Written Answers Nos. 753-766
753. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what current English language support classes are in place for IPAs and BOTPs; how are they being delivered; the cost of same, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16180/24]
View answerMy officials are engaging with SOLAS in relation to the information sought by the Deputy and a reply will issue as soon as possible.
754. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the crisis that has now arisen in Ireland's study abroad sector where visiting international students are not able to source accommodation as the investment fund-owned providers of purpose-built student accommodation has brought in 51-week leases, and the students' home universities are not in a position to pay the cost of the additional ten-to-12-week leases; if his Department has conducted any analysis of the impact these 51-week leases could have on the study abroad sector, which is worth €220 million per annum to the economy and employs 350 staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16040/24]
View answerOfficials from my Department have been engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the decision of private student accommodation providers to move to 51-week leases. I recognise that while there may be a market for 51-week leases among some members of the student population, it is not desirable for the vast majority of third level students. Departments officials have been working to establish the circumstances and consider what actions are available to ensure accommodation availability for students, both domestic and international.
With the support of Government, Officials are assessing legislate amendments to support student specific contracts in the academic year, subject to approval. In addition, I understand that the previous Minister recently wrote to all relevant local authorities to seek support and advice with regards to the planning permissions for student specific accommodation and engagement is ongoing.
Student specific accommodation is within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The RTB provides a confidential dispute resolution service. Investigations can commence based on information received from a member of the public. A student with specific concerns regarding their accommodation should make contact with the RTB in the first instance to seek advice or register a complaint.
755. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of new registrations for apprenticeships, broken down by consortia and craft; the total number of consortia and craft apprentices currently registered; the number of apprentices currently waiting to access off-site training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16159/24]
View answerBeing demand-led in nature, there are no restrictions on the number of apprentices that can be registered.
There is a strong and growing recognition of apprenticeship as a valuable employment and skills opportunity, reflected in a 25% increase in craft apprenticeship registrations from 5,271 in 2019 to 6,588 in 2023 and a134% increase in consortia-led apprenticeship registrations from 906 in 2019 to 2,124 in 2023.
Registrations remain strong in 2024 with 1,988 registrations to the end of March, composed of 1738 craft and 250 consortia-led apprentices. This brings the total apprentice population to 27,539 at the end of March 2024, composed of 23,307 craft and 4,232 consortia-led apprentices.
Successful delivery of priority Government strategies such as the National Development Plan, Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan will require significant growth in our apprenticeship training capacity.
Increased funding of €67 million allocated to apprenticeship, secured through the Estimates for this year, has brought total investment to €300 million. This is a vital step in building the capacity required to both reduce delays in apprenticeship training and meet future training requirements.
Following an increase of apprenticeship training capacity in recent months, there has been a significant reduction in apprentices waiting longer than 6 months for their off the job training, down from 6,601 in July 2023 to 3,460 as of end March 2024 (3,347 at Phase 2, 95 at Phase 4 and 18 at Phase 6).
It is this Department’s priority to reduce waiting times for training and ensure the apprenticeship system is right-sized to deliver future demand for skilled tradespeople.
756. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a SUSI application by person (details enclosed) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16236/24]
View answerUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
As per Article 13(3) of the Student Grant Scheme 2023, as an Independent Student the applicant must be:
• 23 years of age or over on 1st January of the year when they first enter/re-enter further or higher education, and
• They must have been living independently from their parents/legal guardians from the October in the year prior to their first point of entry/re-entry into further or higher education and will be required to provide evidence of this.
The student referred to by the Deputy has not submitted an application to SUSI. However, the student contacted the SUSI support desk on the 5th and 8th of April to enquire about how to prove Independent status. The officials at SUSI outlined the criteria for Independent status to the student on both occasions.
The student should make an application to SUSI on their website at www.susi.ie.
757. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that a students’ union (details supplied) recently launched a petition calling for the Government to provide free period products in all higher education institutions, which has now almost 3,000 signatures; if he will commit to increasing funding in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16323/24]
View answer762. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will extend the roll-out of free period products to all higher education institutions including universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16537/24]
View answer763. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that the pilot project to provide free period products is extended to a permanent scheme and is put in place for all further and higher education institutions as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16542/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 757, 762 and 763 together.
The provision of period products in publicly funded educational settings is a Programme for Government commitment.
My Department has been involved in a number of initiatives to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period indignity. These include the following:
• worked collaboratively with the Department of Health and the OGP on the development of a drawdown contract for the provision of period products in education establishments and other public institutions.
