Written Answers Nos. 425-434
425. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the totality of the funds requested and drawn down by his Department from EU sources in respect of covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form (details supplied). [30219/24]
View answer429. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the totality of the funds requested and drawn down by his Department from EU sources in respect of covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form (details supplied). [30224/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 429 together.
REACT EU (Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe) is a €47.5bn initiative under the European Recovery Instrument, Next Generation EU, to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and prepare a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy. 80% of the total funding to be allocated across individual Member States was provided in 2021 with details of the remaining 20% announced at the end 2021 for programming in 2022. The funding tops up the 2014-2020 cohesion programmes, and is subject to those regulations.
Building on the crisis repair measures delivered through the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and CRII+, REACT EU was initially conceived as a bridge to the long-term recovery plan to be addressed in the 2021-27 cohesion programmes. Allocations took account of the economic and social impact of the crisis on EU countries, e.g. GDP drop and rise of unemployment, and relative wealth of countries.
Regulation (EU) 2020/2221 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 December 2020 amended the Common Provisions Regulation to provide for REACT EU and introduces a thematic objective, “Fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy”, which constitutes the single investment priority for the programming and implementation of the REACT-EU resources. The 2021 allocation had to be programmed by Member States before the end of 2021. Likewise, the 2022 allocation must be programmed before the end of 2022.
Ireland’s total REACT EU allocation amounts to €141.61m made up of two separate tranches – the first of €88.34m for 2021 and the second of €53.27m for 2022.
Each Member State decided how to programme the additional REACT EU resources through the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived or the Youth Employment Initiative. The resources could be programmed as a separate priority within an existing programme or as a new programme.
The first tranche
Given the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market and on education and training the first tranche of Ireland’s REACT EU funding was allocated to the European Social Fund (ESF) and following approval by the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) Monitoring Committee, by written procedure, in October 2021 and was used to support the reopening of schools given the impact of schools closures on children and families, and in particular those from a disadvantaged background or with special needs, the safe reopening of schools was a key priority in the response to COVID-19. The Department of Education is the Beneficiary for this ESF Activity.
The second tranche
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine brought a series of unexpected challenges for the European Union just when the Union and its Member States had been engaged in the recovery of our economies and societies after the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the impact of the influx of Ukrainian refugees, the EU introduced a range of flexibilities to existing regulations, including a regulation on Cohesion Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE), allowing Member States to re-programme existing cohesion policy funds including REACT EU support to address these pressures.
In the context of the above, the MA proposed in November 2022, through a new dedicated priority "FastCare Ukraine", to allocate the 2022 tranche (€53.4m) of REACT EU funds to the ESF to establish a ‘Simplified Cost Option’ to provide for a per capita payment of €100 for up to 26 weeks for each Ukrainian refugee. This proposal was (a) approved the Programme Monitoring Committee and (b) adopted by the Commission through an OP amendment. The Department of Social Protection is the Beneficiary for this ESF Activity.
In respect of the two new priorities referred to above the total eligible expenditure (€172m combined) included in payment applications submitted by the ESF Certifying Authority (located within DFHERIS) to the European Commission (availing of 100% eu-confinancing) in June 2024 were as follows:
• for FastCare Ukraine - €56m; and
• Covid-19 Schools Capitation Grants - €116m)
Expected receipts (less 10% retention by European Commission) of €127m (€141m @ 90%) in respect of these payment applications should to be received in August/September 2024. The retention amount of €14m should be received after the formal closure of the 2014-20 period, currently the date for the formal closure of the PEIL OP is 15th February 2026.
See table below for summary details for 2020-2024 period inclusive.
|
Year |
Allocation |
Drawdown Application (REACT EU /FastCare Ukraine) |
Expected Receipts (REACT EU /FastCare Ukraine) |
|
2020 |
€0m |
€0m |
€0m |
|
2021 |
€ 88m |
€0m |
€0m |
|
2022 |
€ 53m |
€0m |
€0m |
|
2024 |
€0m |
€172m |
€127m |
|
2026 |
€0m |
€ 0m |
€14m |
426. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the hourly rate of pay set for personal assistants funded through SOLAS; and the hourly rate set for personal assistants funded through the Higher Education Authority. [30110/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department authorised SOLAS to increase the hourly rate for all Personal Assistants employed by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to €21 plus 8% holiday pay with effect from 1st March 2024. This is the only aspect of the terms of employment of Personal Assistants that changed, and Personal Assistants will only be paid for hours of delivery. The approval of this hourly rate does not confer any entitlement to a public service pension scheme nor to public service status on the individuals employed by the ETB.
