Written Answers Nos. 586-608
586. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total spend by his Department and the agencies under his remit on cybersecurity measures since 2019 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51174/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose details, including any budgetary matters, of my Department’s Cyber Security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any disclosure of information in relation to cyber security matters could assist malicious actors in identifying potential vulnerabilities and potentially compromise my Department’s information security posture.
587. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of his Department’s IT data that is stored in the cloud; the proportion of the data held by all agencies and subsidiaries of his Department in the cloud; if this represents an improvement; if so, the development that has been made towards cloud storage since 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51198/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proportion of my Department’s data held at present on commercial cloud is estimated at approximately 2%. The move to cloud computing has the potential to offer improvements in terms of improved security, reliability, increased access and a reduced carbon footprint amongst others.
The amount of my Department’s data stored in the cloud has increased since 2019 and will shortly increase further.
My Department is currently migrating many of its services to Microsoft 365. Microsoft 365 is a range of cloud based subscription services, which includes the latest office productivity applications and other security and device management products. My Department’s adoption of Microsoft 365 is in line with the Government policy on cloud computing.
In October 2019 the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issued a cloud computing advice note. The aim of this note is to provide high-level guidance to assist departments and public sector bodies in making decisions in relation to the adoption of cloud services.
Government policy is that department’s should adopt a proactive and progressive approach towards cloud computing. Government systems should be developed to exploit the opportunities presented by cloud deployment, where possible, and all existing systems will be reviewed for cloud capability.
The Office of Government Procurement guidance note on cloud services provides complementary help in the form of guidance on the mechanisms for procuring cloud solutions.
More information on the Departments Cloud Computing Advice Note can be found on www.gov.ie.
The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with his 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 |
Éilis Noonan* |
|
Irish Research Council( Note 1) |
Oireachtas@research.ie |
Éilis Noonan* |
|
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. Ms Éilis Noonan* will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use OireachOireachtas@hea.ietas@hea.ie and Oireachtas@research.ie respectively to contact Ms Éilis Noonan *
588. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to undergraduate students in the Marino Institute of Education not being eligible for the recent supports which he announced for students in the free undergraduate programmes; and if he will consider extending the arrangements to this not-for-profit college. [51212/22]
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.
For students in private colleges the reduction will apply where students are attending approved free fees courses and where the student is eligible for free fees.
This includes the Marino Institute of Education (MIE) free fees approved courses as funded through the Department of Education. The approved courses are the Bachelor in Education (Primary) and Bachelor in Education (Primary through the medium of Irish). The free fees scheme is primarily targeted at approved full-time undergraduate courses in approved publicly funded institutions.
589. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the names of all special advisors working in his Department; the Minister and Junior Minister who each advisor is associated with and their respective salaries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51257/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe attached table contains the information requested by the Deputy.
The salary scale for Special Adviser to a Minister is the same as the Civil Service Principal Officer pay scale, under the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments to the 33rd Dáil.
Mr. Simon Harris, T.D. Minister for Further & Higher Education Research, Innovation & Science
Ms. Sarah Bardon; Special Adviser
|
Year |
Salary |
|
2022 |
*€110,811 p.a. |
Ms. Deirdre Duffy; Special Adviser
|
Year |
Salary |
|
2022 |
*€99,345 p.a. |
*This is the salary that is applicable as of 1 st Oct 2022, as per Circular 19/2022
590. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that are being taken to increase and encourage women to pursue a career in farming through education and agriculture courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51659/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe participation of under-represented groups, including women, in education, our workforce, and across industry, has been a core element of my policy objectives, and has featured prominently within this Government's programme of work. Specifically, to your question, the encouragement and support of women to pursue a career in farming has been reflected through my Department's policies across Higher Education, Further Education, and within the Apprenticeship system.
One of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is "Apprenticeship for All". In other words, ensuring that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. By December 2021, there were a total of 1,535 female apprentices, up from 60 in 2016 and only 665 at the end of 2019.
This increase is mainly due to the expansion of apprenticeship into new areas. Many of these new programmes are in occupations that have greater gender balance in the workplace such as financial services where 52% of participants are female across the four apprenticeships in the sector. Women also feature more strongly in the new apprenticeships in the hospitality, healthcare, property, sales, biopharma and ICT sectors. However, it is also important to note that female representation in craft apprenticeship has doubled in the last two and a half years.
