Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 2 Nov 2021

Written Answers Nos. 680-697

Grant Payments

Ceisteanna (680)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

680. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 671 of 19 October 2021, if a student in receipt of a 50% maintenance grant will receive a €200 increase in their payment per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52483/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. It assists over 70,000 students annually to access third level education.

In the context of Budget 2022 as the Deputy is aware, I commenced the process of making prioritised improvements to the student grant scheme for the academic year 2022-2023. This will allow early progress in addressing key themes emerging from the Student Grant Scheme Review's consultations and research and recent trends in the cost of living.

For the 2022/23 academic year, all maintenance grant payments, including the special rate of grant, will be increased by €200 per year at a cost of €13m. This will benefit circa 62,000 SUSI grant recipients currently receiving maintenance grant support.

For clarity, all SUSI grant recipients, including those eligible for partial maintenance grant awards of 25%, 50% or 75%, will benefit from the full increase of €200 per academic year, effective from September 2022.

Grant Payments

Ceisteanna (681)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

681. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the anticipated increase in the number of students that will be able to assess SUSI support as a result of an increase by €1,000 in the income thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52484/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. It assists over 70,000 students annually to access third level education.

In the context of Budget 2022 as the Deputy is aware, I commenced the process of making prioritised improvements to the student grant scheme for the academic year 2022-2023. This would allow early progress in addressing key themes emerging from the Student Grant Scheme Review's consultations and research and recent trends in the cost of living.

The Scheme is a demand led scheme and it is not possible to give accurate statistics of how many new students may be eligible by increasing the maximum threshold. However, it is estimated that circa 6,800 existing grant recipients will benefit and circa 5,500 of the 2020/21 applicants would qualify by increasing the threshold of the maximum income level by €1,000.

Education and Training Provision

Ceisteanna (682)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

682. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to a shortage of registered gas installers currently; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that there are qualified installers who are not registered and who are willing to re-take exams as necessary; if he has plans to address the shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52492/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The matter of registered gas installers is for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, the statutorily independent regulator of the energy sector. The CRU has appointed The Register of Gas Installers of Ireland (R.G.I.I.) as The Gas Safety Supervisory Body (GSSB). Matters in relation to the recognition of qualifications and registration should be directed to the R.G.I.I..

Education and Training Provision

Ceisteanna (683)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

683. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will include trade union representatives on the national training fund, NTF, advisory group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52524/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The NTF Advisory Group was established in line with the recommendations from Indecon in their review of the NTF, that such a Group be established to submit recommendations to the National Skills Council on NTF priorities. This advisory group is a permanent resourced structure to optimise enterprise engagement on NTF priorities. It consists of key stakeholders from a range of employer representatives, agencies and Government Departments.

Indecon also recommended that a structured process be implemented to facilitate NTF-focussed inputs from employers, employees and representative bodies prior to annual expenditure decisions. The NTF Advisory Group is considering how a new method of engaging with enterprise bodies to ensure that there is a focussed and structured input prior to expenditure decisions.

Education and Training Provision

Ceisteanna (684)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

684. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if tutors who have been administering the Safe Pass courses on a contract basis will be awarded a severance payment on the completion or termination of their contracts. [52525/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Safe Pass training is delivered by SOLAS Approved Training Organisations and tutors. Safe Pass approved tutors are registered on the SOLAS training register and are authorised to organise and deliver Safe Pass training in keeping with SOLAS standards and are not contracted to SOLAS.

All Safe Pass tutors operate as an independent and separate legal entity. Tutors set their own rate for training and are paid either by the participant attending the Safe Pass course or by an Approved Training Organisation who contracts their services. Neither the Department nor SOLAS have a role in the setting of fees or in influencing pricing structure within the market place. There is a €32 fee payable to SOLAS, who administer the Safe Pass Programme, for the processing, manufacturing and distribution of Safe Pass cards which is unchanged and is generally included in the overall price for attending a course. SOLAS.

Third Level Education

Ceisteanna (685)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

685. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of loan applications from higher education institutions that have not been approved in each year since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52527/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Irish Universities have autonomy to borrow in their own name within a framework to be agreed with the HEA, the Dept of Finance and Dept of Public Expenditure and Reform. Section 38 of the Universities Act, 1997 states that:

( 1) A university may borrow money by means of bank overdraft or otherwise and may guarantee or underwrite a loan taken or borrowing undertaken by a person or a body of persons.

(2) Borrowing, guaranteeing and underwriting under subsection (1) shall be in accordance with a framework which shall be agreed from time to time between the universities and An tÚdarás, following consultation by An tÚdarás with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance.

The intent of the framework is as follows:

- That a university can engage in borrowing, underwriting and guaranteeing activities provided that they impose no threat to, and do not create any contingent liabilities for, the public purse.