• in conjunction with the ETBs, development of a pilot called ‘Worryfree’ which was rolled out to nine further education and training colleges across six Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The pilot delivered free, sustainable period products and dispensers for students in participating ETBs.
• active participation on the Period Poverty Implementation Group chaired by the Department of Health
As the Deputy may be aware, Higher Education Institutions have also been working to ensure free period products are available on campus, such as ‘Code Red’ in MTU, ‘Any time of the month’ in University Limerick (UL), Brigit’s Basket in the National College of Ireland (NCI). The End Period Poverty campaign in UCD. DCU & Mary Immaculate College (MIC) also have similar initiatives currently running. DCU have also devised a postal service for students who are unable to access the products on campus.
I expect to be making an announcement on this matter shortly.
758. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if funding is available for Irish citizens studying in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16330/24]
View answerThe 2021 Memorandum of Understanding on the Education Principles for the Common Travel Area commits the Irish and UK Governments to maintain reciprocal rights of Irish and British citizens to access programmes in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in each other's States on terms no less favourable than the citizens of that State.
Students from Ireland, therefore, continue to access higher education in the UK on the same basis as they did prior to its withdrawal from the EU in terms of fees and student support.
In 2020, the Student Support Act was amended to retain the status quo to allow the payment of the SUSI grant to Irish students pursuing an approved undergraduate course in the UK, subject to usual eligibility criteria of nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The Student Grant Scheme however, never has extended to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than the exceptional provision in respect of postgraduate courses in four approved HEIS in Northern Ireland. This provision is consistent with the principles of the Good Friday agreement and is intended to promote understanding between both jurisdictions.
Irish students who are seeking to pursue their studies in the UK are, therefore, advised to contact the Student Finance agency in each of the Devolved Administration in the UK, as there may be variations between eligibility criteria in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In addition, Irish students studying in the UK may be eligible for tax relief at the standard rate of tax for approved courses at approved higher educational institutions in the UK. Further information on this tax relief is available from the student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
759. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved PLC places in County Tipperary in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [16414/24]
View answerThe number of approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places in Tipperary Education and Training Board has remained consistent at 757 places since 2022. The number of allocated PLC places and the enrolments at the October PLC census returns are set out in the table below.
|
Academic Year |
Approved PLC places |
October PLC learner census |
|
2022/23 |
757 |
444 |
|
2023/24 |
757 |
409 |
|
2024/25 |
757 |
Not yet available |
760. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what arrangements or pathways are in place to assist beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants in accessing the CAO application system; the number of persons in each category that have been assisted from 2019 to date; what grants are available to enable participation of persons in both categories in further and higher education; if such grants or financial supports are means tested; the total value of the grants or financial assistance provided during this time period to both BoPT CAO applicants and IPAS CAO applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16425/24]
View answerThe CAO is an independent body whose function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). HEIs are autonomous in relation to their admissions criteria, and neither I nor my Department have a role in admissions matters.
There is no specific CAO pathway for either beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants. In general, beneficiaries of temporary protection are eligible to apply through the CAO on a competitive basis, in the same manner as EU students. Entry criteria for applicants who completed their secondary education in a country other than Ireland are published by the CAO on their website.
International Protection Applicants may be eligible to apply through the CAO and should engage directly with the HEI they are interested in attending to determine whether they should apply through the CAO or apply directly to the institution.
Temporary Tuition Fee Support System
In 2022/2023 and 2023/24 the Government provided tuition fee supports to eligible higher education Ukrainian Students that qualify for protection under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015, through the Higher Education Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme (TTFSS) for Displaced Ukrainian Students.
For academic years 2022/2023 and 2023/24 the TTFSS provided EU tuition fee funding supports for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students attending an approved course at an approved Higher Education Institution. In 2022/23 (not applicable in 2023/24) the scheme also allowed for medicine and dentistry students to enter transition programmes. These temporary supports were not means tested and supports were not limited to students that applied to attend higher education through the CAO system only.
In 2022/23, the TTFSS benefitted a total of 310 students at a cost of €1.7m. For 2023/24 provisional funding claims from institutions indicate that c540 students may benefit at a cost of c€2.6m, final costs will be confirmed after the completion of the academic year.
Higher Education Stipend
Alongside fee supports, qualifying students in receipt of Temporary Protection who are pursuing or progressing in a full-time approved course in a publicly funded higher education institution are supported financially through a monthly stipend of €1,150. Currently there are 543 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection studying in Ireland in receipt of this funding, with 503 of those expected to continue for the next academic year. Details on the total value of these stipends are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.
