Written Answers Nos. 1414-1436
1414. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to review correspondence (details supplied); to outline any financial supports available to the student in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48194/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I cannot comment on an individual case, I can advise the Deputy that there are a broad range of measures intended to support and facilitate apprentice progression to a successful conclusion. These are broad measures available to all, as well as some targeted interventions intended to provide additional support to groups who may experience particular barriers and challenges in accessing and completing their apprenticeship programmes.
Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 73 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship.
While attending off-the-job training, craft apprentices are paid a training allowance appropriate to their training phase. In addition to training allowances, craft apprentices attending phases of off-the-job training in an Education and Training Board (ETB) training centre, Institute of Technology, or a Technological University are entitled to make an application for either travel or accommodation allowances for the duration of the period of off-the-job training.
Through Budget 2024, I am providing increased funding of €400,000 for a bursary for apprentices from under-represented groups. It is proposed that the funding will support apprenticeship learners in all ETBs and at TUS Limerick and Athlone, MTU, ATU Galway and TU Dublin.
More broadly, I recognise the impact that the cost of living is having on our apprentices. This is why I am particularly targeting funding of €3.8m to enable a one-third reduction in the Apprenticeship Student Contribution Fee for those attending higher education institutions in the 2023/24 academic year. This is targeted at relieving the immediate pressure associated with making this payment. It is anticipated that circa 11,000 apprentices in higher education will benefit from this measure.
As employees, apprentices who find themselves in difficulty are correspondingly entitled to access general employment supports through the social welfare system. I would also advise any apprentice to discuss the matter with their Authorised Officer who may be in a position to provide guidance.
1415. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 18 October 2023, to provide a detail of the date of each decision gate, the project budget at each decision gate, the overall cost of any completed projects and the overall financial disbursement from voted expenditure from the Department in respect of each completed project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48251/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I advised in an earlier response, given the passage of time, both the projects and the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have evolved. You will also be aware, there have been a number of mergers of Institutes of Technology to form Technological Universities. Projects in HEIs are generally institution led with a high level of autonomy for each institution to change their priorities as they see fit.
The list provided included all major capital projects which had, in one form or another, been presented to the Department. This list was very broad and included projects at the very early stage of development, which over the passage of time and with the further development of the institutions masterplans, have changed. Many of the projects outlined at the time have changed and this is in line with the changes in demand within the wider economy and the demand for courses from students. Certain project names have changed and some of the projects have been integrated into new projects.
HEIs are required to comply with all relevant Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) guidelines including the Public Spending Code (PSC) updated in 2019 and 2023. The PSC sets out the requirements for evaluating, planning and managing public capital investment. It outlines the project lifecycle which includes steps, activities and decision gates which are necessary for the evaluation of a capital investment.
The Department is not in a position to provide a detail of the date of each decision gate, the project budget at each decision gate, the overall cost of any completed projects and the overall financial disbursement from voted expenditure from the Department in respect of each completed project as some of these projects are subject to commercial sensitivity given their stage in the procurement process and for the reasons outlined above. In many cases the overall project cost would be a matter for the respective HEI. Many of the projects are co-funded by this Department, other Government Departments and Agencies and HEIs themselves, but the direct management of the projects resides with the HEIs, with oversight from the HEA and my Department.
It would not be possible for my Department to provide the requested information as, due to the passage of time, both the projects and the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have evolved, project names have changed and project requirements have been integrated into new projects.
1416. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to advise what cut-off date is being discussed within his Department to end formal consideration of the phase two PPP capital delivery including the proposed engineering building to the WIT campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48252/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1417. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science understanding that design plans have been obviously completed considering formal negotiation of PPP delivery of engineering building to WIT campus and understanding that the PPP process appears unable to be fulfilled, the other pathways his Department is reviewing in order to separate this construction and tender for direct build; how advanced any such discussions are; the timeline to separate and tender this building for construction award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48253/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1416 and 1417 together.
There are 11 projects being progressed through the PPP programme. Bundle one, consisting of six projects, has commenced construction. There are five projects in Bundle two, two of which are for South East Technological University (SETU) – 1 at Waterford campus and 1 at the Carlow campus that are currently at tender stage.
The new engineering block in Waterford is a high priority project for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The Waterford project is the largest in the Higher Education PPP Programme and will be transformative for SETU.
