Written Answers Nos. 123-138
123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 516 of 29 March 2022, when the report of the Collaborative Forum of Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes and Related Institutions, submitted to him in December 2018, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50701/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have previously indicated, publication of the Collaborative Forum’s report had to await the publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation. For this reason, the Forum's recommendations were initially published and a commitment was given to revisit the question of publication of the full report following the completion of the Commission's work in 2021. Thereafter, acting on further legal advice, my Department commenced a right of reply process to ensure relevant parties named in the report were afforded due process prior to publication.
I acknowledge that this necessary process has taken some time, however, I can confirm that it is now concluded. This has enabled my Department to seek further advices from the Office of the Attorney General on publication of the Report. It is my intention to bring the matter to Government in the coming weeks with a view to publication as soon as possible thereafter.
I will be directly contacting Collaborative Forum members in the near future to advise of the arrangements being made for publication of their report.
124. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the development of the Autism Innovation Strategy; the expected timeline for the finalisation and publication of the Strategy; if he will provide details of the Autism Innovation Strategy oversight and advisory group; the number of times that the group has met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50702/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Autism Awareness Month, in April 2021, I announced the Government’s intention to develop an Autism Innovation Strategy.
The aim of the Autism Innovation Strategy is to identify bespoke challenges and barriers faced by Autistic and Neurodivergent people across Ireland and to deliver tangible solutions to address those issues. The strategy will focus on specific areas that may not be addressed by other national strategies, such as, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy or the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.
A number of steps have been taken to progress development of the strategy to date. As the first step in the development process, a public consultation was launched on 29 April this year to gather feedback, opinions and insights into the current supports and services provided and to identify specific issues to be addressed by the strategy. The consultation process ran until the end of May 2022. A report analysing the submissions from the public consultation is currently being finalised. The feedback received from this consultation will feed directly into a first draft of the Autism Innovation Strategy.
The second phase of the development of the strategy, comprising of an expression of interest process for membership of the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group, was launched in June 2022. This group will play a key role in overseeing implementation of the strategy and it is intended that the group will represent lived experience as much as possible. Applications for membership of the group are currently being assessed and it is anticipated that the group will be appointed in the coming weeks.
The advisory group will provide oversight and critical, constructive analysis that will help the Autism Innovation Strategy to achieve its aims.
Once the results from the public consultation have been analysed and the advisory group has been appointed, my Department will coordinate efforts across Government to develop a draft strategy text.
A further public consultation process will take place to give anyone interested the opportunity to provide further feedback on the strategy before it is finalised and adopted, which is expected to take place in 2023.
125. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the research commissioned by his Department, and being carried out by the ESRI, into the housing situation of children; when he expects to receive and publish the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50703/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven the very significant challenges facing the housing system in Ireland, the Research and Evaluation Unit (REU) in my Department instigated a project to explore children’s experiences of housing and the consequences of housing issues for child development. This research, which is being conducted under the aegis of the Department’s partnership with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), will use data gathered through the Growing up in Ireland (GUI) study to explore how different types of accommodation tenure affect outcomes for children. Drawing on data from the ‘08 Cohort of the GUI study (these children were recruited into the study at 9 months and are now aged about 14), the study will explore the housing conditions faced by children in early and middle childhood, and the implications of these housing experiences for their cognitive, socio-emotional and health outcomes.
I expect this paper to also explore measures of housing quality and the effects of moving accommodation for children, and to pay particular attention to how tenure type and housing quality affect children from different socio-economic groups, ethnic backgrounds and family types. Because of the longitudinal nature of the GUI data, the paper will be able to track how housing situations of children change over time and the ways in which these changes interact with the child development. It is because of our commitment to children’s research and the state’s long-standing investment in GUI that this unique project is possible.
The paper is due at the end of November and I am very much looking forward to receiving it and interrogating its findings. I hope to launch it shortly after that date.
126. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a fee reduction can be made available to part-time students given the announcement of a €1,000 fee reduction for undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50394/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023 I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes.
Students attending part time courses are not eligible for the free fees schemes and therefore the once off student contribution support of €1,000 in 22/23 cannot apply to students undertaking part time study.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. As part of the cost-of-living measures announced in Budget 2023 an additional €8 million has been invested in the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year 2022/23. This Fund assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis. More information on the SAF is available at www.studentfinance.ie.
Tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private colleges and or attending part-time courses. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
127. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on when the circular related to partial refunds on fees paid before the €1,000 reduction came into effect can be expected by institutions of further and higher education. [50441/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023 I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes.
Under my Department’s Free Fees schemes the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students with students paying the student contribution. Undergraduate students eligible for SUSI supports have this contribution paid, in part of in full, on their behalf under my Departments Student Grant Scheme.
