Written Answers Nos. 549-570
549. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Royal City of Dublin Hospital on Baggot Street, Dublin 4 could be upgraded to accommodate Ukrainian refugees. [24430/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, and the invoking of the Temporary Protection Directive shortly thereafter, my Department has been working intensively as part of the cross-Government response to the Ukraine crisis.
My Department is focused on providing short term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Approximately 20 000 people have been placed in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation to date.
My Department has contracted approximately 16,500 beds in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings with additional capacity also being pursued through Airbnb, accommodation pledged by the general public, state-owned or private properties which may be suitable for short-term accommodation, accommodation belonging to voluntary bodies, large adapted centres such as the Millstreet Green Glens Arena, religious properties and Local Authority facilities. The Department is also investigating other options such as student accommodation for the summer period and holiday homes. Given the number of people arriving, sourcing suitable accommodation continues to be a challenge.
In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are the paramount considerations.
My Department sits on the cross-sectoral and cross-departmental Humanitarian Crisis Housing Taskforce which is chaired by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and which is leading cross government consideration and development of medium and long-term accommodation solutions. I understand that potentially suitable properties such as the Royal City of Dublin Hospital will be considered by this taskforce as a solution to the medium and longer-term accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Advancing these properties will involve further engagement with all relevant stakeholders.
550. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will reconsider the decision by Tusla not to apply the 4% increase which is being applied to all other Tusla grantees which is not being extended to area-based childhood programmes due to a legacy issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24544/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an area-based prevention and early intervention initiative which is delivered in 12 areas of significant socioeconomic disadvantage across the country through Tusla’s Prevention Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) services.
The ABC Programme works in partnership with families, practitioners, communities and national stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for children and families living in areas where poverty is deeply entrenched.
The ABC Programme was previously funded jointly by Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs from 2013 to 2018. My Department tasked Pobal and the Centre for Effective Services to manage the programme, with Pobal being responsible for governance and financial accountability.
Between 2013 and 2018, ABC organisations operated on three-year contracts with multi-annual budgets. During this time, Pobal gave approval for individual ABC organisations to carry over a certain amount of unspent funds, resulting in an increased yearly spend. In 2018, the ABC Programme transitioned to Tusla and since October of that year, it has operated as part of the wider Tusla PPFS programme.
Since transitioning to Tusla, the practice of the retention of unspent funds has been changed in line with public financial guidance. However, this long standing practice amongst some ABCs has resulted in a shortfall between annual spending and funding received from Tusla. This is due to timing issues and established practices that had existed in ABCs prior to the transition.
To address this shortfall, Tusla adjusted its PPFS budgets in 2021 to avoid the need for a reduction in funding. As a result, the 4% budget increase for community organisations in 2022, will not be extended to ABCs directly. Instead, this funding will go towards the overall ABC Programme budget to ensure the future viability of the programme going forward.
As an independent state agency, Tusla is responsible for the management and oversight of exchequer funding allocated to it, including funding provided to the ABC Programme. Tusla's annual accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General independently of my Department’s annual Appropriation Account. Accordingly, my Department does not direct Tusla on its day-to-day adherence to public financial procedures, nor would it be appropriate for it to do so. My officials regularly engage with Tusla regarding overall financial matters.
I greatly appreciate the value that the ABC Programme provides for children and families. I look forward to continued engagement with Tusla on prevention and early intervention issues in our local communities, including the 12 ABC areas.
551. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the initiatives he has undertaken to promote fostering in Ireland since his appointment; the steps he has taken to support existing and potential new foster parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24581/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
552. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of foster parents and families who have left the fostering system in the past five years; if any work has been carried out to identify the key reasons for their leaving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24582/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
553. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers in Tusla who are dealing with foster children and foster families; if he has plans to recruit additional social workers for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24583/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
554. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the concerns of smaller early childhood care and education scheme sessional pre-school services in respect of the proposed new core funding model, particularly the lack of remuneration for non-contact hours (details supplied); and if an assurance will be given that no service should be financially worse off under the new model compared with the current model. [24584/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC).
The new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there is a need for greater State investment and greater public management of provision. Recommendations 1-6 in the Expert Group report set out how Core Funding should be designed and implemented.