The Action Plan contains a number of key deliverables designed to secure significantly greater diversity by:
- including the voice of under-represented cohorts in apprenticeship:
- putting in place an inclusive apprenticeship access and delivery structure; and
- monitoring and assessing targets and developing appropriate interventions.
Significant financial supports have been introduced this year under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship to incentivise the uptake:
- A new Employer Grant of €2,000 per apprentice per annum was made available from January 2022. Its introduction meant that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices have access to financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through this employer grant.
- A new gender-based bursary for apprenticeship employers has also been launched. The bursary, which is worth €2,666, is an expansion of the ‘female bursary’ available to craft apprenticeship employers prior to 2022.
Information on apprenticeship was included on the CAO website for the first time for CAO 2022. This is expected to make a significant contribution to showing the range of learning and qualification options for school leavers. As part of this landmark change, a freephone helpline has been introduced for learners, parents and guidance counsellors to provide information on apprenticeship, including how to find an employer. The helpline supplements the existing guidance counsellor service at post-primary and further education and training levels.
Eleven new apprenticeship programmes were launched between 2020 and 2022, despite the pandemic, with further programme development approved for progression in areas including farming and horticulture, and a number of others at the initial proposal stage.
Teagasc received approval from the Apprenticeship Council (now the National Apprenticeship Alliance) to develop 5 apprenticeships: Farm Technician (Level 6), Farm Manager (Level 7), Sportsturf Management (Level 6), Horticulture (Level 6) and Stud Farm Assistant Management (Level 7).
There has also been a specific focus on female participation as part of the Generation Apprenticeship national promotional campaign. SOLAS ran a media campaign over three weeks in January 2021 promoting the apprenticeship route and celebrating diversity and the 1,000th female apprentice.
Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 , targets and interventions for specific groups will be detailed through an Equity of Access subcommittee of the National Apprenticeship Alliance. This will ensure that the voice of under-represented groups is integral to the development of the apprenticeship system.
Within the Higher Education sector existing programmes to increase and encourage women to pursue a career in farming through education and agriculture courses include Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1.
Springboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free and subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities to the employed, unemployed and returners at NFQ level 6 to level 9 in areas of identified skills need, all of these areas demonstrate the responsiveness of the higher education sector to advances in technology and changes in our environment. Springboard+ 2022 is providing 75 places on 3 courses for the 2022/23 academic year. These include Diploma in Food and Agri-business, Postgraduate Diploma in Innovative and Sustainable Agriculture and MSc Ag Innovation.
Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 provides for Graduate Conversion Courses in a range of courses, building on the experience from ICT Conversion Courses under Springboard. There is one course on offer under HCI P1, the Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Data Analytics for Sustainable Agri-Food Production providing 20 places.
Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3, Innovation and Agility aims to ensure that courses in areas of skills needs demonstrate innovative methods of teaching and delivery, which will include flexibility in course provision. HCI Pillar 3 will deliver 24 projects in higher education institutions, 19 of which involve collaborations between institutions. One of these projects is related to Agri-tech.
The South East Technological University led AMASE: Additive Manufacturing Advancing the South East project will develop and deliver a new innovative, agile, and learner-centric Additive Manufacturing NFQ Level 7 Degree programme incorporating 5 no. Embedded Awards for upskilling employees in Industry. It proposes to co-design and co-deliver an innovative education and agile training platform to address these well identified and unmet education and training needs. Designed to specifically prepare individuals to be proficient in the design and implementation of advanced additive manufacturing systems for application across a multiplicity of key industrial sectors including the Agri-Tech sector.
591. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update to an organisation (details supplied) on his promise to consult it in various relevant committees convened from within his Department, including fund the future committees. [51695/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra600. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will update an organisation (details supplied) on his promise to consult it in various relevant committees convened from within his Department including fund the future committees. [51747/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra611. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will update the Postgraduate Workers Alliance of Ireland on his promise to consult PGWA in various relevant committees convened from within his Department, including fund the future committees. [51838/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 600 and 611 together.
