Wednesday, 19 Jan 2022

Written Answers Nos. 1125-1141

International Protection

Ceisteanna (1125)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

1125. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision and emergency accommodation centres which were in use by the International Protection Accommodation Services as of 31 December 2021; the occupancy of each of these centres as of 31 December 2021; the contracted capacity of each of these centres in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2211/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Thank you for your question Deputy, the tables below contain the information as you requested:

Centre Type	No. of Centres	Contracted Capacity	Occupancy
National Reception Centre	1	537	461
IPAS Accommodation Centres	45	7,184	5,691
Emergency Accommodation	24	1,645	1,046

Please note that the breakdown of statistics is based on the last statistical report created 26 December 2021.

IPAS Accommodation	County	Location	Contracted Capacity	Occupancy
1	Clare	Knockalisheen	250	209
2	Clare	King Thomond	152	110
3	Clare	Clare Lodge Hostel	65	34
4	Cork	Ashbourne Hse	95	89
5	Cork	Davis Lane****	52	56
6	Cork	Kinsale Road	301	273
7	Cork	Glenvera	130	91
8	Cork	Millstreet	350	202
9	Cork	Clonakilty Lodge	113	89
10	Donegal	Port Road Apartments	306	252
11	Dublin	The Towers	250	172
12	Dublin	The Central Inn	135	90
13	Galway	Eglinton	230	143
14	Galway	Great Western House	163	129
15	Galway	Dominick Street Apartments	139	121
16	Kerry	Atlas House (Killarney)	90	56
17	Kerry	Atlas House (Tralee)	100	84
18	Kerry	Atlantic Lodge	98	47
19	Kerry	Johnston Marina	90	72
20	Kerry	Linden House	88	58
21	Kerry	Park Lodge	55	37
22	Kildare	Hazel Hotel	143	94
23	Kildare	Eyrepowell	152	119
24	Laois	Hibernian Hotel	63	43
25	Laois	Montague	202	186
26	Leitrim	Carraig Accommodation Centre	130	105
27	Limerick	Hanratty's	118	94
28	Limerick	Griffin House ****	63	67
29	Longford	Richmond Court	82	63
30	Louth	Carroll Village (19 APTs)	89	85
31	Mayo	The Old Convent	266	211
32	Meath	Mosney **** IRPP places are being used for IPAS residents	600	666
33	Monaghan	St. Patrick's	280	238
34	Offaly	Marian Hostel	168	98
35	Sligo	Globe House	218	168
36	Tipperary	Bridgewater House	189	123
37	Tipperary	Riverside	107	87
38	Waterford	Atlantic House	82	73
39	Waterford	Ocean View	100	87
40	Waterford	Birchwood	145	119
41	Waterford	Viking House	85	56
42	Westmeath	Temple Accommodation	125	98
43	Westmeath	Athlone	300	247
44	Wexford	Rosslare Port Lodge	114	69
45	Wicklow	The Grand Hotel	111	81
		Total	7184	5691

Emergency Accommodation	County	Location	Contracted Capacity	Occupancy
1	Cavan	Dun Na Ri House Hotel	40	38
2	Cork	Riverside Park Hotel	108	59
3	Cork	Travelodge (52 Rooms)	104	41
4	Dublin	Leitrim Lodge	21	10
5	Dublin	Cornerpark Lodge	24	23
6	Dublin	Bolton Street	22	14
7	Dublin	Airport Manor Hotel	80	66
8	Dublin	The Central Hotel	150	91
9	Dublin	Emmet Road	21	18
10	Dublin	Moat Lodge	27	14
11	Galway	The Merriman Hotel (32 Rooms)	64	13
12	Galway	Travelodge Galway (76 Rooms)	152	49
13	Laois	Commercial Inn	24	15
14	Louth	Setanta	51	44
15	Meath	San Giovanni House B&B	25	21
16	Meath	Alverno House	30	27
17	Meath	The Lodge	33	30
18	Monaghan	Lisanisk House Hotel	50	47
19	Monaghan	Treacy's Hotel	140	133
20	Offaly	Shannon Lodge Hotel	35	12
21	Tipperary	The White House	52	25
22	Wexford	Court Town Hotel	105	0
23	Wicklow	Rathmore Country Holiday Village	114	88
24	Wicklow	The Esplanade	173	168
		Total	1645	1046

International Protection

Ceisteanna (1126)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

1126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who are resident in direct provision and emergency accommodation centres under the remit of the International Protection Accommodation Services who are awaiting a final determination on their international protection application; the number of persons still resident in such accommodation centres who have received a positive determination on their international protection application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2212/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Thank you for you question, Deputy. In relation to the first part of the question, the number of persons resident in direct provision and emergency accommodation centres who are awaiting a final determination on their international protection application, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice. 

