Written Answers Nos. 1290-1309
1290. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if all Irish citizens that have returned from medical school in Ukraine as a result of the invasion have been informed of the pathway for them to continue their studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42152/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very conscious of the impact of the war in the Ukraine on Irish citizens whose studies in medicine and dentistry were interrupted. I have tasked officials in my Department to work with the Deans of the Irish Medical School Colleges (IMSC) to develop a response, which would enable the students to continue with their studies.
Working with the Department, the IMSC has established an occasional student scheme to facilitate qualifying displaced students to attend lectures and practical training (small group interactive science, anatomy laboratory and clinical case-based / skills- based learning). This scheme will help to support the continuation of their learning in the short term. Applications are currently being reviewed by the Medical Schools in advance of the 2022/23 academic year.
Within the context of the occasional student scheme, the Department and Irish Medical Schools will continue efforts to establish formal engagements with Ukrainian Medical Schools, in order to support continuity in medical education for displaced students to the greatest extent possible. Crucially, this aspect of the response is dependent on engagement from the Ukrainian Medical Schools.
Officials in my Department have been working to establish contact with the Deans of the Medical Schools in the Ukraine, based on contact details provided by the Irish students. I also have recently met with the Ukrainian Ambassador, and have sought her assistance in this regard. My officials have also asked the recently returned Irish Ambassador in Kiev to help in this regard.
Once material from the Ukrainian Medical schools is available, this will enable my Department to bring this process to a conclusion.
It is important to note that officials from my Department have already met with representatives of the students, and I understand that a further meeting is planned shortly.
1291. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing postgraduate third-level registration and tuition fees, including the associated reduction in the student support grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42160/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications to undertake study at postgraduate level are made directly to individual higher education institutions.
Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and on that basis the management of academic affairs including:
- the criteria governing the level of tuition fees to be charged in the case of postgraduate study are solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. In this regard the fee payable by a student will vary by institution and differ depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education.
- some students may already have some or all of their fees covered e.g. under research awards or other bodies.
- the curriculum; instruction; education and number of students enrolled on postgraduate courses as provided by the institutions are generally matters for the relevant HEI.
Data required to estimate the potential costs to the state for the introduction of a scheme to provide tuition fees for all postgraduate students is not readily available.
The main support available to postgraduate students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Budget 2021, provided enhanced postgraduate supports from the 2021/22 academic year including the fee contribution grant amount rising from €2,000 to €3,500. In March I signed regulations to increase student grants for the new academic year (2022/23). The changes, introduced in Budget 2022 will see maintenance grants increase by €200, the income threshold for the standard rate of grant increase by €1,000 and the distance for the higher non-adjacent student grant will be reduced from 45km to 30km.
As I look towards the next budgetary cycle, I will be examining all the levers I have to address the cost of education in a way that has impact for students and families and that applies broadly and fairly across society. On 5th of September, in advance of the Budget, I published, for the first time, a costs of education paper which will set out the possible policy options, and their indicative costs, to aid public discussion on how we should prioritise any interventions to address costs of education. The paper “Funding the Future, an annual options paper on reducing the cost of higher education can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/28c9d-funding-the-future-an-annual-options-paper-on-reducing-the-cost-of-higher-education/.
1292. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing third-level registration and tuition fees for repeating students, including the associated reduction in the student support grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42161/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder this Department’s Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students exclusive of the student contribution. In order to qualify for funding under the FFI, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the repeat year period of study criteria.
The free fees criteria sets out that, with limited exceptions (such as ill health), tuition fees will not be paid in respect of students undertaking a repeat period of study at the same year level. In this regard students who have previously pursued a course of third level study which has attracted exchequer funding (e.g. fees, maintenance, tax relief, subsidy towards course cost) and have not secured a qualification and subsequently resume third level studies within 5 years are not eligible for free fees for the equivalent period of time spent on the first course.
However, once an equivalent period of study has been completed on the new course, the student may become eligible for free fees funding for the remainder of the course where they meet all other criteria of the free fees scheme.
The assessment of eligibility under the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) in individual cases is a matter for each higher education institution to determine within the terms of the scheme.
Applications to undertake a repeat period of study are made directly to individual higher education institutions. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and on that basis the management of the academic affairs including the criteria governing the level of repeat tuition fees to be charged are solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. In this regard any repeat fees payable by a student will vary by institution.
As estimated cost of the state introducing a scheme to fully supporting all repeat fees charged by Higher Education Institutions is not readily available.