The Bundle 2 procurement process is currently at tender stage and the competitive dialogue remains open.
1418. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the ongoing process that decides approval for the provision of pharmacy and veterinary faculties and course development (details supplied); the reason for the delay in providing approval to these applications; if he will commit to providing an end-date by which a decision will be concluded and publicly communicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48254/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring a supply of qualified vets and pharmacists to meet the demands of Ireland's agri-food and healthcare sector is an important issue for my Department.
Higher Education Institutions are academically autonomous when it comes to decisions on the courses they provide, and do not require the approval of my Department to launch a new programme in either of these disciplines.
In recognition of challenges in relation to physical infrastructure to enable such provision, the Higher Education Authority ran an Expressions of Interest process to identify options for building capacity in a number of key disciplines, including Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy.
As the Deputy is aware, there is a substantial capital cost associated with the development of many of these options and it is important that the scale of the costs is fully understood and planned for. The options identified through the HEA's process have the potential to transform the numbers of students who can take up places in these key areas. This would be an expansion at a scale rarely seen across five high demand areas and is a significant investment of public funding in our institutions.
Detailed discussions are continuing to take place about the ways and means to address capital costs for the provision of any new school, including in the context of an expected upcoming review of Departmental National Development Plan allocations. It will naturally take some time for these discussions to reach a conclusion, though I understand that the NDP review is likely to commence later this year.
I am continuing to work with the Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Health and the Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the next steps.
1419. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a framework for the university sector to develop student accommodation will be agreed; the quantum of capital funding his Department plans to make available to the technological university sector, and specifically SETU, to advance student accommodation builds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48255/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the recent announcement by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) which will provide additional financing investment of €434m student accommodation to support higher education institutions in the development of affordable student housing. The new scheme, backed by a forty-year €200m EIB loan, is expected to support the delivery of an estimated 2,700 new student beds across Ireland.
The initiative provides a framework loan facility to the Irish Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to provide finance directly to Irish public higher education providers to develop student accommodation. This deal will further the Government’s priorities, as this new funding will form 25% of the Housing for All commitment made by the HFA. The funding is ring fenced for 5 years and is now open for applications.
The Housing Finance Agency Act 1981, as amended, facilitates lending by the HFA to institutions of higher education, including TUs. My Department and I are working with relevant Government Departments and Agencies to explore the development of a specific borrowing framework for the TU sector, as part of an assessment of a range of mechanisms for the delivery of student accommodation for the TU sector. The options arising from the TU feasibility study will inform this ongoing engagement.
In tandem my Department and I are actively working to address the supply of affordable student accommodation through the development of a number of Government supported policy responses as outlined under Housing for All. As the Deputy is aware, SETU Waterford campus is the only on-campus provision of purpose built student accommodation in the Technological University (TU) sector, providing 426 beds. To date students in TUs have relied almost completely on private rental market for accommodation. We have provided funding, through the HEA to assist our TUs, including SETU to undertake a needs assessment for student accommodation in key regional areas. This will include data led projections of demand for accommodation and a framework to respond to needs in each area.
Department officials and I have had continuous engagement with the sector in relation to the feasibility study. Feasibility studies in respect of SETU Carlow and SETU Waterford, which were conducted independently by SETU are being reviewed in the context of the overall TU Feasibility Study. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is currently undertaking this study as part of the Governments’ commitment to support TUs in the development of student accommodation strategies. Work programme one of this study is nearing completion.
1420. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of higher education in the southeast region, given that unlike other regions, there is no National University; how this deficit in regional higher level provision is being considered by his Department with respect to the development of SETU; the actions he has taken to date and the funding provision he has made available that demonstrates his and his Departments understanding of this exceptional situation in terms of trying to stem the southeast brain drain and its consequent economic impacts on families and the wider south east economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48256/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has delivered a university presence to the South East spanning four campus locations for the first time in the history of the State. The South East Technological University (SETU) established on 1 May 2022 is the third largest technological university and enables students in the South East to study and gain qualifications at all levels of the NFQ, up to and including doctoral degrees, in their own region. SETU is also a catalyst for regional development and socio-economic progress in the South East.
