Parliamentary questions

Third Level Admissions

Pearse Doherty

544. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a third level institution will further extend the date for submitting a driver licence for a student (details supplied) for a paramedic studies courses in which the delay in test dates is outside the control of the applicant and due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24000/20]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

545. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will share the legal advice he has received that has led to him deciding not to ring-fence places for CAO applicants who sat the leaving certificate before 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23498/20]

Student Assistance Fund

John McGuinness

546. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if funding for laptops will be extended to include a college (details supplied); if the college can avail of other Covid-19-related funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23501/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Darren O'Rourke

547. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if earnings for 2020 will be taken into account when assessing eligibility for SUSI grants in view of the substantial reduction in income many persons have suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23581/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Rose Conway-Walsh

548. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports and-or increased funding that has been made available to the further and higher education sectors to deal with the knock-on impact of Covid-19; the increased places in third level to help prospective students excluding planned investments that were already in place to improve or expand further and higher education to deal with demographic changes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23592/20]

Third Level Institutions

Rose Conway-Walsh

549. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter regarding accusations of serious misconduct alleged against students and staff at Maynooth University (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23603/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jim O'Callaghan

550. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23620/20]

Student Support Schemes

Johnny Mythen

551. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the criteria used in accessing the laptop grant scheme; and the reason certain colleges are not included in the scheme although some of their students are receiving grants from SUSI and BTEA. [23703/20]

Third Level Admissions

Neale Richmond

552. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a decision not to award an eligible student (details supplied) a place on the HEAR CAO programme will reviewed based on the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23705/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

553. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships that have been furloughed; the number that have been made redundant as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23717/20]

Student Support Schemes

Malcolm Noonan

554. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the exclusion of students of Carlow College, the second oldest higher education institution in Ireland, from his Department’s recently announced laptop scheme and additional mental health services; and his views on same. [23726/20]

Third Level Fees

Cian O'Callaghan

555. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will request that the universities provide a fee waiver or other financial support for the students in the doctorate in clinical psychology programme who were unable to complete their required clinical placements due to HSE Covid-19 redeployments and as a result may be liable for an additional year of doctorate fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23794/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

556. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of third level students who receive each level of SUSI support such as full maintenance grants, full fees, 50% fees and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23842/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Gary Gannon

557. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if SUSI will alter the process of classifying students at their first point of entry to an approved post-leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course in view of the fact it disadvantages students that move out of the family home that is become independent unless they take a break from pursuing their education for five years; his views on the solution required for students negatively affected in 2020 as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23856/20]

Student Accommodation

Rose Conway-Walsh

558. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are special allocations or preferences given to persons with specific or special needs such as autism in the application for on-campus student accommodation in University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23921/20]

Student Accommodation

Rose Conway-Walsh

559. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the public health advice and justification for students living on campus to not be allowed visitors in their residence for the duration of the 2020-21 academic year; his views on whether it is fair to expect students to pay the full amount for accommodation in view of the fact they are being asked to live under such restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24013/20]

Third Level Admissions

Cathal Crowe

560. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which he plans to provide sufficient places on third level courses for the commencement of the 2020-021 academic year for persons who sat the leaving certificate in summer 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24055/20]

Student Support Schemes

Mark Ward

561. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding a report (details supplied) that stated that 17,000 students would be able to avail of free laptops; when they can apply; the process for applying; and when the first student will receive a laptop. [24065/20]

Third Level Fees

Rose Conway-Walsh

562. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure that students from Northern Ireland will not be requested to pay non-EU fees to study here regardless of ongoing Brexit negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24117/20]

Student Support Schemes

Holly Cairns

563. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when laptops ordered to assist students with online and blended learning will be available to Cork Institute of Technology students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24186/20]

Departmental Projects

Ged Nash

564. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Exchequer-funded projects over €1 billion overseen by his Department; the expected rise in cost in both numerical amount and percentage terms in tabular form, and delays as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24311/20]

Third Level Admissions

Colm Burke

147. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students that have taken a gap year from their studies following the leaving certificate 2019 will receive support from his Department in the CAO process to ensure comparability between an unprecedented 2019 and 2020; if there are substantial increases in CAO points in the leaving certificate 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23081/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Robert Troy

148. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the recourse available in the case of a person (details supplied). [23101/20]

Third Level Admissions

Holly Cairns

149. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the provisions being made for students applying to the CAO in 2020 based on leaving certificate results from previous years. [23152/20]

Third Level Admissions

Paul Murphy

150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if arrangements are being put in place to support CAO reapplicants disadvantaged by the grade inflation due to calculated grades in 2020 (details supplied). [23189/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

151. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost to the Exchequer if SUSI grant eligibility was calculated on gross income rather than net income if the income threshold remained at the same numerical value; the cost if SUSI grant eligibility was calculated on gross income rather than net income if the numerical value of income thresholds were increased by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23062/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard O'Donoghue

152. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the obstacles facing persons of diminished industries due to Covid-19 trying to secure third-level placements; and if exemptions will be made to accommodate the persons. [23063/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Rose Conway-Walsh

153. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are persons with severe medical condition that are in the high risk categories such as those with cystic fibrosis that are denied SUSI grants on the grounds that they are online; the steps he will take to address the situation in view of the risk to these persons from Covid-19 and the fact that many traditional courses are now online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23064/20]

Technological Universities

Ged Nash

154. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the fact that Dundalk IT is the only institute of technology not to have formally linked into a consortium to obtain technological university status; the actions his Department and the HEA will take to advance technological university status for Dundalk IT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23067/20]

Student Accommodation

Ged Nash

155. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the discussions that have taken place with the private purpose-built student accommodation providers in relation to providing flexible arrangements for the 2020-2021 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23068/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

156. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated of cost of reducing apprentice fees by 20%, 50% and 100%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23069/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Ged Nash

157. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to decrease the qualifying criteria for the non-adjacent rate of the SUSI grant from 45 km to 24 km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23070/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Ged Nash

158. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated number of students that would be affected by changing the SUSI adjacency rates from 45km to 25km, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23071/20]

Further Education and Training Programmes

David Stanton

159. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of local training initiatives in operation in 2018, 2019 and 2020; the number of participants for each of these years in tabular form; his plans for the further development of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23108/20]

Third Level Admissions

Holly Cairns

160. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his engagement with colleges and universities to enable the provision of additional places in high demand courses. [23149/20]

Third Level Fees

Holly Cairns

161. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the campaign by an organisation (details supplied) to reduce student contribution fees in 2020 by €500. [23150/20]

Student Grant Scheme

Holly Cairns

162. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on amending the student grant statutory instrument to enable students reclassify as their personal circumstances relevant to the classification change. [23151/20]

Social Media Monitoring

Holly Cairns

163. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department or bodies working on behalf of his Department are monitoring social media for those that criticise government policy. [23153/20]

Third Level Education

Denis Naughten

164. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with not-for-profit education, information technology and credit organisations such as organisations (details supplied) on the roll out of laptops to third-level students prior to the announcing the €15 million for student devices with a view to maximising the number of devices to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23187/20]

Third Level Fees

Rose Conway-Walsh

20. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether it is fair to expect students to pay the highest fees in the EU at a time when many students have lost work and many households have seen a drop in their income, particularly if courses are to be conducted partially or completely online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22244/20]

Higher Education Institutions

Holly Cairns

21. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on providing targeted funding for colleges and universities to establish hubs or micro-satellite campuses to enable rural students to complete courses online; and if he will provide further funding for students to access existing rural digital hubs. [22805/20]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

22. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether it is fair to expect students to pay the highest fees in the European Union at a time when many students have lost work and many households have seen a drop in their income, particularly if courses are to be conducted partially or completely online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22596/20]

Third Level Costs

Mattie McGrath

23. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason full fees are applicable for students in third level institutes when full services are not available to the students, for example, access to libraries and printing facilities; the supports available to students who struggle with online learning due to limited broadband facilities; if he will work with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce protections for students in student accommodation in terms of deposits and refunds in view of the difficulties encountered by many as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22958/20]

Mental Health Services

Thomas Pringle

24. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding which will be made available to each of the third level colleges and institutions to address potential mental health issues that may have arisen in students from the Covid-19 situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22957/20]

Technological Universities

Verona Murphy

25. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for the amalgamation of Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology to form the Technological University for the South East Ireland. [22600/20]

Mental Health Services

Brendan Smith

26. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to provide additional mental health supports to students returning to higher and further education. [22632/20]

Student Support Schemes

James O'Connor

27. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the dilemma for candidates applying to the SUSI system for doctoral funding as an independent candidate who cannot claim to have been living independently from the previous October due to circumstances in relation to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22639/20]

Student Support Schemes

Marian Harkin

28. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports being put in place to support third level students returning to education to ensure their health and well-being during these challenging times. [22644/20]

Third Level Fees

Richard Boyd Barrett

29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to abolish third level registration fees in view of the fact that many students will not be attending lectures as normal, will have extra IT costs due to online learning and will find it more difficult to find work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22648/20]

Third Level Education

Thomas Gould

30. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to incentivise young persons typically excluded from higher education due to socioeconomic status to engage in education past school in view of the high youth unemployment rates. [22606/20]