Core Funding is the new funding stream to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and to improve affordability for parents, as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding will operate alongside the National Childcare Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education programme and constitute additional income for providers on top of funding for these schemes, as well as income from parental fees.
The total budget for Core Funding is made up of four elements: an allocation for staff costs, including staff costs related to both contact and non-contact time and employer costs (€138 million); allocation for graduate premiums for graduate Lead Educators and Managers (€38 million); allocation for administration time (€25 million); and allocation for non staff overhead costs (€20 million).
This budget will be distributed to services based on two factors - the service's capacity (number of places, age group of children and hours places are available) and the extent of graduate leadership in the service. The majority of Core Funding (i.e. €183 million of the €221 million) will be distributed based on a service's capacity. This €183 million includes allocations for improvements in staff pay and conditions (€138 million), for administrative staff/time (€25 million), and a contribution to non-staff overhead costs (€20 million). It is important to note that PRSI, holiday, sick pay, and other employer costs, are factored in to the estimated staff costs allocation in Core Funding.
Non-contact time is therefore factored into the allocation in two ways. Firstly, data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile on current amount of contact and non-contact time for different grades of staff was used to build in an allowance for non-contact time into the allocation for staff costs. Secondly, there is a separate allocation for administrative staff/time of €25 million.
In addition, a further €38 million is allocated to contribute to supporting graduates to be Lead Educators across ELC and to support graduates as Managers in ELC or combined ELC and SAC services. Heretofore funding has only been available in respect of graduate Room Leaders in the ECCE programme.
Core Funding is allocated to services based on the hours that the service is open and available to children. Core Funding is therefore related to the costs of delivery as this has been determined to be a fair and reasonable way to allocate the funding. Services opening for longer hours or offering more places will receive a higher value of Core Funding than services opening fewer hours or offering fewer places. This is because their costs of operation are higher.
Sessional services with standard capitation, Full Time, Part Time and School Age services will all see substantial increases in funding. Most ECCE services currently in receipt of higher capitation rates will also benefit significantly. The benefit is due to the combined effect of the base rate allocation for sessional pre-school services, the allocation of graduate premiums for Lead Educators and Managers, and the fact that allocations will be made based on capacity, rather than occupancy and most ECCE services do not operate at full occupancy. No service will lose out. I have issued a funding guarantee to ensure that no service will receive less in Core Funding that it previously received in higher capitation and programme support payments, if their circumstances remain the same. It is estimated that the funding guarantee will be required for just 1% services.
A Ready Reckoner has been launched to assist providers to understand the impact of Core Funding for their particular service. City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) have received training in order to assist providers in calculating their potential Core Funding allocations. I would encourage providers to contact their local CCC for guidance and support in understanding the impacts and benefits of Core Funding for their service. Contact details for CCCs are available at myccc.ie/where-is-my-nearest-ccc.
It is important to acknowledge that Core Funding will intentionally address some of the existing disparities in funding levels across ECCE and non-ECCE provision, providing funding proportionate to the age ratio of children being cared for and supporting the employment of graduate Lead Educators across ELC provision as well as graduate Managers. This sees public funding for the employment of graduates in ELC will be more fairly distributed across the system.
In December 2021, I also launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare.
In response to queries received by my Department on a number of matters, including many of those highlighted in the question , such as the impact of Core Funding on smaller Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services, detailed information relating to Core Funding is now available at first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/core-funding.
The new funding model being implemented aims to transform the sector to one that is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed, delivering a service for the public good, through a partnership between the State and providers, to the benefit of children, parents, practitioners, and society overall. This transformation starts with Core Funding and the new approach will entail a shift in the relationship between the State and providers in relation to delivering ELC and SAC, with new responsibilities on both sides. Core Funding is open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the funding. It is my ambition that the maximum number providers choose to participate in this partnership to deliver ELC and SAC for the public good and come into contract for Core Funding. Core Funding however is optional for providers.
I look forward to working together in partnership with providers to deliver ELC and SAC services for the public good.
555. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to fund early childhood care and education scheme operators to finance a graduate uplift payment for childcare staff who have skilled up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24586/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra'First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families' recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality ELC. There is strong evidence about the relationship between staff qualifications and children’s experiences and outcomes. First 5 commits to building an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional workforce, and includes a commitment to achieve a graduate-led ELC workforce by 2028. A graduate-led workforce is understood to mean all Lead Educators and Managers holding a relevant qualification at Level 7 or above.