I can confirm that at 31 December 2021, the number of persons still resident in such accommodation centres, who have received a positive determination on their international protection application was 1,761. I trust this information satisfies your query.

International Protection

Ceisteanna (1127)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

1127. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of his plans to close all emergency accommodation centres; the expected timeline for the closure of emergency centres that are still in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2213/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department has been working to reduce dependency on emergency accommodation since early 2020 and has already closed 20 such centres, which is approximately half of the number that were in use at one time.  The latest was closed earlier this month.

There are currently 24 emergency accommodation centres around the country. One is due to close at the end of February 2022.  

The end of the use of emergency accommodation has been targeted for 2022. This is in the context of the wider White Paper commitment to end direct provision by the end of 2024. The speed at which it will be possible to reduce the use of emergency accommodation will depend on a number of factors, including the demand for accommodation and capacity across the direct provision network. As the Deputy may be aware, there has been a sharp increase in the number of new arrivals seeking international protection accommodation. There have been over 1,900 new arrivals in the period from 1 November 2021 to 16 January 2022.

My Department is this week publishing a Request for Tender to procure additional accommodation for singles, couples and families seeking international protection. This tender process is a key plank in the Department’s strategy to end reliance on emergency accommodation.

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (1128)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

1128. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for the publication of the annual report for 2021 submitted by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection on 30 June 2021; the timeline for the publication of the report on illegal adoptions which was submitted to the Government on 30 September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2400/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Special Rapporteur on Child Protection reviews and reports to Government on specific national and international legal developments, existing or proposed legislative provisions and litigation in the area of child protection on the request of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The Special Rapporteur submitted his annual report, covering an 18-month reporting period from January 2020 to June 2021, on 30 June 2021. While the report is submitted to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the policy areas covered and recommendations made relate to a number of Government Departments and Agencies. The report was circulated, on a confidential basis, to relevant Departments in September 2021 for their consideration and appropriate action.

It is my intention to submit the annual report to Government, for approval to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas and to publish, very shortly. It will subsequently be published on my Department’s website.

Following the publication of an independent review into illegal birth registrations in March 2021, I requested the Special Rapporteur to examine the significant complexities associated with the matter and set out proposed next steps for the Government. The Special Rapporteur submitted his report on 30 September 2021 and it is currently under consideration by the Department. I will submit the report to Government, for approval to lay before the Houses and to publish, in due course.

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Ceisteanna (1129)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

1129. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date his officials are working towards regarding the introduction of legislation for the redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2575/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and my officials are working on drafting a General Scheme of a Bill to establish the Scheme as a matter of a priority.

Once it is complete, I will bring the General Scheme to Government for formal approval. As is standard practice, the General Scheme will then be submitted to the Office of Parliamentary Council to be drafted, in close consultation with officials from my Department. As previously stated, I will seek priority drafting of the Bill when submitting the General Scheme to Government to ensure that the Bill can be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible thereafter, subject also to any pre-legislative scrutiny process which may take place.

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Ceisteanna (1130)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

1130. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the forum for the survivors of mother and baby homes; the number of meetings since he took office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2576/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I am committed to ongoing engagement with survivors and their advocates in the context of implementing the wide-ranging actions approved by Government in responding to the findings of the Commission. These actions, which take account of the Collaborative Forum’s recommendations, are intended to respond to the priority needs and concerns of former residents and their families.

Following publication of the Commission's final report, several hundred survivors and former residents living in Ireland and abroad have sought to engage with my Department. I recognise that many survivors want to contribute to the development of solutions to the issues of concern to them and their families. I have personally engaged with survivors and advocacy groups, including members of the Collaborative Forum, since my appointment and I will continue to engage with those most centrally involved with these matters.

Our experience to date tells us that stakeholder engagement at this significant level requires additional dedicated structures, processes and resources to ensure it can be inclusive, effective and sustainable. As outlined in the published Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, we are transitioning towards new enhanced arrangements for consultation and stakeholder engagement. This development is essential in facilitating a survivor-centred approach to the important work being advanced across Government. I will be bringing detailed proposals in this regard to Government early this year. 

The Collaborative Forum process was unfortunately interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was necessary to put meetings on hold in the context of the public health restrictions as a number of members travel from outside the jurisdiction and some members are also in the at-risk groups identified by public health authorities. However, I did hold two virtual meetings with members in 2021 and the proposed new structures to support wider stakeholder engagement was a specific agenda item. Further discussions on this issue were independently facilitated with Forum members and the Forum’s feedback has assisted in refining the initial proposals. I have advised the Forum of my intention to meet with members again in advance of introducing new structures.

Separately, Collaborative Forum members have individually and collectively contributed to survivor focused consultations around individual actions, including the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill and the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022. In addition, the Forum had a dedicated session as part of the consultations with survivors on the Payments Scheme and Forum members are actively involved on the steering group for the NUIG research project examining language, terminology and representation. 