I am committed to engaging with and garnering the views of key stakeholders in the Higher Education Sector, in particular our agencies, the sector and the representative bodies for students and for staff. In my view, sectoral engagement will be the driver of reform in the sector for the good of all involved. For this reason, my Department has created a range of opportunities for sectoral engagement. In particular, the Funding the Future Review and Implementation Group oversees the work of relevant working groups. The undergraduate and postgraduate voice is represented on these groups by the Union of Students in Ireland. Furthermore, my Department’s approach in research and innovation policy and development has provided many opportunities for interested parties to come together and contribute views. My Department is developing a national Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum under Impact 2030. While still under development, this Forum will be established in 2023 and chaired by me in my role as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Membership of the Forum is currently under consideration and it is important to me that the voices of relevant stakeholders can contribute.
592. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of PhD researchers who have dropped out of their studies in the past three years in tabular form. [51696/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not available.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating student and graduate enrolment data from higher education institutions and the HEA does not collect data for PhD withdrawal rates.
593. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to extend the free fees scheme to students attending part-time courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51732/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Department's Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first-time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme and be attending an approved course.
In the context of limited public funding and competing priorities, Free Fees funding is currently targeted at full-time students undertaking study on an approved course in approved publicly funded institutions; part-time courses are therefore not approved courses under the Free Fees schemes.
In considering the feasibility of introducing a scheme to provide for free tuition fees for part-time learners, it is important to note that higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of part time tuition fees, the courses offered, and the number of students enrolled on such courses are solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. Part-time tuition fees are also subject to review by the institutions themselves. In this regard there are significant policy, legislative and funding considerations in introducing a new measure to support part-time students.
In May, I published Funding our Future, the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future funding of higher education. I identified the need to address cost as a barrier to higher education. Funding measures will be pursued through the Estimates process and the Deputy will be aware that I have already introduced a significant package of measures to support students as part of Budget 2023. Sustainable funding for the sector and measures to address the cost of education must proceed in tandem if we are to meet our ambition of improved outcomes for learners and the system as a whole.
In the medium term, a focus on lifelong learning, supporting part-time and blended provision and micro-credentials will facilitate the ongoing adaptation of skills to areas of particular need and allow more flexible access by more diverse learners to higher education.
Through Funding the Future we identify five priority strands of work on which progress will be made. Strand 5 will consider options to address costs as a barrier to higher education and improve student supports. Work under this strand will inform the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education. Subject to resources available to the Department, I intend to do this through enhancement of student supports and annual reviews of the cost of going to higher education. Measures in this area will take account of the strategic priorities set out in the Student Grant Scheme Review, including increasing supports for postgraduate study. Over time, the annual options assessment will consider progress on strategic priorities, including the extension of supports to enable more flexible forms of learning including blended/online and part-time.
594. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships currently waiting to start off-the-job training; the expected timeline for the clearing of the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51733/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraApprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector.
The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 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.
Meeting these targets requires a responsive apprenticeship system that provides a strong value proposition for employers and potential apprentices, is attractive and easy to engage with, and which delivers high standards and sought after qualifications.
We have made important progress to date. Last year saw a record 8,607 registrations. This is an increase of nearly 40% compared to 2019, the last “normal” year. This is a strong foundation on which to build as we advance delivery of the Action Plan, in order to embed apprenticeship as a preferred route to skills development.
Regarding the development of apprenticeship and upskilling educational and or retraining facilities:
- Capital funding of €20m was provided in 2020 to extend and upgrade facilities.
- Further funding of €17m has been provided to SOLAS and the HEA to address Covid-related backlogs, €6 million of which is being invested in additional instructors, with over 100 additional posts approved
- To ensure that there is capacity to meet the training needs of rapidly increasing numbers of apprentices, expansion of the apprenticeship system is continuing in 2022, with further major investment in workshops and staff is planned for this year.
Specifically, the funding includes:
- The development of two large training hubs dedicated to electrical training for the next three years;
- Expansion of electrical, plumbing, and carpentry programmes across further and higher education;
- The construction of electrical workshops at Kilkenny and Carlow ETB and the development of a training facility in Donegal;
- A call for additional phase 2 capacity in craft programmes that include carpentry, plumbing and refrigeration Expansion of electrical apprenticeships in ATU Donegal and MTU Kerry.