An Expert Group in their report, 'Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare', made 25 recommendations to facilitate a partnership between the State and early learning and childcare services for the public good. Key to this new funding model is Core Funding, to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and to improve affordability for parents, as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
In Budget 2022, I announced the introduction from September 2022 of this new Core Funding stream for services. The total available Budget for Core Funding is equivalent to €221 million in a full programme year, contingent on an Employment Regulation Order being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee.
The level of investment being made available for Core Funding is an acknowledgement that high quality ELC and SAC costs more than the current income to the sector. The aim of Core Funding is to allow providers’ costs to increase to improve quality but to ensure these costs are not passed onto parents in fees and that services are not made unsustainable. Core Funding will be allocated to services based on their capacity and the qualifications of those working in a service. The majority of Core Funding (i.e. €183 million of the €221 million) will be distributed based on a service's capacity.
Additionally, a further €38 million will be distributed to services with ELC graduate Lead Educators/Managers through the ELC Graduate Premium. In order for a service to be allocated an ELC Graduate Premium, the person in question must be a Lead Educator in an ELC room and/or the Centre Manager of an ELC or a combined ELC and SAC service and must hold an appropriate qualification as per the Department’s Higher Capitation Qualifications list. They must also have a minimum of three years’ experience in the sector. The ELC Graduate Premium is calculated based on the number of hours of provision led by ELC graduate; and if the ELC or combined ELC and SAC service has an ELC graduate as the Manager.
Changing the approach to funding ELC Graduates will:
1. Extend support for the employment of Graduate Lead Educators outside of the ECCE programme to ensure that children in other parts of ELC have the opportunity to benefit from graduate-led provision.
2. Introduce a Graduate Premium to be paid in respect of Managers of ELC or combined ELC and SAC services. This is because of the strong evidence of the importance of graduate leadership in shaping quality for children.
3. Bring the financial support for Graduate Lead Educators more closely in alignment with the costs of delivery for that type of provision.
Core Funding will enable providers to better attract and retain staff, including degree-qualified staff; establish career structures; and introduce or improve other factors that contribute to high-quality early learning and childcare, such as non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation.
In December last year, I launched 'Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028'. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC.
In particular, Nurturing Skills commits to the provision of funded places on flexible education programmes at levels 6 to 8 for current early years educators. This new funding will support upskilling and strengthen career development pathways for those working in the sector, reducing the cost to educators of undertaking further and higher education qualifications. The new funding scheme will also develop and introduce mechanisms for providing financial support to ELC services to help meet the costs of releasing staff to go on student practice placements and study leave. Plans for the new funding scheme are currently being developed.
This planned new funding for educators to upskill is in addition to financial supports that are already in place for educators undertaking qualifications. Existing financial supports include the Free Fees Initiative. My Department has since 2014 provided a number of rounds of funding for early years educators to undertake qualifications through the Learner Fund.
556. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if legislation is in place under the Children First Act 2015 in respect of cases in which a child is being abused under the care of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24643/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf the Deputy has a specific concern that a child may have been, is being or is at risk of being abused or neglected, he should report this concern to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and An Garda Síochána without delay.
The statutory bodies with primary responsibility for child welfare and protection are Tusla and An Garda Síochána. Both have distinct functions, powers and methods of working. Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. In doing so, it relies heavily on individuals reporting concerns about children, in accordance with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017 and the Children First Act 2015.
The Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child protection measures, including raising awareness of child abuse and neglect, providing for mandated reporting of child protection concerns and improving child protection arrangements in organisations providing services to children. The Act places an obligation on providers of relevant services to keep children safe from harm, to carry out a risk assessment and to develop a Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS) that outlines the policies and procedures that are in place to manage any risks identified. A hospital, hospice, health care centre or other centre which receives, treats or otherwise provides physical or mental health services to children is a provider of relevant services for the purposes of the Children First Act.
The Act provides for mandatory reporting of child protection concerns by certain key professionals, including teachers and health care professionals. Under the Act mandated persons are required to report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to Tusla. Mandated persons are people who have contact with children and/or families and who, because of their qualifications, training and/or employment role, are in a key position to help protect children from harm. The list of mandated persons, is set out in Schedule 2 of the Act.