1293. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to provide funding for the training of educational psychologists; and his plans to address this in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42176/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1295. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he is taking to address the barriers to training for educational psychologists, particularly in relation to completing the necessary three-year PhD which currently is not subsidised in order to address the shortage of educational psychologists and consequential waiting lists for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42210/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1293 and 1295 together.
My Department is strongly committed to supporting the wellbeing of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health and education workforce, and support a range of public services, including educational psychology.
In this context, the Department is engaging on an ongoing basis with the Department of Health, the Department of Education and other relevant stakeholders with regard to how the further and higher education system can best support workforce planning for the delivery of essential public services.
The National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE have advised my Department that the Psychology Project Team completed a report in 2021 which recommended the development of a workforce plan for psychology, including educational psychology. My Department understands that implementation of the recommendations in this report is currently being examined by the HSE including in light of overall resource requirements arising.
Progress in relation to workforce planning in this area by the Department of Health and the Department of Education will inform the Funding the Future reform process for higher education, a key focus of which, in collaboration with professional regulators, is on ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified individuals to enable the delivery of essential public services in areas such as health, education and social care.
The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. Currently Postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible for the postgraduate special rate of maintenance grant. The income threshold for this grant is €24,500, also special rate postgraduate students are eligible to have their post graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. All other postgraduate students who earn below the income threshold of €54,240 in 2021/22 qualify for postgraduate fee contribution of €3,500.
1294. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to an emerging issue in relation to the availability of e-books in third level libraries as a result of market concentration in the so-called big five British publishers, the potential for this to damage the quality of education delivered and the depth of research produced by students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42187/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Universities Act 1997, Technological Universities Act 2018 and the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous entities including with regard to the management of their library facilities and as such my Department has no function in this matter including in relation to the availability of e-books in the HEIs.
My Department does, however, provide funding to the Irish Research eLibrary (IReL), which is a nationally funded e-resource licensing consortium providing access to leading science, technology and medicine and humanities and social sciences resources on behalf of participating Irish publicly funded HEIs. IReL delivers quality peer-reviewed online research publications including journals, ebooks, databases and index and abstracting services.
In 2020 the Technological University (TU) Transformation Fund administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) allocated € 1.2 million to TU Dublin for IReL related activity.
In 2021 the HEA delivered €2.6 million to IReL for the support of transformative agreements and €300,000 for IReL management costs. This support is linked to the open research agenda in the context of moves to counter costs through the creation and use of open access materials and open educational resources including open textbooks.
In April 2022 under additional TU oriented funding secured by my Department and the HEA under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the HEA signed a sector wide grant agreement with all 5 technological universities, Dundalk Institute of Technology and Dun Laoghaire, Institute of Art, Design and Technology for delivery of an education and training reforms programme which includes work packages to adopt and deploy IReL across the entirety of the technological sector.
1296. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on funding the PhD in educational psychology to emulate the subsidised training for clinical psychologists during which trainees are paid in order to ensure that all trainees are treated fairly financially to help address the shortage in psychologists in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42211/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is strongly committed to supporting the mental health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.
My Department understands there is a longstanding arrangement in place under which the HSE, and indeed former Health Boards, recruit Trainee Clinical Psychologists and sponsor their training in order to encourage employment with the HSE of suitably qualified professionals. This arrangement is made by the HSE and is not the responsibility of my Department. The question of whether similar arrangements should be put in place in relation to other psychological specialties in order to meet their workforce needs is a matter for consideration by the appropriate recruiting bodies.
The National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE have advised me that the Psychology Project Team completed a report in 2021 which recommended the development of a workforce plan for psychology and the creation of a National Psychology Placement Office. Implementation of the recommendations in this report is being considered by the HSE in the context of resource requirements Implementation of the report’s recommendations and the creation of a National Psychology Placement Office are a matter for the HSE to prioritise in the context of available resources.
In conclusion, issues arising from sponsorships and employment eligibility in relation to psychologists, and indeed more generally, are matters for relevant employers rather than the responsibility of my Department.
1297. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that are being taken to deal with the chronic shortage of vets; if a second college will be established to deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42251/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not place a quota on the number of places on veterinary medicine courses offered by higher education institutions, and as such the number of places provided each year is determined by the institutions themselves in line with their capacity.
Funding the Future, a landmark policy document, was launched in May 2022. It provides the policy basis for the vision and direction of higher education funding in a sustainable way. A key element of this policy framework is a focus on driving skills and engagement, with a particular focus on essential public services. Through this policy framework my Department and HEA will strengthen planning for provision, and alignment between the sector and the national skills architecture, including workforce planning for key public services.