- To ensure that the capacity of a university to function effectively is not endangered.

- That advanced approval by An tÚdarás or the ministers, of individual instances of borrowing, underwriting or guaranteeing by a university would not be required.

University borrowing arising from fully self-financed or tax financed projects approved under the Finance Acts, are not subject to the borrowing limit established under this framework and may take place provided the servicing of those borrowings has no impact on the annual income of the University.

While universities are required to submit details of their Framework and non-Framework borrowings to the HEA on an annual basis, the HEA does not have any details regarding the number of loan applications from higher education institutions that have not been approved in each year since 2016.

There is no borrowing framework in place for the Technological Universities or Institutes of Technology.

Grant Payments

Ceisteanna (686)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

686. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of recommendation 7.9 of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection's Report on the Position of Lone Parents in Ireland 2017 which recommended making the SUSI maintenance grant payable to students who are one-parent families. [52581/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A person who is parenting alone and in receipt of certain payments from the Department of Social Protection may take part in a second-or third-level education course and get a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

The recommendation referenced by the Deputy refers to making BTEA and the SUSI maintenance grant payable together to lone parents who are undertaking an educational or training course for the duration of the course. Under the current arrangements a person cannot get the BTEA and the maintenance component of a student grant together.

A review of the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant is currently ongoing by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, which will help to inform any future decisions on this issue.

I should also advise of the availability of the Cost of Education Allowance paid by my Department which provides €500 per academic year to BTEA customers who have a dependent child or children, which assists lone parents accessing education.

I trust this clarifies the position at this time.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ceisteanna (687, 688)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

687. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of the predicted 30,000 registered apprentice positions to be created in the next five years that will go towards retrofitting to meet a potentially more ambitious national retrofitting plan due to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52590/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

688. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures in budget 2022 that will go towards setting up apprenticeships for retrofitting in the new action plan for apprenticeships with a target of 10,000 new apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025 given the fact that the National Development Plan, the Housing for All plan and the new upcoming national retrofitting plan will require up to 80,000 new construction workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52591/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 687 and 688 together.

Education and training relevant to skills needs in the construction sector is delivered across the full remit of Further and Higher Education (through apprenticeship; non-apprenticeship further education and training (FET) and Higher Education (HE)) and through main stream education and training as well as through specific programmes such as Springboard, the Human Capital Initiative and Skillnet Ireland.

Under Budget 2022, I have allocated over €122 Million to support the development of skills across all sectors of the economy. A large proportion of that funding has gone towards the development and promotion of apprenticeships and ensure that the targets are met for the Action Plan for Apprenticeship

As the Deputy is aware, the development and promotion of apprenticeship is a significant Government priority in responding to key skill needs across the economy. These requirements are identified through work carried out to project workforce and skill needs in key economic sectors. In particular, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) plays a crucial role in analysing future skill needs in areas such as construction to meet housing and climate action targets.

A key objective of the Government's Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to ensure that the apprenticeship system is equipped to meet these skills and human capital requirements as well as those arising from the accelerating pace of green and digital transformation. The Plan is intended to drive the future development of apprenticeship to increase its attractiveness to employers in meeting their workforce requirements.

In considering the important role played by apprenticeship in responding to these needs, it should be noted that apprenticeship is an employer-led offering. The number of apprentices in any specific sector is, therefore, determined directly by employer demand. The Plan is thus designed to deliver a flexible and responsive apprenticeship system which is attractive and easy to engage with for employers and potential apprentices, and which delivers high standards and sought-after qualifications. €34 million has been allocated to support and develop apprenticeship including €17 million to address the backlogs in delivery caused by COVID-19.

There is no specific apprenticeship in retrofit at the current time. Retrofit activity covers a range of tasks and professions including craft trades and operative level occupations in the construction sector. Among the 62 apprenticeships available at levels 5-10 of the National Framework of qualifications current apprenticeships which would deliver skills suitable to retrofit activity include plumbing, carpentry and joinery, plastering and painting and decorating and the recently launched scaffolding apprenticeship. Apprenticeships in roofing and cladding and advanced quantity surveyor (L9) are currently in development. Additionally, curricula in apprenticeships are updated on an ongoing basis to keep pace with changes in industry practices and regulations.

In responding to the high level of demand for apprenticeship in the construction sector, progress is evident through the launch of apprenticeships in scaffolding and roofing and cladding this year. An advanced quantity surveyor apprenticeship is also in development. Moreover, 2,782 of 4,363 applications to receive €3,000 per apprentice under the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme, were in construction trades as of the 4th October, representing 4,334 construction-related apprentices entering the sector.