€30m in additional once-off funding has been secured for apprenticeship in 2023. This will provide for 4,500 new registrations across both craft and consortia-led programmes. The majority will be on craft programmes, which will provide strong support to the delivery of Government goals under Housing for All, climate action, and retrofitting.
I am confident that these measures will contribute to the further development of the apprenticeship system, so that it continues to make a valued contribution to our skills response.
Craft apprenticeship programmes are demand-led – there are no restrictions on the number of apprentices that can be registered in any single year. With strong registrations continuing more apprentices are being added to the waiting list.
At the end of September there were 8,054 apprentices waiting for off the job training. This is down from nearly 12,000 apprentices who were waiting last August which shows that significant progress has been made.
Officials in my Department are in continuous engagement with SOLAS, the HEA and other partners. As strong registrations on craft programmes continue, SOLAS are working to provide further places across the system to address the high numbers of apprentices who need to undertake their off-the-job learning phases. With the commitment of a further €17.2m in capital investment into 2023, this need for increased capacity continues to be actively managed. The funding means that SOLAS are able to continue the progress already made to address those programmes with the highest numbers of apprentices waiting to be placed.
599. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of PhDs that are funded through State or State-funded bodies (details supplied); and the estimated number of privately funded PhDs registered at Irish universities. [51744/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HEA has reported a total of 10,013 full time PhD students in 2021/2022, with 1,543 occasional and 1,738 students undertaking a Masters by Research.
The most recent Higher Education Expenditure on Research and Development (HERD) Survey 2018/19 carried out by my Department, found that there were 10,044 research students (doctoral and masters by research) in 2018, of which 6,143 (61%) were in receipt of a stipend and 3,901 (39%) were fully self-funded. The majority of PhD students are in receipt of grants from their individual institutions and research funders such as the Irish Research Council (IRC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).
Other research funders in the national system include, e.g., the Health Research Board and Teagasc. There are also typically a number of PhDs funded through European Programmes and individual HEI schemes. The Department allocates recurrent funding to the HEA for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions and as autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding is a matter for the individual institution.
Of the bodies referred to in the question, my Department has responsibility for SFI and the IRC and can only provide detailed information relating to these bodies. In this regard, as at the 1st of September, there were 2,022 PhD Students directly attributed to active SFI awards and the Irish Research Council is currently supporting 1,143 PhD researchers across its range of funding programmes.
602. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the way in which the €307 million figure contained in the funding the future policy document would be spent, with a specific comment on any funds dedicated to improving the conditions of PhD researchers and other staff members on temporary, contingent and or precarious contracts. [51749/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2022, the Government agreed a sustainable funding model for higher education. Following an extensive economic assessment undertaken through the European Commission's DG Reform programme, €307 million has been identified as the level of funding required to address the current underfunding in higher education.
My policy position in this regard was articulated in Funding our Future, the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future funding of higher education. Sustainable funding for the sector and measures to address the cost of education must proceed in tandem if we are to meet our ambition of improved outcomes for learners and the system as a whole. This process is critical to enabling a number of key reforms, protecting quality and ensuring a fit for purpose sector which is enabled to evolve and adapt to future challenges.
It is the Government’s intention that implementing the funding and reform framework will improve quality of outcomes from tertiary education, will strengthen the agility and responsiveness of higher education and will enhance the reputation of Ireland’s higher education system internationally, including in international rankings.
The reforms and strategic outcomes identified by Government as a priority are as follows:
- Create unified knowledge and skills system which is balanced and integrated
- Strengthen representation in higher education for underrepresented groups
- Enhance quality by reducing the ratio of students to academic staff to comparable EU and OECD norms
- Reinforce alignment of sector with skills needs of the country – including those needed to deliver essential public services and meet national goals
- Drive forward a culture of lifelong learning
Budget 2023 includes an allocation of €40 million as an important initial step to address the sustainable funding of higher education as laid out in Funding the Future. This is a full year cost and an increase in the level of baseline funding from the 2022 estimates.