The once off €1,000 support relates specifically to the student contribution payable by student’s eligible for free tuition fees under the Department free fees schemes in academic year 22/23. It will reduce the student contribution payable by free fees eligible students from €3,000 to €2,000 in 22/23. This additional level of support towards free tuition fees will benefit c.94,000 additional students.
The reduction will be administered with the assistance of the Higher Education Institutions a student is attending. It is anticipated that students paying the student contribution in instalments will have the amount reduced from their next instalment by the HEI. Students who paid their 2022/23 student contribution in full will receive a refund from the HEI attended and institutions will communicate with students directly on how the refund process will operate.
Officials from my Department are working with the HEA and the sector to finalise the details of this allocation and an instruction on how to operate the scheme is expected to issue this week with a view to refunds issuing as soon as practicable by each institution.
128. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on when a person (details supplied) can expect their partial refund of fees paid before the €1,000 reduction announced in Budget 2023. [50442/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023 I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes.
Under my Department’s Free Fees schemes the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students with students paying the student contribution. Undergraduate students eligible for SUSI supports have this contribution paid, in part of in full, on their behalf under my Departments Student Grant Scheme.
The once off €1,000 support relates specifically to the student contribution payable by student’s eligible for free tuition fees under the Department free fees schemes in academic year 22/23. It will reduce the student contribution payable by free fees eligible students from €3,000 to €2,000 in 22/23. This additional level of support towards free tuition fees will benefit c.94,000 additional students.
The reduction will be administered with the assistance of the Higher Education Institutions a student is attending. It is anticipated that students paying the student contribution in instalments will have the amount reduced from their next instalment by the HEI. Students who paid their 2022/23 student contribution in full will receive a refund from the HEI attended. Officials are working with the HEA and the sector to finalise the details of this allocation and HEIs will communicate with students directly on how the refund process will operate.
129. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a schedule of the number of staff by grade who are assigned on a full-time basis to liaise and provide support to the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in order for that Department to fulfil its areas of responsibility in respect of providing for the needs of those seeking international protection and persons categorised by virtue of the temporary protection directive by the European Union; and if he will provide a schedule of the services that his Department provides to the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in that regard. [50451/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn addition to support from a number of policy units in my Department, the response to the needs of those seeking temporary protection is led by a Principal Officer (part-time), Assistant Principal Officer (full-time) and a Higher Executive Officer (full-time). While they have been mainly focussed on the matters associated with access to further and higher education, they also acted as a contact point with the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth primarily on the question of the use of accommodation on the campuses on higher education institutions.
The position regarding International Protection is that access to supports for students in further and higher education in Ireland is the responsibility of DFHERIS. The team whose responsibilities include policy relating to the student grant scheme and the International Protection Student Scheme comprises a Principal Officer (full-time), Assistant Principal Officer (full-time), a Higher Executive Officer (full-time) and two executive officers (one full time, one part time). SUSI administer the schemes, assess applications and pay awards on behalf of the department.
130. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the provision of pathways for social care students studying at a college (details supplied) into the profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50479/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the decision by the college referred to by the Deputy to withdraw its Applied Social Care degree from consideration for approval by CORU, engagements have been ongoing between my Department's officials, the Department of Health, CORU, Quality and Qualifications Ireland and the college to work to identify alternative options for the affected students.
The options available to students are dependent on what stage their studies are at and the number of credits that they have completed.
The following is the current status for the various categories of students:
- Graduates will have the opportunity to become eligible for the Social Care Workers Register which is due to open on 30th November 2023, should they so wish, under ‘grand-parenting’ provisions. Further information in relation to these ‘grand-parenting’ provisions should be sought from the Department of Health or CORU directly, as these matters are not within the remit or responsibility of this Department.
- Year 1 students who had completed 60 credits in the academic year 2021/2022 were offered the option to transfer to Year 1 on a similar programme being offered by an alternative provider in the 2022/2023 academic year.
- I understand part-time students at the college referred to by the Deputy were offered the option to transfer to a similar programme being offered by an alternative provider.
Engagements are continuing with all relevant parties to work to identify a way forward for the remaining students.
131. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the €40 million to address sustainable funding for higher education as outlined in the Budget 2023 Expenditure Report is a first or full-year costing; if it is a first-year costing, and the estimated full-year costing; if this is fully separate from €37 million allocated for central pay agreement provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50480/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Estimates for Public Services 2023 were published as part of the Budget 2023 Expenditure report.The Higher Education allocation for 2023 includes an increase of Higher Education Funding in the amount of, €40 million, to address the sustainable funding of Higher Education as laid out in Funding the Future, including
- Improved staffing and capacity building in Universities/Specialist Colleges (€18m)
- Improved staffing and strengthening Structural capacity of Technological Universities (€18m)
- FET and HE co-developed and co-delivered programmes (€2m)
- Increased funding for existing medicine places to protect quality and enhance sustainability of the system (€2.4m)
This €40m allocation is a full year cost and an increase in the level of baseline funding from the 2022 estimates. This investment is the first significant step in addressing core underfunding of the higher education system in a strategic and reformative way. By providing capacity building for key roles we are resourcing the sector to adapt and respond to key strategic reform measures. This progress has been expertly aided by the work of the Funding the Future Implementation Group which is co-chaired by the Minister and Professors Anne Looney and Tom Collins, which will now continue its remit to develop reform recommendations to inform the implementation of these measures and development of future budgetary considerations.
In addition the work of Funding the Future and a recent Spending Review realised a 25% increase level of demographic funding per additional student for the 2022/23 academic year. Through Budget 2023 we also secured additional funding of €32.2m to build capacity for up to an additional 4,125 students.
Funding of 37m for Central Pay Agreement Provision (Existing Building Momentum Deal) is a separate allocation towards the referenced costs across my Department's expenditure programmes. Full details on the allocation of resources across spending areas will be detailed in the annual Revised Estimates Volume for the Public Service (REV).
Furthermore, as part of the cost of living measures in Budget 2023, we also introduced a once off allocation of €10million to assist with rising operational costs faced by our FET and HE providers in 2022.
This significant allocation of public resources is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to meeting the funding needs of the higher education sector in order to more fully realise its potential in contributing to economic and societal priorities which are central to this country's long-term sustainability.
132. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way that the €40 million allocated under non-core additional Covid-19 will be spent; if the €40 million is a first or full-year costing; the value in full-year costings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50481/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe €40 million allocated is a full year costing and includes €30m to increase capacity for apprenticeship in 2023, including addressing the backlog on apprenticeship exacerbated by the pandemic. It will provide for an additional estimated 4,000 additional places on craft apprenticeship training and 500 additional places on consortia—led programmes; as well as for the payment of allowances to all craft apprentices while on off-the-job training phases, including the additional 4,000 apprentices.
€3m will provide over 2,000 Skillnet Ireland places to provide upskilling opportunities in emerging technologies and expansion of programmes to include sustainable finance, green technology and responding to climate change.
€4m, comprising €2m each to support the continued implementation of the FET Strategy and Adult Literacy for Life Strategy in the Further Education and Training system.
The final €3m is for Mental Health and Well-being supports under the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework, through a Covid allocation for the 2023/2024 academic year.
133. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way that the €21 million allocated under non-core additional National Recovery and Resilience Plan allocation will be spent; if the €21 million is a first or full-year costing; the value in full-year costings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50482/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Estimates for Public Services 2023 were published as part of the Budget 2023 Expenditure report.
The Higher Education allocation for 2023 includes an allocation of €21million towards Technological University development under the National Recovery & Resilience Plan Allocation (NRRP). The 2023 allocation is the year 2 allocation under the NRRP Priority Component 3: Social and Economic Recovery and Job Creation:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/d4939-national-recovery-and-resilience-plan-2021/.
Page 27 of the NRRP details the project in question, project 3.3. TU Education and Training Reforms. In April 2022 grants agreements were signed between the HEA and the technological sector including all 5 TUs and the Dundalk and Dun Laoghaire Institutes of Technology. The 2022 costs of the project are projected at €19 million, and the 2023 costs are projected at €21 million.
Full details on the allocation of resources across spending areas will be detailed in the annual Revised Estimates Volume for the Public Service (REV).
134. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way that the €21 million allocated under non-core additional Brexit Adjustment Reserve allocation will be spent; if the €21 million is a first or full-year costing; the value in full-year costings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50483/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe €21 million allocation for my Department for 2023 under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve allocation is a full year cost and is split as across a number of initiatives as follows:
- €11m for Skillnet Ireland to support SMEs through its Skillnet Business Networks to help SMEs plan for success in key areas focused on supporting business recovery and growth post-Brexit. The funding will support 7,400 training places across several priority areas;
- €1.5m for Skillnet Ireland to provide 1,000 training places to support the digital transformation and sustainability journey of larger Irish companies and protect employment levels within firms willing to support capacity-building of SMEs within their supply chain and those impacted by Brexit;
- €3m for Skillnet Ireland's Skills Connect employment activation programme, to provide 3,000 reskilling opportunities for the unemployed, returners and other impacted groups for industries facing labour shortages;
- €3.5m to increase the number of Irish Erasmus mobilities and
- €2.1m to fund mobilities for Northern Irish students.
135. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address issues (details supplied) in relation to recognising students in the SUSI application system who started college under age 23 years and who live independently from their parents; and if the matter will be examined and the issues addressed. [50525/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.
