Written Answers Nos. 162-181
162. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by his Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide details in relation to this spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4846/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below provides details on the amount spent by my Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023.
|
Year |
Online Advertising* |
|
2023 |
No spend year to date |
|
2022 |
€419,918.28 |
|
2021 |
€194,572.03 |
|
2020 |
€170,039.33 |
|
2019 |
€37,172.71 |
|
2018 |
€1,082.80 |
|
2017 |
€1,100.00 |
|
2016 |
N/A |
|
2015 |
N/A |
|
2014 |
N/A |
*It should be noted that a response to a similar PQ was provided in July 2022, this response included spending by the Department's Communications Unit only on both traditional and online advertising. The information above is based on a Department wide response covering all areas of the Department.
163. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and or press office of his Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4864/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department does not engage in the activity the Deputy describes.
164. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a location (details supplied) is due to be used as accommodation for persons seeking international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5040/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date in excess of 72,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have arrived in Ireland. Of those, my Department is accommodating approximately 53,000 who have requested shelter.
My Department is focused on providing immediate, temporary accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This has involved entering into arrangements with over 700 providers and securing 42,000 beds including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, with additional capacity operated by voluntary bodies and local authority emergency facilities.
I am advised by my officials that the Procurement division within my Department are currently in negotiations relating to a contract for accommodation for Beneficiariaries of Temporary Protection (Ukrainian BOTPs) concerning the first party referred to. I am further advised that my Department has no knowledge in regard to the second party referred to.
165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the niece of a deceased woman (details supplied) who spent time in a mother and baby home is eligible to access the redress scheme; if this negates the claim for compensation if the child of the deceased woman was adopted on the mother's behalf; and if so, if this then allows the next of kin, a niece make a claim instead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5042/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 32 of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill provides that the personal representative of a deceased relevant person, who died on or after 13 January 2021, can apply to the Scheme. The personal representative will be acting on behalf of the deceased person's estate and any award from the Scheme arising from that application will be made for the benefit of the deceased person's estate.
The legislation is currently being progressed through the Houses. In advance of being opened for applications, the Scheme will be advertised extensively both nationally and abroad. An information summary providing details on the Scheme as currently being designed is available to view on my department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/0c637-mother-and-baby-institutions-payment-scheme/.
166. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the meeting of a group (details supplied) and officials from his Department on 30 September 2022 which despite repeated requests from the representative group no follow up has been provided. [5046/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, as of 22 January 2023, there are over 19,800 people accommodated in the IPAS accommodation system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre and IPAS accommodation centres, City West transit hub and emergency accommodation locations nationwide.
At this point in 2022, there were approximately 7,500 persons in IPAS accommodation.
In regard to your query, following a meeting between Department officials and community representatives on 30 September 2022, the property's use was changed from that of accommodating International Protection applicants (IPAs) to one of accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. A significant proportion of the IPAs have since been moved to other locations and represent only a quarter of residents presently. All IPAs are scheduled to be relocated once suitable accommodation becomes available.
Unfortunately, due to the current acute difficulty in securing alternative accommodation, it has not been possible to complete this process but it will be done as soon as is feasible.
The challenge of sourcing accommodation for over 74,000 people, between people fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking international protection, is immense. The Department is managing the largest humanitarian response ever mounted in the history of the State.
The Department appreciates the welcome and solidarity shown by so many Irish people in every county in Ireland for those who need safety and shelter, including from those in Kinnegad.
167. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any allowance for utility bills can be made for those who are hosting refugees in their homes given the rising costs of energy bills and the pressure this is creating for many families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5111/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters concerned with household energy bills are for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.
The Deputy may be aware that the Accommodation Recognition Payment, set at €800 per month, is available to those homeowners who have made their property, either in part or in full, available to house people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive since March 2022. The payment is exempt for means-testing for social welfare payments and grants from other public bodies. It is also not taxable.
168. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention was drawn to the anomaly within the national childcare scheme where parents who are paying their childcare provider for full-day attendance but who leave their children at the facility for shorter hours are, in the cases whereby the childcare provider uses the NCP app, receiving less subsidy and therefore paying more childcare costs than if they were to leave the child for longer hours; if he intends to resolve this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5119/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme is designed to be flexible and acknowledge that childcare needs differ widely across different families. A core design of the scheme is that parents and providers agree the number of hours of childcare required. The subsidy amount reflects those agreed hours e.g. a child receiving 20 hours of eligible early learning and childcare will receive a greater subsidy than the same child receiving 10 hours subsidy. This ensures a full-time subsidy is not being paid in respect of a child utilising a part-time place, and that the investment is following the child.
Equally early learning and childcare providers are private entities and set their own fees, sessions and admissions policies which are agreed with or offered to a parent. As such there may be instances where a session includes hours which a parent is paying for but does not avail of. In these instances, the subsidy would reduce with the sessional fee remaining unchanged.