My Department regularly issues updates on related matters to all parties on our mailing list, including members of the Forum, and these communications will be supplemented this year with the introduction of quarterly updates on implementation of the Action Plan.  

Legislative Process

Ceisteanna (1131)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

1131. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on and response to recommendation 3 (details supplied) of the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2577/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The report of the Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill was received from the Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in mid-December 2021. My officials and I have carefully considered the recommendations set out within. Having had the opportunity to partake in the pre-legislative scrutiny process and engage with stakeholders directly, I am confident that a significant number of the recommendations have been addressed in the further development of the Bill, since the General Scheme was published in May.

Additionally, some recommendations contained within the report can be further considered in the implementation of the legislation, and many of these recommendations have been, or are anticipated to be, addressed by the Implementation Group led by my Department. As such, my Department has proposed the establishment of a stakeholder advisory group.

It is envisaged that the work of this representative group will be aimed at supporting preparations for the implementation of the legislation when enacted. Its work will have specific regard to the public information campaign and general awareness raising of the changes that will be brought about. This proposal is currently being considered by the implementation group with a view to developing a working model under which it will operate.

Legislative Process

Ceisteanna (1132)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

1132. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on and response to recommendation 8 (details supplied) of the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2578/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 (published on 12 January last) provides for the release, on application, of birth certificates, birth, early life, care and medical information for adopted persons, people who were boarded out, nursed out, subject to an illegal birth registration, or who resided in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution as a child. 

The report of the Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill was received from the Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in mid-December 2021. My officials and I have carefully considered the recommendations set out within. Having had the opportunity to partake in the pre-legislative scrutiny process and engage with stakeholders directly, I am confident that a significant number of the recommendations have been addressed in the further development of the Bill, including the recommendation referenced by the Deputy.  

The Bill now contains a new section that empowers the Minister to add institutions to the schedule. This flexible and forward-looking new section is broad in its remit and will allow for the addition of any institution that was established or operated for the purpose of providing care to children in which children were placed and resident. The inclusion of this section mitigates the risk of anyone being excluded from the definition of "relevant person" set out in this Bill, while also allowing this urgent legislation to progress without delay.  In developing the definition of relevant person within the Bill, I have been mindful to ensure that the range of individuals who have questions regarding the origin of their birth, would be included and benefit from the passing of this legislation. 

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Ceisteanna (1133)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

1133. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way that the State is meeting its commitments under the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention including the provision of refuge spaces and support services for all of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2579/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. My Department provided Tusla with core funding of €30 million to fund DSGBV services throughout 2021. This included a €2.7 million increase in core services from 2020, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. This allows Tusla to fund 60 specialist services around the country, including 44 services providing support to victims of domestic violence, 21 of whom provide safe accommodation in refuges. I have allocated further resources to Tusla under Budget 2022 and directed Tusla to use them to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.

On the provision of refuge spaces, the Istanbul Convention sets out signatory obligations but does not set out a single standard or recommended number of refuge spaces. Article 23 specifically refers to shelters, which should be accessible and “in sufficient numbers” to provide a place of refuge to victims.

Tusla’s ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ has been completed. The Review assesses the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation and has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities.

The will hopefully assist the whole of Government response in supporting victims of DSGBV and future  expansion of services. The Government will engage with Tusla, Non-Government Organisations, that play a key role in this area and Agencies to progress work in this area. It is important that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible.

The Action Plan on the 2nd National DSGBV Strategy included a list of actions towards our ratification of the Istanbul Convention which took place in 2019. My Department reported on relevant actions to Department of Justice through the reporting framework of that Strategy, that included putting Children First on a statutory basis and ending corporal punishment by removal of the common law defence of reasonable chastisement. I would suggest the Deputy might address her broader question on how Ireland meets its obligations under the Istanbul Convention to my colleague the Minister for Justice.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ceisteanna (1134)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

1134. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to cases of childcare providers putting conditions on accessing ECCE for parents, forcing payment of other hours to avail of ECCE hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2651/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal, free, two year pre-school programme, which is available to all children within the eligible age range.

The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year, with the programme year running from September to June each year.

The Department fully funds the provision of ECCE services.  ECCE providers enter into funding agreements with the Department for the delivery of ECCE.  The ECCE Funding Agreement 2021/22 requires childcare providers to provide ECCE free of charge to parents.  The ECCE Funding Agreement forbids providers from charging for non-optional extras and from levying non-refundable booking deposits.

If an ECCE provider is putting conditions on ECCE access for eligible children, parents should contact their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) in the first instance, and the CCC will liaise with the service to resolve the issue.  In the case that the situation is not resolved by the CCC,  the ECCE providers compliance with the ECCE Funding Agreement will be reviewed.  Contact details for each CCC can be found on myccc.gov.ie.