The Act operates side-by-side with the non-statutory obligations provided for in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017. The guidance sets out how reports about reasonable concerns of child abuse or neglect should be made by the general public and professionals to Tusla and what organisations need to do to keep children safe. These guidelines have been in place since 1999 and were fully revised and published in October 2017 to include reference to provisions of the Act.
Apart from the Children First Act 2015, a number of policy and legislative improvements have been made to child protection standards in recent years which includes the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016. The Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 which falls under the remit of the Minister for Justice, requires that any person who has information about a serious offence against a child, which may result in charges or prosecution, must report this to An Garda Síochána. Failure to report under the Act is a criminal offence under that legislation. This obligation is in addition to any obligations under the Children First Act 2015.
557. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider a change in the rules of the national childcare scheme so that parents can receive a subsidy based on the hours they are paying for rather than the hours that their children are physically present in the childcare setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24804/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme is Ireland’s pathway to quality, accessible, affordable ELC and SAC. The Scheme provides a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme, and includes ‘wraparound’ care for pre-school and school-age children. The scheme seeks to address poverty traps that have been identified on a cross government basis.
It is a key aspect of the Scheme that all claims are paid in arrears based on the actual attendance of a child. This is a key financial and governance control to ensure that we are maximising the benefits of public monies and that the investment is following the child.
It should also be noted that the scheme rules, particularly the attendance rules, are designed to be flexible and responsive to family life. The rules recognise the business requirements of our dedicated childcare service providers, as well as the need to protect State finances and represent value for money for taxpayers.
The actual application of fees to usage is a matter entirely at the discretion of the provider and they may choose to charge for unused time.
The Deputy may wish to note the introduction of Core Funding from September 2022 following recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC).
Core Funding is the new funding stream to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and to improve affordability for parents, as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding will operate alongside the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme and constitute additional income for providers on top of funding for these schemes, as well as income from parental fees.
One of the key conditions of Core Funding will be the requirement for providers to maintain fees at or below September 2021 levels. This will ensure that parents feel the full affordability effects of the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme. Core Funding will also include conditions in relation to quality improvements in services and transparency in relation to operations.
558. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her views in relation to the public consultation on the status of Ireland publishing a plan to support the implementation of the European Union child guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24948/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI believe that significant progress can be made through my Department’s coordination of the EU Child Guarantee, an important initiative which aims to combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access for children who are in need of a range of key services.
The EU Child Guarantee calls on Member States to guarantee for children in need, free access to early childhood education and care; education (including school-based activities); and healthcare; and to ensure effective access to healthy nutrition, a healthy meal each school day and adequate housing. An online consultation in relation to the National Action Plan for the implementation of the EU Child Guarantee ran from 1 December 2021 until 14 January 2022. Twenty-one submissions were received from various organisations, a synopsis of which was compiled and issued for further consideration by relevant Departments.
As part of the obligations for Ireland under the Child Guarantee, my Department developed a National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee, in collaboration with a range of Government Departments. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was convened to assist in the drafting and finalisation of the Plan.
I hope to publish our National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee in the coming weeks, having first submitted the Plan to Cabinet for consideration.
Tackling child poverty and effectively implementing the Child Guarantee will require the commitment and active and sustained participation of my colleagues across government to ensure it is collaborative, integrated and, ultimately, impactful.
As part of the EU Child Guarantee process, and in developing the successor national policy Framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, I will be engaging with my cabinet colleagues to consider the most appropriate and effective structures to pursue the reforms necessary to improve outcomes for our most disadvantaged children and young people. The Child Guarantee will form part of the broader body of work supported by the new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People and its implementation structures.
559. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the circumstances surrounding the reason that €2 million in funding apportioned to University of Limerick under the energy efficiency and decarbonisation pathfinder programme that he launched in 2021 has been withheld from the university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24299/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra566. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason some €2 million apportioned to the University of Limerick under the energy efficiency and decarbonisation pathfinder programme 2021, a fund to aid higher education institutions with retrofitting, has been withheld from the university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24297/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra567. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to have €2 million in funding apportioned to the University of Limerick under the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme 2021 and €1.7 million in withheld capital funding, released to the University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24298/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 559, 566 and 567 together.