Significant Exchequer and EU funding has been allocated to the university to date through mechanisms such as the Higher Education Landscape Fund(€31 million), and the Technological Universities Transformation Fund (€90 million) - with SETU receiving €19.8m of this funding. SETU is also benefiting from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Education and Training Reforms programme (€40 million)and new opportunities for significant funding are available currently under the new TU RISE programme (€83.68 million) and the Technological Sector Advancement Fund (€50 million).
Since its establishment capital funding of over €9.14 million has been provided to SETU. The Department remains committed to providing capital funding supports to SETU. For example, the new Engineering, Computing and General Teaching building which is planned for SETU Waterford Campus is progressing as part of bundle II of the 'Higher Education PPP Programme'. This building will add significant capacity to the campus to help address increased demand. SETU Waterford Campus expansion and SETU Wexford Campus are both being progressed under the TSSPF framework.
I should point out to the Deputy that the title ‘national university’ is neither understood in this context, nor has it any meaning in policy or legislative terms and that the university footprint in the South East is a step-change in the advancement of higher education in the region.
1421. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 2 pipefitting training. [48287/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1424. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 2 electrician training. [48290/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1425. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 4 electrician training. [48291/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1426. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 6 electrician training. [48292/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1427. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 2 plumbing training. [48293/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1428. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 4 plumbing training. [48294/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1429. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 6 plumbing training. [48295/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1430. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 2 carpentry training. [48296/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1431. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 4 carpentry training. [48297/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1432. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors in each training centre delivering phase 6 carpentry training. [48298/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1421, 1424, 1425, 1426, 1427, 1428, 1429, 1430, 1431 and 1432 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is presently being compiled by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1433. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices called at each phase by discipline for ETB training, in tabular form. [48299/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by Deputy Gould is set out in the attached table.
|
Capital Available in 2021 |
Capital Available in 2022 |
Capital Available from January to October 2023 |
|
|
CORK ETB |
€ 1.2m |
€ 2.7m |
€ 1.6m |
|
CITY OF DUBLIN ETB |
€ 0.98m |
€ 1.3m |
€ 2.6m |
|
GALWAY AND ROSCOMMON ETB |
€ 5.9m |
€ 0.73m |
€ 6.7m |
|
LIMERICK AND CLARE ETB |
€ 1.5m |
€ 1.8m |
€ 3.7m |
|
CAVAN AND MONAGHAN ETB |
€ 0.56m |
€ 5.6m |
€ 2.0m |
|
DONEGAL ETB |
€ 0.73m |
€ 0.76m |
€ 1.6m |
|
DUBLIN AND DUN LAOGHAIRE ETB |
€ 0.83m |
€ 2.76m |
€ 3.0m |
|
KERRY ETB |
€ 1.4m |
€ 1.1m |
€ 3.1m |
|
KILDARE AND WICKLOW ETB |
€ 0.51m |
€ 0.86m |
€ 0.84m |
|
KILKENNY AND CARLOW ETB |
€ 0.44m |
€ 0.44m |
€ 2.0m |
|
LAOIS AND OFFALY ETB |
€ 0.65m |
€ 0.44m |
€ 1.2m |
|
LONGFORD AND WESTMEATH ETB |
€ 0.55m |
€ 0.73m |
€ 0.82m |
|
LOUTH AND MEATH ETB |
€ 3.3m |
€ 20.5m |
€ 2.9m |
|
MAYO SLIGO AND LEITRIM ETB |
€ 0.91m |
€ 2.3m |
€ 0.96m |
|
TIPPERARY ETB |
€ 0.44m |
€ 1.2m |
€ 0.65m |
|
WATERFORD AND WEXFORD ETB |
€ 1.1m |
€ 0.78m |
€ 2.0m |
|
*VARIOUS ETBs (Apprentice Equipment) |
€ 3.1m |
1434. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the size of the apprentice population, by discipline and phase, in tabular form. [48300/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of the end-October 2023, the total population of apprentices is 26,864. Of this, 22,467 are participating on craft-based apprenticeships while a further 4,397 are participating in consortia-based apprenticeships.
Detailed information requested by Deputy Gould is set out in the attached table.
1435. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of a case (details supplied); if he can confirm when a permanent suitable support will be in place to facilitate this student continuing their education at DCU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48421/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1436. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of a scheme whereby a third-level student can access a grant or similar support to engage a PA directly, where the college authorities have failed to put in place an adequate/consistent/appropriate service. [48422/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for bringing to my attention the case of the person to which she mentions.