Childcare Services

Ceisteanna (1135)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

1135. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to compensate parents who have to pay for childcare but cannot avail of childcare due to positive antigen or PCR tests or childcare providers have closed due to same. [2652/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department continues to provide significant financial supports to early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, in the case of pod closures or full service closures due to Covid-19, my Department continues to pay the full subsidies for those children registered in one of my Departments’ childcare funding programmes.

My Department does not provide ELC or SAC services. ELC and SAC services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents they are free to set their own policies regarding the charging of fees.  The current contracts between the Department and providers do not deal with the issue of services charging fees during periods when the services are closed. This is a contractual matter between parents and providers.

The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), will remain available to the sector until April 2022, with a continued exemption to the turnover rule for employers in the sector. Since August 2020, ELC employers have been entitled to access the EWSS, with an exemption to having to demonstrate the 30% drop in turnover that applies to other sectors.  The EWSS covers approximately 80% of staff costs or 50% of total operating costs.

I would encourage parents who are experiencing difficulties with any aspect of service provision to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for all of the CCCs are available at www.myccc.ie .

Wards of Court

Ceisteanna (1136, 1137, 1138)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

1136. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children between the ages 16 and 17 years who were made wards of court since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2673/22]

Mark Ward

Ceist:

1137. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who were made wards of court since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2674/22]

Mark Ward

Ceist:

1138. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in State care who on turning 18 years of age were made wards of court since 2015. [2675/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1136 to 1138, inclusive, together.

This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice, as the court services are under her remit.

Question No. 1137 answered with Question No. 1136.

Question No. 1138 answered with Question No. 1136.

Health and Safety

Ceisteanna (1139)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

1139. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider special contingency measures to allow expired Safe Pass registration cards, cards that had expired after 31 December 2021, to remain valid for an additional six months in order that the safety awareness registration card shall be regarded as valid until 30 June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2308/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013,  craft and general construction workers, persons undertaking on-site security work and persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the relevant Minister are required to hold a safety awareness registration card (Safe Pass card). 

In March 2020 the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation amended these regulations to extend the expiry dates of valid Safe Pass cards due to expire after the 1st March 2020 for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency period.  New entrants to the above activities are required to undertake safety awareness training and pass the relevant assessment to obtain a Safe Pass card.

Safe Pass training and assessment delivery has mirrored construction sector activity during the COVID-19 period and has now fully recommenced.  Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the running of face to face programmes, which are delivered by SOLAS Approved Training Organisations and tutors, is subject to adherence with the SOLAS Standard Operational Pandemic Containment Guidelines.

These Guidelines include a reduction in the maximum numbers of learners who may physically attend a course. SOLAS is not experiencing any backlog regarding Safe Pass training provision. From April through to December 2021 aligned with the reopening of Construction, SOLAS issued 83,000 safe pass cards in total. There is no operational requirement for SOLAS to adopt contingency measures.

SOLAS is continuing to work on the development of an alternative training and assessment delivery model which is equitable with existing Safe Pass course delivery in being accessible to all eligible workers, providing real time course participant supports and ensuring assessment integrity.

Covid-19 Tests

Ceisteanna (1140)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

1140. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated number of students that will receive a free antigen test prior to their end of semester exams commencing; the estimated number of students that will receive a free antigen test prior to the end of the first semester of 2021-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62936/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context.  My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public health measures.

Following public health advice to the sector from the Expert Advisory Group on Rapid Testing, advice which is published and available on the Department’s website, a once-off fund of €9m to provide rapid antigen testing kits to students in further and higher education has been announced by my Department.

To answer the Deputy's question directly, the intention of the fund is not related to examinations but to encourage the use of antigen testing amongst students and will involve:

- Providing funding to institutions via the funding agencies to make a small number of antigen tests available free to students

- Respecting the autonomy and flexibility of institutions in deciding at institutional level how best to provide these tests to students as soon as practicable

- Developing a communications campaign for students to increase the awareness of rapid antigen testing and their appropriate use.

The fund will be made available to further and higher education institutions through SOLAS and HEA (including to the private institutions represented by HECA) to ensure that we promote the use of antigen testing amongst young people.

The timing of its use will differ across institutions and the wider sector. In this regard the information regarding distributions undertaken prior to the end of semester 1 of 2021/22 is not readily available at this time.

In addition to this once-off specific fund, the UniCov study continues in a number of universities.

Third Level Education

Ceisteanna (1141)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

1141. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding that University College Dublin provides to the Museum of Literature. [62978/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding is a matter for the individual institution.

Notwithstanding the above, to assist the Deputy, details were sought from University College Dublin (UCD) ,via the HEA, to confirm the position. UCD advise that that no funding is provided from UCD to the Museum of Literature Ireland (MOLI) and that MOLI is expected to meet its net costs from its own income.