Concerns have been raised in relation to aspects of the governance process associated with UL’s acquisition of the former Dunnes Stores site in Limerick City Centre in 2019.
The site acquisition in question was not grant-funded by the Exchequer. An independent review of the site acquisition process was commissioned subsequently by UL from KPMG.
Last year, on foot of the concerns raised, my Department took the decision to pause €1.7 million of devolved capital grant funding to UL pending the completion of a governance assurance process by UL, including their response to any findings from the KPMG report.
In addition, a UL project was one of eight projects recently approved in principle, following technical evaluation, under the second round of the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme. The release of funding for this project has also been also paused.
The pause of funding will be kept under review pending the sharing by UL of relevant matters and remedial actions taken on foot of the KPMG report, which would allow the ongoing governance assurance process to be completed.
560. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will respond to concerns and proposals raised in correspondence by a person (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24714/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe loans available for GEM students are private arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans. Notwithstanding this position my Department has been made aware of reports regarding the specific loan scheme for graduate entry medicine and is currently seeking further information on this issue.
The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education.
Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study medicine. Students pursuing graduate entry medicine (GEM) programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, in order to widen access to GEM programmes and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU students are partly subsidised by the State via the Higher Education Authority (HEA). In academic year 20/21 the state contribution was €11,524 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student.
The Student Grant Scheme review comments on the issue of Graduate Entry Medicine and states that a wider issues remains as to whether greater flexibility in the criteria for student grant scheme could be considered in areas of critical skills shortage reflecting graduate entry routes.
There are significant policy, legislative and funding considerations, as well as wider implications, if the current treatment of graduate entry medicine was amended. However, we now have this review and all elements will be subject to consideration by my Department, including prioritisation and consideration of the cost of education measures through the annual estimates process. This will include any additional supports for Students of graduate entry medicine.
The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP) identifies target groups that are currently under-represented in higher education. These include entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education who would not have considered attending higher education without such supports. The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund is the funding mechanise established to implement the National Access Plan (NAP). There are three strands to the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) with an overall funding envelope of €42m between the periods 2017 to 2022. Strand 2 provides bursaries to students who have been identified by their higher education institution as being the most socio-economically disadvantaged students in the target groups under the National Access Plan. With effect from the 2021/22 academic year, a three-tier system of bursary provision has been introduced. This consists of the existing 203 bursaries arising from the original call worth €5,000 per annum (Tier 1), 120 bursaries worth €2,000 per annum (Tier 2) and a number of once-off bursaries worth €1,500 payable for the 2021/22 academic year only (Tier 3).
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may also be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
561. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the protocol that is in place for the re-use of computer hardware when it is replaced or upgraded within his Department and the bodies under the aegis of his Department; his plans to ensure that this complies with the soon to be enacted Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24146/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIT hardware (Servers, Storage, PCs, Laptops etc.) purchased by my Department has a lifecycle of 5 years at which point it is usually replaced. The annual appropriation account circular, which is issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), sets out the depreciation policy to be used by Government Departments in their annual appropriation accounts. The current depreciation policy is set out in Circular 01/2022 and states that IT equipment, hardware and software are depreciated on a straight-line basis to a nil value over 5 years.
After reaching 5 years of age, redundant information technology equipment is disposed of in accordance with DPER circular 30/03 "Depreciation and Disposal of PCs and other computer hardware". The disposal is conducted by certified recycling companies selected from an Office of Government Procurement waste framework. Where viable these firms remove the hard disks containing data and refurbish the equipment. The equipment and/or its constituent components can then be reused.
The hard disks containing data are erased in compliance with industry standards to ensure that all information is removed. This is carried out in all cases regardless of whether the equipment is being reused or recycled. The waste disposal companies are requested to provide my Department with suitable certification indicating that all items are disposed of in accordance with the current legislation. My Department will fully comply with the Circular Economy and Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2022.
The information in respect of state bodies is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.
Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
|
Name of Body |
Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireacthas |
Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members |
|
Higher Education Authority |
Oireachtas@hea.ie |
Padraic Mellett* |
|
Irish Research Council( Note 1) |
Oireachtas@research.ie |
Padraic Mellett* |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
Communications@ggda.ie |
nora.rahill@ggda.ie |
|
SOLAS |
oireachtasinfo@solas.ie |
Maria Walsh maria.walshe@solas.ie |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
oireachtas@skillnets.com |
t.donnery@skillnets.com |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland |
ceo@qqi.ie |
ceo@qqi.ie |
|
Léargas – The Exchange Bureau |
oireachtas@leargas.ie |
fbroughan@leargas.ie |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
ciara.cotter@sfi.ie |
Ciara Cotter |
Note 1 – In regard to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) as the IRC operates under the auspices of the HEA. Mr Mellett will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use Oireachtas@hea.ie and Oireachtas@research.ie respectively to contact Mr Mellett.
562. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure higher education institutions that have on-campus accommodation refund in full deposits for accommodation paid by applicants who subsequently may not be able to take up the offer of accommodation due to a college placement elsewhere or failure to obtain a particular college placement at that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24098/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHigher education institutions are autonomous 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 independent in relation to their policies in management of their student accommodation. Refund or cancellation policies in student accommodation should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year.
There are no powers available to me under the current legal framework to direct any particular course of action. While policies may differ somewhat between institution to institution, my understanding is that the norm is for universities to offer at least some amount of refund, albeit often with the proviso that it be sought out within a specific time frame.
Restrictions have also been put in place to limit the amount that students can be required to pay up front for their accommodation, ending the practice whereby students were required to pay a lump sum up front each term. The total amount that anyone is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy to no more than the equivalent of 2 months’ rent- that is one month’s rent, and one month’s deposit. In addition, student accommodation is subject to Rent Pressure Zone caps.
Students seeking refunds should, in the first instance, engage with their accommodation provider to see if an arrangement can be reached. If this is not possible, under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 students have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
563. 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 part-time PhD students who apply to the Irish Research Council for funding have any prior year of part-time PhD research counted as full-time, meaning, if successful, they are eligible for less support from the IRC; if he will engage with IRC to rectify this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe awarding of funding is, in the first instance, a matter for the awarding authority.
The reason why part-time and full-time PhDs are treated the same for those applicants that have already commenced a PhD programme is that there is no agreed national approach for determining equivalence between these two modes.
The IRC will engage with the National Forum for Doctoral Education (NFDE) on this matter; the forum, which is representative of both higher education institutions and research funders, is the appropriate vehicle through which to explore potential mechanisms for progressing the issue of equivalence.
All IRC funding is linked with the HEA-Athena Swan accreditation framework. This framework requires that research-performing institutions must meet the minimum accreditation standard in order to be eligible to host a research award provided by the IRC. Athena Swan is currently undertaking a review process with a view to broadening its remit from gender to address wider equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The IRC will be examining this EDI policy and strategy further in 2022, building on the recommendations set out in its recent review of its first gender strategy and action plan, and collaborating with the other funders and the HEA. Within the national policy framework, the IRC keeps its own policies under continuous review.
A new national strategy for research and innovation, will be published shortly. There will be an enhanced emphasis on EDI in research in the new strategy, aligned with the Department’s strategic pillars as set out in its own Statement of Strategy 2021-2023. Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department, and my ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all. This means recognising the needs of vulnerable learners, people who are most marginalised, and people with special and additional needs.
The new research and innovation strategy will have associated work programmes over the lifetime of the strategy, with specific actions. The IRC, along with the other research funders and wider stakeholders will engage with my Department on the implementation of the strategy and the further development of national policy and practice.
564. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the higher education bodies that have been awarded funding under the gender equality enhancement fund in 2020-2021 to advance gender equality initiatives in Irish higher education; the amount received by each of these bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24239/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Gender Equality Enhancement Fund is an annual funding call with the following objectives:
- To encourage innovative approaches to addressing gender inequality across HEIs;
- To facilitate gender equality initiatives that respond to the recommendations of the HEA Expert Group and/or Gender Equality Taskforce’s recommended actions; and
- To encourage cross-sectoral collaboration as a means to achieve national transformation.
To date, the HEA has awarded funding of €536,114 to advance gender equality initiatives in Irish higher education. Awards have been made across three areas:
- Research on or advancing gender equality initiatives in Ireland;
- Training programmes specifically addressing gender equality; and
- Athena SWAN capacity-building activities.