Officials from my Department have been engaging extensively with the Higher Education Authority and the higher education sector to identify where additional places can and should be provided in the higher education system for the next academic year and beyond. These additional places will be targeted at areas of acute skills need as identified through our national skills architecture. However there are real, material limits on the number of places that can be created on courses with significant practical elements and placement requirements, such as veterinary medicine.
1298. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 6 July 2022, if he will provide a full list of the stakeholders who agreed to adopt the recommendations of the review. [42300/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recommendation to move from the current educational QQI award arose from the Bearing Point report. BearingPoint consultants engaged widely with a host of Government Departments, Agencies Regulatory Bodies.
They also engaged with: the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Approved Training Organisations (ATOs), Education and Training Boards (ETBs), individual trainers, tutors, members of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the Building and Allied Trades Union (BATU), the Transformation and Transition Steering Committee and Construction Industry Advisory Group, both of which consisted of industry, employers and union partners as well as State bodies.
1299. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 6 July 2022, if the new licensing model will be viewed as an equivalent qualification by third level institutions and be acceptable in lieu of leaving certificate results when applying for courses. [42301/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017 SOLAS commissioned Bearing Point to undertake a review of its Construction Services operations, including the Safe Pass, CSCS and QSCS programmes. This review was conducted over a six – month period between May to October 2017 and involved widespread consultation with stakeholders to identify system and process improvements.
One of the key recommendations from the report was a requirement to decouple the award of CSCS \ QSCS cards from the educational qualifications awarded by QQI. CSCS \ QSCS programmes are best defined as a “Skills Assessment” event rather than training and as such are better aligned to a licence type model, which assess the competencies and skills of all applicants.
Once established, the statutory licensing system will replace the QQI accredited training model currently applicable to the issuance of CSCS \ QSCS cards. Therefore, the proposed new licensing system will have no direct linkage with second, third level educational awards or those awards for which QQI have responsibility.
The aim of introducing a licencing system is to improve the quality, standard of training and improving overall Health and Safety within the industry. Those applicants who successfully undertake the skills assessment aligned to the CSCS \ QSCS programmes will receive the appropriate license.
1300. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 6 July 2022, if he will provide details of the new licensing model under the headings of duration of the licence; length of training and the names of the training providers. [42302/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Construction Skills Certificate Scheme and Quarrying Skills Certificate Scheme went through a detailed review. Following consultation with public sector bodies, industry, and staff representatives, all stakeholders agreed that the recommendations of the review would be adopted including moving to a licence and a move away from the Certificate approach.
The renewal period will be finalised in the drafting process.
The duration of the training shall remain the same, however, each training programme will be subject to review, considering the changes in the construction industry practices, introduction of innovative construction technologies and advances within the Health and Safety legislation as required.
There are currently sixty-six (66) Approved Training Organisations providing training programmes. The details are available online (www.constructioncourses.ie/) and I have also provided the list to you.
|
ATO ID |
ATO |
Type |
Active |
|
902609 |
121 Safety Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903910 |
AA Euro Recruitment Group |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903599 |
Access & Forklift Services Ltd |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903895 |
Advance Drive Training Centre Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903915 |
Advanced Safety Management Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903833 |
Allied Training |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903851 |
Amanza Safety Train & Consult |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903916 |
Amber Safety Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903834 |
ASL Safety & Training Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
901921 |
Ayrton Group |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903911 |
Bord na Mona PLC |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903848 |
Boston Training Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
902444 |
Carroll Training Providers Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903860 |
Castleblayney Community Enterprise CLG |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
902857 |
Celtic Safety Training Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
901380 |
Chris Mee & Associates |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903867 |
Class C Driver Training |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903858 |
Colaiste De Dannan Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
900678 |
Construction Industry Training Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
901168 |
Cork County Council Regional Training Centre |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903820 |
Crosswood Developments Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
902124 |
Crystal Safety Services |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903889 |
Designer Group |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903922 |
Dynamic Safety Solutions |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903913 |
ECS Safety & Training Irl Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903824 |
Edwards McCarthy Safety Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
901788 |
Euro Safety and Training Services Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903551 |
Fingal County Council |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
901588 |
FRS Training Limited |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903090 |
G Holland Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903846 |
Geil Sli Driving Academy |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903861 |
Global Training Solutions |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903859 |
GMC Utilities Group Ltd |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903818 |
Guardian Safety |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
900942 |
HB Safety Services Ltd |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903828 |
Horticulture Ireland (Solutions) Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
901801 |