Ukraine PLC Bursary
The Ukraine PLC Bursary Scheme was established in response to the emergency situation in Ukraine in February 2022. It was aimed specifically at persons who:
• were living in Ireland
• had been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015
• wanted to participate in a SOLAS-approved full time post leaving certificate (“PLC”) course in their local Education and Training Board, and
• were not in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance from the Department of Social Protection.
This financial support took the form of a bursary of €6,115 which was paid in monthly instalments to qualified persons who attended a SOLAS approved PLC course in the 2022/23 academic year. This support was continued in the 2023/24 academic year.
477 awards were made for the 2022/23 academic year, and 614 awards were made for the 2023/24 academic year.
International Protection Students (IPS) Scheme
The International Protection Student (IPS) Scheme was introduced in 2015. It is targeted at three particular groups of students (asylum applicants, subsidiary protection applicants and leave to remain applicants) who are pursuing an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved undergraduate or postgraduate course. Such students cannot access the Student Grant Scheme because they do not have leave to remain in the State. The IPS Scheme largely mirrors the Student Grant Scheme and is means tested.
Since 2019, a total of 94 applicants have qualified for support under the IPS Scheme. Details of the total value of these awards are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.
761. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the recent announcement concerning the closure of a college (details supplied); if he will intervene to assist these students to continue their courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16448/24]
View answerMy Department has been made aware that the college referred to by the Deputy will close and cease to deliver degree level programmes accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) with effect from September 2024.
In preparation for the forthcoming closure the college has engaged with QQI’s statutory Protection of Enrolled Learners (PEL) process. The PEL process ensures that learners can complete their programme with another QQI accredited provider if it is no longer offered by their existing provider.
QQI has informed my Department that all impacted learners wishing to continue their studies will be facilitated to transfer into similar degree programmes offered by alternative providers leading to awards at the same level of the National Framework of Qualifications from September 2024. The alternative providers will provide all necessary supports to the learners as they make the transfer.
The college held a meeting on Tuesday 9th April 2024 to communicate further information about these transfer arrangements to the learners.
764. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for publishing the report on recommendations for standardised design of student accommodation in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16646/24]
View answerThe Cost of Construction Study, which was published by Minister O’Brien last year, recommends the development of a standardised specification for purpose built student accommodation. The objective of the PBSA Standardised Design & Specification Project is to examine international best practice and flexibility of design to inform appropriate standards in the delivery of affordable accommodation.
The project will be led by a cross-departmental project group chaired by DFHERIS with sectoral, planning and technical support from DHLGH, DFHERIS and the HEA. The HEA on behalf of DFHERIS will appoint an expert consultant to undertake this study and updates will be provided to the cross departmental project group in accordance with an agreed timeline.
The Request for Tender for the appointment of the consultant was published in Q1, with a view to finalisation of the study for reporting to Government in Q4, 2024 as per Housing for All Action plan commitments.
765. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for publishing the Action Plan in response to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs report on modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16650/24]
View answerA key government priority is to ensure that we have world-leading skills in the economy to ensure a sustainable and equitable economy in the future. The construction sector is no exception.
Greater adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), an umbrella term for a range of innovative construction processes, is a key pillar of the Government’s approach to increasing innovation and achieving productivity gains in the delivery of housing.
MMC will promote the diversity of career opportunities in the sector, including new and emerging careers. This Department will work with partners to ensure that there is provision of relevant specialist training for emerging MMC skills requirements.
To identify and quantify projected future MMC skills requirements, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) have commissioned research assessing needs across the industry over coming years, and will make recommendations on appropriate responses from the tertiary system and industry.
On completion of the EGFSN’s research – which is expected in May 2024 - this Department will develop an action plan for delivery in Q3 2024.
766. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress on approving student accommodation schemes, in light of the approval of the long-term student accommodation policy approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16661/24]
View answerThe long term policy was approved by Government on the 16th January 2024. This policy will inform the student accommodation strategy and schemes which will be developed throughout 2024 in consultation with relevant Departments, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and through stakeholder engagement.
The Strategy will incorporate the next phase of the TU study which will undertake an assessment of mechanisms for delivery of student accommodation, and the standardised design review to ensure development of a model of accommodation which demonstrates value for money and affordability.
I will bring the new Strategy to Government this year.
Funding for Student Accommodation is subject to the NDP review. Updated NDP ceilings for 2025 and 2026 will be agreed in Spring 2024, and overall NDP allocations for 2027 – 2030 will be agreed as part of the Summer Economic Statement process.