Should there be a skill need for a Retrofit-specific apprenticeship, the development of new apprenticeships is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers can come together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship response in their sector. The Apprenticeship Council examine any proposals arising in the context of identified skills needs. All apprenticeship proposals go through a rigorous evaluation process which is led by the Council, and approval is subject to the application meeting a prescribed set of requirements as set out in the publicly accessible handbook and guidance document

Additionally, under Budget 2022, it has been recognised that the continued upskilling and re-skilling of construction professionals, whether these are professionals, craft or non-craft operatives in Construction and Green Skills is paramount for the delivery of skills under Housing for All, Project Ireland 2040 and general construction sector projects. General provision in areas such as green skills and sustainability, which includes retrofit and NZEB, is ongoing across the FET sector, with some 50+ programmes already running across the sector. NZEB skills training is largely targeted to existing construction professionals. The majority of courses are three days in duration and are validated by City and Guilds. WWETB is developing a blended model with 2 days online with one day in the training centre. WWETB have also commissioned the development of a pilot VR programme for retrofit which is expected to be operational by year end.

€78 million for reskilling and upskilling including a €22 million Further Education Green Skills Action programme has been provided under Budget 2022 to ensure that the necessary skills are in place to equip the current and future workforce with the adequate skills for the delivery of critical infrastructure.

In conclusion, I am satisfied, that the Budget 2022 package, the range of actions envisaged under the Apprenticeship Action Plan and the wider skills response across the tertiary education system will help ensure that priority skill needs in our economy in the years ahead will be met.

Question No. 688 answered with Question No. 687.

Nursing Education

Ceisteanna (689)

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

689. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase the number of places for mature students who wish to study nursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52624/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, and the Technological Universities Act 2018. As such, they are entitled to determine the number of places offered in a course under any particular entry route, including places for mature students and it is not within my remit to determine how many such places are offered.

My Department, the HEA and the higher education institutions are committed to supporting the provision of graduates for the health service through undergraduate and postgraduate provision. In this regard, my Department continues engaging with the Department of Health in relation to health workforce planning to ensure the effective delivery of skilled personnel into the future.

The Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service. My Department and I will continue to engage to ensure that we can continue to deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health sector.

Student Accommodation

Ceisteanna (690)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

690. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress on the commitment in the programme for Government to provide more accommodation on and off-campus, using cost-rental and other models; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52638/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I understand that this is a very difficult time for students seeking to secure accommodation. The Government recognises this as a critical issue and as a country, we need to dramatically increase the supply of all types of housing and accommodation, including student accommodation.

The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future contained a commitment to work with higher education institutions to ensure that more accommodation is built on and off campus, using cost-rental and other models.

An important element of this is ensuring that higher education institutions have access to low-cost financing. Since 2017, the Housing Finance Agency has approved a total of €157 million in loans, to support the provision of more than 1,400 new student bed spaces across three universities.

During the Summer, together with Minister Donohoe and Minister O’Brien, I announced that €75 million of financing had been successfully sourced for the Council of Europe Bank for the building of student accommodation in universities.

My Department and I have been engaging with the Department of Housing, Local representatives from the higher education sector on this issue. Together with these stakeholders and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, we are working to develop a stronger pipeline of affordable student accommodation. As part of this work we will look at the potential for the use of funding models such as cost-rental in the higher education sector, as well as examining existing barriers to building affordable student accommodation.

Departmental Programmes

Ceisteanna (691)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

691. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the Power 2 Progress programme will expand into counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52845/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Power2Progress is an initiative supported by Zurich Ireland and UCD who are working together on this joint initiative. It is targeted at 700 students in 21 DEIS schools across Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare and Wexford and seeks to introduce second level students to the potential of Higher Education and the work environment.

My Department does not provide funding to this programme. Funding of the programme is provided through the Zurich Foundation and Rethink Ireland. The plans to expand the programme into Laois and Offaly would be a matter for UCD and these organisations.

Grant Payments

Ceisteanna (692)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

692. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if funding will be provided for postgraduate studies in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52878/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

SUSI grant funding is available for approved undergraduate courses in approved higher education institutions within the EU. No maintenance funding is available for postgraduate courses outside of Ireland.

Some high end courses abroad have an integrated undergraduate and postgraduate element. For these courses, SUSI may issue maintenance grants during the undergraduate element of the course but will not provide any support for the postgraduate element.

The student the Deputy referred to is currently in the post-graduate element of his course which he is pursuing outside of Ireland and is therefore not eligible for funding.