Hynes Quinn Driving School |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903909 |
IDEAS |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
901535 |
Industrial Transport Training |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903835 |
Iona Rock Developments |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903850 |
Ireland Training & Translations T &T Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903914 |
iSafe CG Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903837 |
ISM Training Services |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
901862 |
JMC Training |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
902553 |
John Howley |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903814 |
John Kilcoyne |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903236 |
John Malone Jnr |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
901790 |
Kearney Training & Consultancy Limited |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
901890 |
Maher Industrial Training Centre |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903827 |
Must Do Training |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903598 |
National Construction Training & Safety Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
902159 |
National Construction Training Centre |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903826 |
National Irish Safety Organisation |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903838 |
NCU |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903617 |
Niall Hickson |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903821 |
Nigel Williamson |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903040 |
Noel Kelly |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903372 |
NTS Training Solutions Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
901648 |
O'Dwyer Safety Services Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903919 |
OHC Consulting Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903832 |
Old Coolattin Country Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903917 |
Optima Training |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903681 |
O'Reilly Training Ltd |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903890 |
Pentony Training Services |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
902167 |
Philip Blennerhassett |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903912 |
Platinum Safety Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903841 |
Prestige Training |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
902363 |
Pro-Active Training Health and Safety Services Ltd |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903918 |
ProTraining Courses |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903829 |
Renewables Academy Ltd |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
901447 |
Roscrea Regional Training Centre |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903811 |
Royal Safety Limited |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903856 |
RR Consulting Services |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903075 |
Safetech |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903282 |
Safety Solutions Swift Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
902786 |
Salus Training Services Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
902977 |
Shelbourne Health & Safety |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
901451 |
Shorcontrol Safety Ltd |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
902762 |
SOS Training Ltd |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903281 |
Stranorlar Regional Training Centre |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903896 |
TCS Training & Translation |
SafePass |
Yes |
|
903423 |
Traffic Management Technology & Surveys |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
903484 |
Underground Detection Equipment |
CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
902257 |
West Cork Health and Safety Services |
SafePass & CSCS/QSCS |
Yes |
|
900023 |
WESTERN MANAGEMENT CENTRE, |
SafePass |
Yes |
1301. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of trainee dental places that have been on offer in the State each year since 2016; the number of those places that are being offered through CAO and to non-European Union students respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42361/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below outlines the number of new entrants to undergraduate dentistry courses, by domicile from 2016/2017 to 2020/2021 academic years. All students from the EU or UK apply through the CAO. The number of places offered is a matter for the dental schools, and my Department does not set limits on the number of enrolments in dentistry.
|
Domiciliary Group |
2016/2017 |
2017/2018 |
2018/2019 |
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
|
(Other) EU |
<10 |
|
|
<10 |
|
|
Great Britain |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
|
<10 |
|
Ireland |
50 |
46 |
51 |
49 |
59 |
|
Non-EU |
26 |
25 |
32 |
26 |
29 |
|
Northern Ireland |
<10 |
<10 |
|
<10 |
<10 |
1302. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of trainee doctor places that have been on offer in the State each year since 2016; the number of those places that are being offered through CAO and to non-European Union students respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42362/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUp until this year, the Fottrell Report provided the basis on which the level of provision for EU students in medical schools was determined. It specifies that an intake of between 700 and 740 EU students per annum was required to move towards national self-sufficiency. This target marked a more than doubling of the number of EU students who were accepted in to medical schools at the time the report was published. The number of non-EU students admitted to medicine courses is a determined by the higher education institutions themselves, in line with their autonomy.
In recent months, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD and I jointly announced an agreement with the Irish medical schools to increase the number of places available for EU students by 200 over the next five years. The agreement reached with the medical schools will begin with an additional 60 EU students in September 2022, climbing to 120 in September 2023, and up to 200 by 2026.
First year enrolments in medicine for the period of 2016/17 to 2020/21 are in the table below. These figures are taken from the HEA's Student Records System.
|
|
2016/2017 |
2017/2018 |
2018/2019 |
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
|
Ireland/UK/EU |
734 |
719 |
721 |
733 |
754 |
|
Non-EU |
517 |
579 |
598 |
620 |
649 |
1303. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that foreign students who wish to study medicine in Ireland do not have to undergo the health professions admission test exam in order to avail of a college place; and if he perceives any discrimination between the process afforded to international students vs Irish EU students in terms of gaining access to third level medical courses In Ireland in respect of HPAT requirements. [42364/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHigher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, HEIs are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs. This includes the right to determine the procedures and criteria for the selection and admission of students.