I appreciate that there may be a disconnect between the number of weekly hours of childcare that parents require versus the types of services a particular provider offers (e.g. part-time or full-time sessions rather than an hourly rate). However, the Scheme has been designed with some level of flexibility in relation to the reporting of attendance to reflect the reality of parent's lives:
1. Providers can round up part hours of daily attendance to the next whole hour. This means that if a child attends 4 hours and 1 minute or more it is recorded as 5 hours of attendance.
2. The rules of the Scheme allow for some fluctuations in actual attendance over a number of weeks without penalty. Parents will agree weekly hours with providers and the overall total weekly attendance is reported to the Scheme Administrator. However, if they pick up early in a given week, this will not affect their award, or the subsidy received. It is only if continual under-attendance is recorded for a consecutive 8-week period that a notification to review the hours awarded and change them if it doesn’t resolve in the next 4 weeks is issued. If the under-attendance occurs over a consecutive 12-week period, the subsidised hours will be adjusted to reflect the average hours of actual attendance going forward. However, if the child attends for their agreed hours for a full week after this warning is issued no further action is taken.
3. The Scheme also provides for particular exemptions to the attendance rules under certain circumstances to allow for extended absences in exceptional circumstances.
The above flexibilities go some way towards off setting the problems arising from providers offering only sessional services. At present parents should discuss the hours of childcare they require with their providers and ensure they are receiving the appropriate subsidies.
169. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2023 will be operational; if he will report on the delays for the signing of Statutory Instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5122/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is an important piece of legislation that represents significant legal reform. It changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.
The Act will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.
The Decision Support Service (DSS), which is the organisation that will operate the provisions of the 2015 Act, will respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. To date, the Decision Support Service has made considerable progress in preparing to operate the 2015 Act.
Amendments were required to the 2015 Act prior to commencement, in order to streamline processes in the interests of those using its provisions, and to strengthen the safeguards contained in the Act. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 is the vehicle for these amendments and was signed into law on 17 December last.
The Government remains committed to commencing the 2015 Act, as amended, as soon as possible. Work is currently underway to draft the necessary Statutory Instruments that are required as part of the commencement process, including the drafting of commencement orders and of regulations that the new system of tiered decision supports will need to function. There are a number of such instruments that will need to be finalised before the 2015 Act, as amended, can be operationalised, and my officials are working closely with the Office of the Attorney General to progress this work in early course. The passage of the 2022 Amendment Act was required in order to provide the legal basis to progress these final preparations.
I expect to be in a position to commence the 2015 Act, as amended, in early 2023.
170. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people, under 18 and over 18 years, who have been taken into wardship in December 2022 and January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5123/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice, as the court services are under her remit.
171. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to introduce mandatory paediatric first-aid training for all childcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5195/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 set out the requirements for service providers in relation to First Aid training. Regulation 25 (1) states that
“A registered provider shall ensure that a person trained in first aid for children is, at all times, immediately available to the children attending the pre-school service.”
The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate is the independent statutory regulator of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services in Ireland. In performing its regulatory function, Tusla inspects ELC and SAC services to ensure compliance with Regulations, including Regulation 25.
All of the Regulations pertaining to the ELC and SAC sector are kept under review by my Department and will be updated where there is evidence to show that a revision is required.
173. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who died while in State care in each year since 2011, in tabular form; and if a breakdown can be provided on the cause of death. [5229/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the information requested is gathered as part of operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
174. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to reports that the staff at SOLAS have not returned to the office and continue to work remotely without access to many files, creating backlogs for service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5245/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSOLAS has advised that their current arrangements, in place since July 2022, involve staff attending the office at a minimum of two days per week, one on the organisation's anchor day (designated as Wednesday), and one additional day, a team day, determined by the business unit. SOLAS note that this has been very successful to date. Staff have access to all information, all systems and all files with the SOLAS office being open throughout the COVID 19 Pandemic, and key staff were present to ensure continuity of service at all times. SOLAS is unaware of any reported incidents of backlogs for services users as a result of staff being unable to access files.
SOLAS are currently rolling out their approved Blended Working Policy which is fully aligned to the DPER Blended Working Policy.
175. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount spent by his Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide details in relation to this spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4853/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in June 2020. The table below details annual online advertising spend by the department, from the establishment of the department to date.
|
Year |
Spend |
|
2020 |
€6,251.24 |
|
2021 |
€14,082.40 |
|
2022 |
€3,810.91 |
|
2023 (to date) |
Nil |
|
Total |
€24,144.55 |
176. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and or press office of his Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4871/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo social media accounts of the kind referred to by the Deputy have been created by my Department.
177. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a student (details supplied) who has been living in Ireland for longer than five years will be considered eligible for EU fees rather that fees for an international student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4960/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route. Typically there are two rates of fee, an EU Rate of Fee or a non-EU/International rate of fee. The assessment of a student’s application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended. It is therefore necessary for students to contact the institution attended for guidance on the fees applicable to a course of study.
Full time undergraduate student may be eligible to have their tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, paid on their behalf via my Department's Free Fees Initiative. In order to qualify for funding under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the nationality/citizenship requirements in their own right.
