preference to certain students.
The CAO system is a system that works on the assumption that grades obtained in the Leaving Certificate by candidates determine their points. It is on this basis that the CAO system allocates places to applicants including those from different years. To ensure impartiality, the automatic CAO points systems have been created in a way that does not allow for different treatment to be applied to different sub-groups, or students with results from different years.
Last year more than 2,250 additional places were provided in order to offset the particular pressures faced by the system. My Department is working with the HEA and the Higher Education Institutions to identify where there is scope for additional places to be provided this year. All bodies involved will continue to work to ensure the availability of a full range of options for applicants in 2021.
€18 million has been provided in Budget 2021 which will build additional capacity in the system and address demographic growth pressures. This is in addition to additional places commencing in 2021, funded through the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 2, which will be on undergraduate courses in areas of identified skills needs.
Nonetheless, there will be fluctuations in CAO points this year, as there are every year, which will depend on the volume of applications, the number of applicants who meet the entry requirements, the number of places available and the grades received by applicants.
In addition to higher education, there is a range of options available in further education and training and apprenticeships. These options can serve both as an alternate pathway to a chosen career or an alternate pathway into higher education. For students who are not successful in gaining an offer for their course of choice in the first instance, there are alternate routes available to them to reach their preferred option.