It is envisaged that the adoption of a sustainable funding model will enable steps to be taken to move back towards European and OECD norms in terms of staffing ratios. It will also support the sector in moving away from the scale of use of more precarious forms of employment arrangement, subject to agreement by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Separately from the €40 million allocation under Funding our Future, Budget 2023 provides for an increase of €500 in the PhD stipend. This will apply to all researchers who are in receipt of the stipend from SFI or the IRC.
603. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the importance of apprenticeships in society moving forward; the steps that his Department is taking to increase staffing levels in areas that have seen a reduction in apprentices since Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44956/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe importance of apprenticeships in society, both now and into the future, has never been more apparent than it is today. The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners. Expansion to date has widened the impact of apprenticeship to areas of skills shortage such as engineering, technology skills, logistics, and fintech.
Apprenticeship has undergone transformation over the past 6 years. There is a clear need to broaden the awareness of apprenticeship as a work-based route to internationally recognised qualifications and experience for people progressing in their career, school leavers, and career changers. Growing that message is a key feature of planning for apprenticeship in the coming years.
The simple fact is that apprenticeship only exists in areas where there is a demand for skills. They are not approved otherwise. However apprentice jobs can only exist where employers provide those jobs – and the Action Plan for Apprenticeship sets out to support employers to engage with apprenticeship as a key mechanism for building a highly skilled workforce. People learn in different ways and we want to make sure that everyone is aware apprenticeship can be for them as a route to a qualification into the future.
The actions set out in the plan will deliver clarity for school-leavers, jobseekers, and career changers on the wide range of available apprenticeships. Furthermore, it will put a structure in place to ensure that the apprentice population will more closely reflect the general population – through targeted supports for under-represented groups and making sure that there is ongoing representation from those groups to advise on specific actions into the future.
Empowering people from under-represented and marginalised sections of society to take their rightful place in the system is vital to the success of apprenticeship. Apprenticeship can provide them with a clear route to not only a job, but to a valued qualification and a clear career path, instilling hope and direction that may not otherwise have been readily apparent.
Funding has been secured in Budget 2023 to expand the Access to Apprenticeship (ATA) initiative beyond its current two locations and an apprentice bursary/support scheme will be established to fund up to 100 apprentices per year who are experiencing severe socioeconomic disadvantage and who are from target groups, including lone parents, people with disabilities, Travellers and Roma.
Both measures will be advanced through the Equity of Access sub-committee of the National Apprenticeship Alliance.
Government will also ensure that the public sector plays its part by delivering high quality public sector employment and training opportunities, underpinning the ongoing reform of our public service.
The workplace is changing and the response to Covid-19 has accelerated digital transformation, changing the nature and capabilities required for occupations. Certain sectors were greatly affected, particularly aviation and hospitality and may take a long time to recover to anywhere near normal levels. Other sectors including construction and the green economy are forecast to recover more quickly and expand. A significant number of people will need to reskill to find alternative employment and to prepare for the new employment opportunities that will emerge – apprenticeship provides a rapid route to gaining those skills.
The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship’ has been live for over one year now and already I can report to you that as a result of a €34 million investment under Budget 2022 targeting the expansion of apprenticeship, including the development of new programmes and addressing the Covid-related backlogs, tangible progress has already been made.
For example, eight new apprenticeship 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.
In 2022 more were added –
- Bar Manager,
- Wind Turbine Maintenance and
- Transport Operations & Commercial Driving.
- Cybersecurity
This brings the total number of available programmes to 66 and will help address areas of severe skills shortage. Programme development has been approved for progression in areas such as
- farming,
- horticulture,
- engineering
- finance,
- manufacturing,
- construction,
- ICT, and a number of others at the initial proposal stage.
An additional €30 million investment has been secured under Budget 2023. This funding will provide for an additional estimated:-
- 4,000 additional places on craft apprenticeship training;
- 500 additional places on consortia—led programmes;
- The payment of allowances to all craft apprentices while on off-the-job training phases, including the additional 4,000 apprentices.
Significant financial supports have also been introduced this year under the Action Plan:
- The annual Employer Grant of €2,000 per apprentice means that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices now have access to financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through the grant. This will help to promote engagement with the non-craft programmes, including the development of new programmes.