To meet nationality/citizenship requirements the Students must hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss/UK nationality or certain permissions to reside in the state as granted through the Department of Justice. The assessment of eligibility under the Free Fees Initiative in individual cases is a matter for each institution to determine within the terms of the scheme and it is not possible for my Department to advise on the determinations made by individual institutions.
Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee - either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution to determine. This includes setting the criteria a person must meet to be regarded as an EU on Non-EU tuition fee student. Where a student requires guidance on the determination of such fees it is necessary that a student engage with the fees office of the institution attended.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that a ‘Change of Nationality’ clause forms part of the Free Fees Schemes. Where students were ineligible for free fees at date of entry to their course of study because they did not meet the nationality clause of the schemes, institutions may reconsider the student for free fees if the students acquires EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation/United Kingdom citizenship during their course of study. The following date guidelines apply:-
- students who acquire EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation/United Kingdom up to 31st January in an academic year may be entitled to free tuition fees for the second half of the academic year.
- students who acquire EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation/United Kingdom from 1st February may be entitled to free tuition fees from the commencement of the next academic year.
In order to be eligible under this ‘change of nationality’ clause students must have met all other criterion of the Scheme, apart from nationality, at date of entry to their course of study. Additional information on the change of nationality clause is available at the following location: hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/course-fees/ and also on the UCD website (section titled definitions): www.ucd.ie/students/fees/freefeesinitiative/
Where a student wishes to have their eligibility reassessed having acquired Irish citizenship, they should contact the fees office of the institution attended for guidance on how the scheme criteria may apply to their individual circumstances.
In considering the matters raised, it is important to note that the Department of Justice adjudicates on a person's entitlement to remain in the State and on the stamp that is awarded where permission to remain is sanctioned.
178. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the case of a student (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5059/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn terms of tuition fee supports, full time undergraduate student may be eligible to have their tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, paid on their behalf via my Department's Free Fees Initiative. However, in order to qualify for funding under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme, including with regard to previous education.
The scheme criteria include a provision that students who have previously pursued but have not completed a course of third level study and subsequently resume third level studies are not eligible for free fees for the equivalent period of time spent on the first course of study, where the third level course concerned was eligible to attract exchequer funding (e.g. fees, maintenance, tax relief, subsidy towards course cost).
A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level. This criteria applies equally to all student.
Additional information on free fees initiative is available at the following location: hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/course-fees/
Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee - either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution to determine.
The assessment of a student’s application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended. It is therefore not possible for my Department to provide details relating to individual applications and it is necessary for students to contact the institution attended for guidance on the fees applicable to a course of study.
179. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure that the location selection process for the proposed new veterinary school is transparent and based on the input of veterinary experts. [5125/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Higher Education Authority (HEA), as the funding and regulatory body for higher education in Ireland, has been working on a process to identify opportunities in the higher education system to build capacity in a number of areas including veterinary. The HEA will be assessing the applications received with an independent panel.
The Veterinary Council of Ireland is the Statutory Body responsible for the regulation and management of the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in Ireland. The Higher Education Authority is engaging with the Veterinary Council as part of their assessment process.
This process, as with all HEA processes, is being conducted to the highest standards and will be externally validated as such, including by an Expert Advisory Panel. I am due to receive proposals on the matter in quarter one, 2023.
180. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to reports that a bank (details supplied) has ceased its loan arrangements with medical students. [5242/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe loans available for Graduate Entry Medicine students are private arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans. However, I do understand from both students who have written to me and engagement with the relevant higher education institutions that the availability of such loans has been important in supporting people, including mature students, to study medicine.
My Department has no plans to directly introduce a loan scheme for students of Graduate Entry Medicine. However, the Deputy may wish to be aware that the State already provides support for broadening access to Graduate Entry Medicine programmes through the part-subsidy of fees for EU students. This subsidy is paid to the higher education institutions via the Higher Education Authority.
The ‘Funding the Future’ funding and policy reform framework for higher education agreed by Government last May envisages a mixed funding model for higher education, comprising funding streams from the Exchequer, employer contributions and student contributions.
Within the framework of ‘Funding the Future’, my Department has been working to address the cost of provision of Graduate Entry Medicine by increasing the subsidy paid to higher education institutions. It has been agreed that the State contribution towards Graduate Entry Medicine places will gradually be increased over a multi-annual period from a rate of €11,950 per student in the 2021/22 academic year to a new rate of €14,500. The balance of fees, as determined by the institution attended, will remain payable by the student.
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that students on Graduate Entry Medicine programmes may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. This Fund provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution. I have recently announced an additional €4.3 million to be allocated to SAF to assist students with the cost of living. This was in addition to the €8m that was allocated in Budget 2023. This brings the total allocation for the Student Assistance Fund for the 22/23 academic year to over €20 million, which is the highest amount that has ever been provided under this fund. The HEA will distribute funding of over €4.3m to the HEIs in early 2023.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
181. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the amount spent by his Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide details in relation to this spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4856/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