A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1st October. Otherwise, he/she would be assessed as a dependent student, i.e. assessed with reference to parental income and address.
A student’s status for grant purposes is defined at their first point of entry to an approved further or higher education course and continues to apply for the duration of their studies.
However, there are points at which a student may reclassify from a dependent student to an independent student. These are where he/she:
- Progresses from further education to higher education.
- Is returning following a 3 year break in studies.
- Is returning as a "second chance" student after a five year break in studies. (Following the recent Budget announcements this time period for a full break in studies will be reduced from 5 years to 3 in the 2023/24 academic year)
The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
Applicants who do not meet the criteria to be assessed as an independent student for grant purposes, or who cannot supply the necessary documentation to establish independent living for the required period, may still apply to SUSI to have their grant eligibility assessed as a dependent student. The relevant information, including details of parental income, would be required by SUSI to determine grant eligibility as a dependent student.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe. Such appeals can be made by the appellant online via www.studentgrantappeals.ie
The Deputy will appreciate that the student grant appeals process has been established to investigate and address any issues concerning student grant applications.
As there were no details provided for the student the Deputy refers to, I cannot comment on the application status of this student. If the Deputy has further enquiries relating to the specific application, they can be emailed direct to SUSI oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
136. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in Budget 2023 the non-pay allocation is €1,607.4 million whereas this was set at €1,612.2 million in the 2022 Expenditure report; the reason this is the case given the €98 million in additional resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50536/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science's non-pay allocation as at Budget 2022 was €1,647.9 million (€1,488.6 million core funding and €159.3 million temporary funding) and not €1,612.2 million as shown on Chart 1(a), page 59 of Part II - Expenditure Allocations 2022 publication which was printed in error. This figure increased in our Revised Estimates Volume 2022 to €1,675.9 million (€1,502.1 million core funding and €173.8 million temporary funding).
This Department's non-pay allocation as at Budget 2023 is €1,607.4 million (€1,524.9 million core funding and €82.4 million temporary funding).
The movement from Revised Estimates 2022 to Budget 2023 is therefore a €22.8 million increase to core non-pay funding, from €1,502.1 million to €1,524.9 million.
The increase of €98 million referred to on page 111 of the Budget 2023 Expenditure Report publication refers to pay as well as non-pay, and is also gross of reprioritisation of savings within the 2022 core allocation which is included in the “Carryover and other ELS Pressures*” line.
137. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason for the reduction in the allocation of expenditure from the National Training Fund given that it is €682.5 million in 2023 expenditure report and was €716.4 million in 2022; the areas in which the reductions will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50537/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2023 allocated €682.5 million to the NTF for 2023. The 2022 Revised Estimates Volume, finalised the NTF allocation for 2022 as €765m, increased from the provisional allocation in Budget 2022 of €752m.
The reduction is due to the temporary funding provided in 2022 for Covid, the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). These temporary funds amounted to €131.431m. Temporary funding of €48.5m has been allocated in 2023 for Covid and BAR measures and an increase of €0.4m has been allocated to the NTF baseline for Access to Apprenticeship initiatives. The final allocation for the National Training Fund in 2023 has yet to be agreed and will be set out in the Revised Estimates.
The amount of €716.40 million quoted in the question refers to a graph in the Budget 2022 Expenditure Report (page 100), which was incorrectly labelled. The figure of €752m can be seen on page 242 in the Estimates for Public Services part of the report, and the figure of €765m can be found on page 257 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services for 2022 report.
138. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that the core capital allocation is €568 million given the National Development Plan anticipated €579 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50538/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital allocation for my Department for 2022 was €552 million: €538 million funding under the National Development Plan (€534 million core funding, €4 million temporary National Recovery and Resilience (NRRP) Funding) and €14 million funding from the Shared Island Fund.
As at Budget 2023 the capital allocation to my Department increased to €588 million. This consists of €579 million funding under the National Development Plan (€559 million core funding, €20 million temporary NRRP funding) and €9.5 million funding from the Shared Island Fund.
The 2023 figure in the National Development Plan of €579 million includes €20 million temporary NRRP allocation but excludes €9.5 million allocated through the Shared Island Fund.
The movement in my capital allocation is detailed in the table below, as published in the Budget 2023 Expenditure Report, page 111.
|
Capital Expenditure |
€million |
|
2022 Capital Allocation as per Mid-Year Expenditure Report |
548 |
|
National Development Plan Increase |
10 |
|
Shared Island |
10 |
|
Capital Expenditure Ceiling (Core) |
568 |
|
Additional NRRP Allocation |
20 |
|
Capital Expenditure Ceiling Total |
588 |