The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the HEIs. The HPAT (Health Professions Admission Test) is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and the RCSI. The selection criteria and process for admission to medical schools is a matter for the universities and the RCSI in line with their statutory autonomy in relation to academic affairs. Neither I nor my Department have a role in these matters.
1304. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to increase the number of Irish university places for pharmacy, including new pathways for experienced pharmacy technicians to qualify by way of a part-time qualification course in view of the shortage of retail pharmacists in Ireland. [42560/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to develop accredited courses for pharmacy technicians in order for them to graduate to pharmacist level. [43199/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1304 and 1327 together.
In June 2022, I announced an extra 1,056 targeted college places to be offered through the CAO for the 2022/2023 academic year. Additional places are being provided on pharmacy technician courses from September 2022 . In addition, a number of additional places have been provided in recent years, leading to the highest number of new entrants beginning their studies in 2020, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
There are also a number of part-time and full-time pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant courses delivered by the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) around the country. Advice and information on these courses can be sought from the Adult Guidance Service available in each of the 16 ETBs. The Adult Guidance Service is confidential and free of charge and can assist potential learners through all stages of the application process. An appointment can be made via the managing ETB. Alternatively, potential learners can enrol via the Fetchourses.ie website , an online database of over 60,000 Further Education and Training Courses.
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 is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, including pharmacists.
My Department does not place a quota on the number of pharmacy places offered by higher education institutions, and as such the number of places provided each year is determined by the institutions themselves in line with their capacity.
My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare services, and the role which the further and higher education sector can play in meeting those skills needs. I will ensure that there is continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that we deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health sector.
1305. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42588/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HPAT is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and the RCSI. The selection criteria and process for admission to medical schools is a matter for those institutions in line with their statutory autonomy in relation to academic affairs. Neither the Minister nor the Department has a function in these matters and it is not within our remit to intervene in the HPAT examination process.
As such any complaints about the admission to the medical schools, including in relation to the HPAT, are best directed to ACER itself, or the universities medical schools and the RCSI.
1306. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will increase the annual PhD stipend to reflect the increases in the costs of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42675/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1307. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will tie future rates of PhD stipends to the consumer price index in order that stipends accurately account for the current costs of living for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42676/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1308. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he intends on making it a requirement of State funding to higher education establishments that they pay a stipend of at least €28,000 per year to postgraduate students undertaking PhD studies given the important work that they do; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42750/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1306, 1307 and 1308 together.
I should first say that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation and as such the management of their academic affairs are generally a matter for the institution in question.
On the issue of stipends in general, a stipend is a well-established feature of funded postgraduate awards globally, providing an income to the awardee in recognition of the need to devote themselves on a full-time basis to their research. My Department provides funding for postgraduate research through both Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC). Funding is also provided by other statutory funders and, of course, private funders. Some students also self-fund.
My Department is monitoring the issue of stipends, in the context of the resources available and the competing needs to which they can be allocated. In that regard, the Minister allocated additional funding to the IRC in 2021 to enable it to increase postgraduate scholarship by €2,500 per annum, or 16%. This was made effective from 1 January 2021 and, together with an increase to funding for postdoctoral salaries, benefited close to 1,300 early-career researchers in the system. The move also aligned the stipend level for the IRC and SFI.
On 1 July, the Taoiseach and I announced a new partnership between industry and the Government to recruit and retain research talent.
Innovate for Ireland is an important collaboration between industry and the Government and will make a significant contribution to the aims of our research and innovation strategy.
The initial phase of the Innovate for Ireland initiative will seek to attract up to 400 high calibre PhD students to undertake research in Ireland that tackles national and global grand challenges.
An attractive package, including a stipend of €28,000, will be awarded through the programme to the small number of successful PhD students who will undertake the research over the next 10 years.
The Government is committed to meeting the ambition set out in Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, that researchers and innovators working in Ireland should have the best possible experience and to make the biggest possible difference.
1309. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42786/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSOLAS have confirmed that the employer, Fitzell Engineering Ltd has submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the apprenticeship online portal (AOL) www.apprenticeship.ie.
SOLAS are currently investigating the issue with the relevant Education and Training Board and will revert with an update in due course. Officials in my Department are continuing to engage with SOLAS on this matter and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.