- The gender-based bursary of €2,666 is available for those who employ apprentices in the minority gender on any national apprenticeship programme with greater than 80% representation of a single gender. It is an expansion of the ‘female bursary’ available to craft apprenticeship employers prior to 2022 and there are currently 41 programmes which meet the criterion.
Amendments to the Industrial Training Act, 1967, included in the recently passed Higher Education Authority Bill, 2022, will widen the scope for new apprenticeship programmes in an expanded range of sectors.
The increased diversity of new apprenticeships, many of which have off-the-job training delivered through online or blended learning provides a significant opportunity for widening of access to apprenticeship for rural businesses and learners. In addition, Education and Training Boards, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities are spread throughout the country and play a very important role in ensuring apprenticeship provision has a strong regional dimension.
By 2025, regardless of the sector, apprenticeship will be a clear choice for people looking for a new career, qualification, or return to work option across all areas of the economy. We want apprenticeship to be at the heart of the conversation when employers are looking at ways to recruit staff. A minimum of 10,000 new apprentice jobs will be available every year – and will be filled by learners of all ages and experience, and at least 750 of those will be in the public sector.
604. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of the names of each special advisor employed by his Department since 2015, the relevant Minister they worked under and the date that their employment with the Department/Minister ceased where applicable. [51781/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the attached tabular statement.
|
Minister |
Special Advisor |
Cessation Date |
|
Simon Harris T.D., Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science |
Ms. Sarah Bardon |
Current |
|
Ms. Deirdre Duffy |
Current |
|
|
Ms. Joanne Lonergan |
27/02/2021 |
605. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason part-time students are excluded from the reduction in student fees outlined in the recent Budget; if has attention has been drawn to the fact that many students are trying to progress their careers in difficult circumstances by pursuing part-time education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51809/22]
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 publicly funded 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 part-time courses. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
606. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on plans for the development of the Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board further education campus on the Battery Road, Longford. [51821/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a call for proposals under the Further Education and Training College of the Future Major Projects Fund, Longford Westmeath ETB submitted an application for development of a new FET centre on their site at Connolly Barracks in Longford.
As part of the agreed process for appraisal of major FET capital projects, a Strategic Assessment Report in relation to this proposal was submitted by Longford Westmeath ETB to SOLAS. This report is currently part of a SOLAS-led assessment process, together with other proposals from the sector. The outcome of this initial strategic assessment is expected to be communicated to LMETB shortly. Proposals which are successful at this stage will proceed to the development of a detailed business case.
607. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, as an urgent measure, he will look into reforming the need for social work students to do four months unpaid full-time placements, especially in view of the need for more social workers in the country and the current cost of-living-crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51831/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe placement requirement for qualification as a social care worker in Ireland is determined by CORU, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council. The Minister for Health has responsibility for CORU and queries related to placements and payments for social care students should be addressed to my colleague in the first instance.
608. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the new Innovate for Ireland scheme will be open for applicants; if he will clarify the criteria potential applicants will need to meet in order to be eligible for the scheme. [51833/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Taoiseach and I recently launched Innovate for Ireland, which is a new partnership between industry and the Government to recruit and retain research talent to Ireland.
Innovate for Ireland should commence in 2023 and the initial phase will seek to attract up to 400 high calibre PhD students to undertake research in Ireland that tackles national and global grand challenges such as climate change and climate adaptation; global health and pandemics; water poverty; digital society; and cyber-security.
The programme will embrace all relevant disciplines from Science, Technology and Engineering to Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. It will also support excellent curiosity-driven research. This programme aligns with my Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023 and also the strategic goals of the Government’s R&I Strategy, Impact 2030.
The programme will include dimensions of training in innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership. Relationships will also be formed between the students and the company sponsors.
The initiative will be open to Irish and international students.
The next step in implementing this proposal will be the development of a robust governance and financial management framework, following which a competitive funding call should be initiated.
Work has been undertaken by my Department, the Higher Education Authority, Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland, Health Research Board and private sponsors on devising a possible call framework.
Officials from my Department will also be working with relevant Departments across Government on the implementation of the programme.