Further details of the funding available for integrated masters’ courses within the EU, is available on the SUSI website where students can determine their eligibility for grant support prior to attending a course: https://susi.ie/student-studying-outside-the-state/approved-institutionscourses-for-students-studying-outside-the-state/

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ceisteanna (693)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

693. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total allocation for the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme in each year; the spend in each year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52882/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme was introduced under the July Jobs Stimulus 2020 to support ongoing apprentice registration and availability of apprentice jobs in preparation for the re-opening of the economy following COVID-19. The scheme is available to qualifying employers who register apprentices between 1 March 2020 and 31 Dec 2021.

The scheme supported a significant recovery of apprentice registrations in 2020 and into 2021 and has enabled apprentice registrations to not only remain on a par with registrations for 2019 but to exceed them. By end Sept 2021 there were 5,525 new registrations compared to 3,034 at end Sept 2020 and 4,451 by end Sept 2019. It is likely that registrations will comfortably exceed 6,500 for 2021 with continued strong registration in craft apprenticeships evident over the traditionally slow summer period in addition to continued growth in new apprenticeships.

2020 - €12m was allocated to the scheme under the July Jobs Stimulus programme. By the 22nd December 2020 815 claims had been approved on behalf of 1,068 apprentices with a spend totalling €2.14m for the year.

2021 - €14m allocation to the scheme. By October 4th 2021 claims for the year on behalf of 4,403 apprentices had been approved for payment at a cost of €8.8m YTD.

2022 - €9m has been allocated to fund additional payments to employers under the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme.

SOLAS are continuing to engage with employers to ensure that they apply for the scheme on a timely basis.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (694)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

694. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total allocated in targeted spending in each year to address the backlog in apprentices accessing off-the-job training in 2018, listing any unspent funding in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52883/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Funding for apprenticeship grew from €122m in 2018 to over €198m in 2021. The 2021 allocation includes €12m funding to the HEA to support increased provision targeted to addressing waiting lists for access to off-the-job training for a number of craft apprenticeships. 2021 also saw the allocation of €20m in capital funding across the further and higher education sector in 2021 to deliver additional workshop space and equipment to address the backlogs.

Ongoing COVID-19 restrictions throughout 2020 and in the first half of 2021 meant that the full budgeted cohort of apprentices could not be facilitated as expected. The annual breakdown information requested by the Deputy is being compiled by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (695)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

695. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details on the higher education strategic infrastructure fund including the terms for accessing funding; the amount allocated to the fund; the projects approved and denied; the status of all projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52884/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The funding allocations under the co-funded Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF) programme were done by way of competitive call against set criteria outlined in the call document. The call document was published in December 2018 with the deadline for applications in April 2019. The Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund applications were appraised by a HEA-led team under the terms and conditions that issued to the Institutions in January and March 2019.

Applications from 15 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were received (see attached table) and assessed with the five successful projects listed below scoring highest.

The 5 successful projects are:

- Maynooth University Technology Society and Innovation Building

- IT Sligo Extension to Central Campus (E01)

- UCC Cork University Business School

- NUI Galway Learning Commons

- UCD Future Campus Phase 1

As the Deputy will be aware, delivery of projects in the higher education sector is devolved to the higher education institutions. Responsibility for the planning and procurement processes, as well as project delivery timelines, all fall within the remit of the HEIs. The projects identified above are now at various stages, from planning and design to construction.

Project reporting to the HEA is in line with agreed Devolved Control Procedures.

NUIG

Learning Commons

UCC

Cork University Business School (CUBS) Project

UCD

Future Campus Project

MU

Technology Society and Innovation Building

TCD

Law School

UL

Future Skills Academy

LIT

LIT City Centre Campus - Clare Street

ITC

New Information Science and Technology Building

LYIT

LYIT National Fire Safety Engineering Centre

IT Sligo

Extension to Central Campus (E01)

GMIT

GMIT Cluain Mhuire Campus

TU Dublin

Design & Construct Building

ITT

IT Tralee Student Facilities Hub

DIAS

Astronomy, Space Science & Technology Study Centre - Dunsink Observatory

RCSI

Academic Healthcare Centre

Third Level Education

Ceisteanna (696)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

696. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of all third-level scholarships being provided by the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52885/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department does not have any involvement in this scheme. It is directly administered by the Central Bank and all queries should be directed to them.

Third Level Education

Ceisteanna (697)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

697. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 806 of 9 September 2021, if the technological university or institute of technology will retain ownership of the infrastructure when completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52886/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The contract type envisaged for the Higher Education PPP Programme is a Design, Build, Finance, Maintain and Operate (DBFMO) contract.

In that context, the assets remains in the ownership of the State after construction with a licence given to PPP Co to enter and occupy land. The licence will allow the PPP Co. to fulfil its obligations to deliver the facilities and services which will include the construction period and also the operating and maintenance of the building over the 25 year period.

Barr
Roinn