Projects funded under Gender Equality Enhancement Fund in 2020 and 2021 are set out in the table below.
|
HEI partners* |
Project title |
Year of award |
Funding |
|
DCU, DkIT and NUI Galway |
Mid-Career Development Programme for Women |
2020 |
€50,200 |
|
IADT, GMIT and MU |
Irish Network for Gender Equality in Computing (INGENIC): The Collective Voice for Gender Equality in Computing |
2020 |
€23,800 |
|
Carlow College, IT Carlow, LIT, MIC and WIT |
The development and implementation of a Gender Identity, Expression and Diversity Training Programme for staff in Irish HEIs |
2020 |
€28,300 |
|
DCU, NUI Galway, UCC, UCD and UL |
Supporting Athena SWAN in the Mathematical Sciences: Benchmarking and Networking |
2020 |
€42,743 |
|
RCSI, TU Dublin and UCC |
LIBRA - Future Proofing Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions - Experiential Learning in Simulation for Students Leaders |
2020 |
€47,857 |
|
IT Carlow, MU, TU Dublin and UCD |
TechMate: A best practice toolkit for driving sustainable acceleration towards gender equality in technology disciplines in HEIs. |
2020 |
€33,000 |
|
IT Sligo, TU Dublin and UCD |
You can be what you can see: pSTEM Role Models |
2020 |
€35,714 |
|
MU, NUI Galway and UL |
Preparing for Academic Advancement (PAA) |
2020 |
€24,500 |
|
TU Dublin, TCD, UCC, UCD and UL. |
Increasing the voice of women economists in the media and public discourse through training and promotion. |
2021 |
€31,808 |
|
DCU, TU Dublin and UL. |
Getting ahead versus getting along: Investigating how gender stereotypes are contributing to gender inequality in HEIs. |
2021 |
€49,537 |
|
AIT, Carlow College, IT Carlow, LIT, MIC, and WIT. |
Embedding Gender Identity, Expression & Diversity Training and Best Practice into Irish HEIs. |
2021 |
€32,120 |
|
AIT, IT Carlow, LIT, MTU and WIT. |
Embedding Equality Diversity and Inclusion in the Curriculum of the new Technological University Sector: EDIT Project. |
2021 |
€37,926 |
|
DCU, IT Sligo, MIC, MU, and TCD. |
Integrating the gender dimension into teaching, learning and educational outreach in initial teacher education. |
2021 |
€19,000 |
|
IADT, IT Sligo and TU Dublin. |
Working Women and the Menopause: a study of the impact of the menopause on careers of a sample of women working in the HEI sector in Ireland. |
2021 |
€29,609 |
|
DCU, MU, NUIG, TCD, UCC, and UCD and UL. |
Preparing for Academic Advancement (PAA) |
2021 |
€50,000 |
*lead applicants are indicated in bold.
565. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding that has been provided to date by his Department or any bodies under the aegis of his Department to support the national gender equality dashboard for higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24240/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for her question.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has been collecting gender disaggregated staff data from Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) that are in receipt of annual core-grant funding from the HEA since 2015. This data is published annually by the HEA in the Higher Education Institutional Staff Profiles by Gender and is publicly available at: hea.ie/policy/gender/statistics/. These profiles provide information on key indicators which contribute to the assessment of gender equality in Irish HEIs. This publication offers a valuable baseline from which progress can be measured, and includes all grades of staff, in all publicly funded HEIs.
As well as listing the gender of each president/or equivalent, the gender-balance on governing authority/body, academic council, and executive management teams is provided per HEI, and the sector summaries indicate the number of institutions that have a minimum 40% of each gender on these key decision-making bodies.
Staffing information collected includes:
- Staff by category of post (academic core-funded staff, Professional, Management and Support core-funded staff, research/specialist academic staff, research/specialist Professional, Management and Support Staff)
- Academic staff by discipline
- Academic staff by contract type
- Professional, Management and Support Staff by contract type
- Professional, Management and Support Staff by pay scale
The profiles also list Athena Swan institutional and departmental awards attained by HEIs. Athena Swan awards are important indicators of progress towards gender equality.
On 8 March 2021, I launched the national gender equality dashboard for higher education institutions. This dashboard visualises data collected by the HEA. The dashboard was developed by Maynooth University and provides, for the first time, an interactive and comparative visualisation of key staff data and gender profiles from Irish higher education institutions. It is funded locally by Maynooth University and is a key action in the university’s Gender Action Plan 2018-2022 available here (www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/MU%20Gender%20Equality%20Action%20Plan%202018-2022-WEB.pdf).
568. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way that his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [24308/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs an equal opportunities employer, my Department is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to staff with disabilities. The Department is also committed to addressing the health and safety needs of all employees, including employees with disabilities. For this purpose, staff may be asked to indicate if they have any needs for reasonable accommodation or health and safety supports related to a disability.
My Department has a designated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) who is the point of contact for staff members with disabilities and their managers. The DLO assists and supports staff with disabilities, in confidence, providing necessary information, guidance, suggestions and advice. The DLO also assists with any reasonable accommodations and/or equipment which a staff member with a disability might require to carry out their role.
The DLO is a member of the Civil Service Disability Liaison Network which meets regularly with DLOs from all departments to share best practice in the area of supporting staff with disabilities.
Part V of the Disability Act 2005 requires that public bodies promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and ensure that 3% of staff employed by them are people with disabilities. The percentage of people with disabilities employed by my Department at present is 3.68%. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities for 2015 – 2024, commits the Government to progressively increasing the statutory target for the employment of people with disabilities from 3% to a minimum of 6% in the public sector by 2024. In order that my Department can meet its legal responsibility to report annually on the number and proportion of staff with a disability, every employee (including temporary and part-time employees) is required to complete and sign a confidential form to establish whether or not the employee has a disability within the meaning of the Disability Act.
The information in respect of state bodies is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.
569. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made in the roll-out of additional apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24339/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraApprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers coming together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship response in their sector.
The defined process and structure for employers to become engaged in the apprenticeship process is in place. It is open to any industry that wishes to explore options for developing an apprenticeship to bring a proposal forward. The SOLAS Guidance Document for Submitting an Initial Proposal for a New National Apprenticeship together with their Handbook on Developing a National Apprenticeship provide an overview of the key features of new apprenticeships, including sectoral engagement and collaboration among enterprises and other stakeholders in the relevant industry. These publications are available on www.apprenticeship.ie.
The Action Plan for Apprenticeship (APA) 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners, to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations across a wide range of programmes by 2025. Expanding apprenticeship across all sectors of the economy has widened its impact in areas of skills shortage such as engineering, technology skills, logistics, and fintech. Under the Plan there will be an increase in online visibility of apprenticeship engagement and apprenticeship development processes for employers/sectors who wish to assess the potential for new apprenticeship development.
The introduction of the new annual employer grant of €2,000, a key measure within the APA, will also encourage more employers to engage with a wider range of apprenticeships and help to encourage the development of new programmes. It also means that, for the first time, all employers will receive a level of support towards the cost of apprentice training.
Development of new apprenticeship programmes has continued despite the pandemic challenges, There are currently 65 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 40 programmes introduced since 2016. Eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic; Arboriculture, Equipment Systems Engineer, Healthcare Assistant, Principal Engineer – Professional Doctorate, Recruitment Executive, Sales, Scaffolding , Supply Chain Associate.
A Bar Manager Apprenticeship was launched at the beginning of March 2022 along with a Wind Turbine Maintenance apprenticeship. Most recently, an apprenticeship in Transport Operations & Commercial Driving has been launched. Programme development has been approved for progression for a further range of 14 programmes in areas such as farming, horticulture, finance, manufacturing, construction, cybersecurity and ICT, and a number of others are at the early initial proposal stage.
570. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of capital public expenditure at Dublin City University in the past five years; and the individual projects supported. [24399/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease find attached details of capital (infrastructure) funding provided by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and previously the Department of Education and Skills, to Dublin City University from 2018 to the present date, as requested.
|
Dublin City University |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Devolved Grant |
2,367,000.00 |
2,271,826.00 |
|||
|
St. Patricks F-Block Building |
3,000,000.00 |
8,845,238.51 |
|||
|
Future Technology Building |
804,481.00 |
1,153,581.99 |
881,636.89 |
214,725.60 |
|
|
ICT Grant |
641,843.00 |
||||
|
Marconi Building BER Upgrade & Retrofit Project |
114,466.23 |
||||
|
Total |
3,000,000.00 |
9,649,719.51 |
4,162,424.99 |
3,267,929.12 |
214,725.60 |