With regard to the higher education sector, there are differing arrangements in place with regard to Personal Assistants within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). These arrangements reflect the differing needs profiles of students within HEIs, with some directly employing Personal Assistants and others utilising third party providers. As autonomous institutions, HEIs are afforded the flexibility to identify the most appropriate arrangements to best support the identified needs of students. A standard rate of pay for Personal Assistants is not applicable due to the diversity of arrangements in the higher education sector.
427. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students expected to enrol in Cork universities in September 2024. [30183/24]
View answerMy Department does not currently produce specific projections regarding third level enrolments, by county or by Higher Education Institution. Further information regarding projections for higher education enrolment is available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/projections/?referrer=http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/projections/projections-of-demand-for-full-time-third-level-education-2018-2040.pdf.
Data sourced from the HEA website details undergraduate new entrants to University College Cork and Munster Technological University for the last five academic years available, is outlined in the table below.
|
Institute |
2018/2019 |
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
2021/2022 |
2022/2023 |
|
Munster Technological University |
2,490 |
2,640 |
2,875 |
2,820 |
2,605 |
|
University College Cork |
3,610 |
3,700 |
3,895 |
3,840 |
3,915 |
|
Grand Total |
6,100 |
6,340 |
6,770 |
6,660 |
6,520 |
428. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Cork city in September 2024. [30184/24]
View answerThis Government and I are committed to removing accommodation as a barrier to education. In November 2022, the Government approved the development of a new policy to provide State assistance to stimulate the development of new student accommodation for public higher education institutions (HEIs). This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the State providing financial support in the construction of student accommodation, and underpins the policy commitments set out in Housing for All.
To date, as part of short term response measures, the Government approved in principle of up to €100m in funding to unlock the development of approximately 1,000 student accommodation beds across a number of HEIs, with delivery beginning in 2025.
In tandem with the progression of these projects, on the 16th of January, the Government received approval for the long-term student accommodation policy and methodology. The aim of this policy is to increase the supply of student accommodation and to examine alternative solutions that will remove accommodation as a barrier to higher education.
There are 1,536 public beds available in University College Cork. A research report by Frank Knight in September 2023 on Student Housing in Ireland indicates that there are 7,200 PBSA beds in Cork.
I can advise that there have been 3,061 student accommodation beds completed since 2017. Of these, 2,806 were private while 255 public beds were completed by UCC in 2023. There are 629 private beds currently being developed.
In addition 955 beds have been granted planning permission with a further 206 beds awaiting a planning decision.
Within digs accommodation, the latest supply figures indicate that there are 792 beds available in the Cork area.
My Department will continue to promote the Rent a Room scheme in advance of the upcoming academic year, to further increase supply of available beds.
430. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on when the new Leader programme will start in Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29985/24]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.
The 2023 – 2027 LEADER programme is open in 27 of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas for Local Action Groups (LAGs) to receive applications for funding.
No successful LAG emerged in the Mayo sub-regional area following the conclusion of the selection process and a new selection process for the delivery of the 2023 – 2027 LEADER programme in the Mayo sub-regional area commenced on 27 June last.
My Department intends to have the 2023 – 2027 LEADER programme operational in Mayo at the earliest possible opportunity.
431. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when community grants will be made available to sports clubs; and if she will consider a school (details supplied) favourably for this grant. [30061/24]
View answerThe CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. I launched this year's programme in April with a total budget of €8.7 million.
The measures being funded under CLÁR 2024 are:
Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities
Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care, First Responder and Meals on Wheels Transport
Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’ investment
The 2024 CLÁR programme is now closed for all applications and the assessment process has commenced. I can confirm that an application has been received from the group referred to by the deputy under Measure 1 of the programme and will be assessed in line with the programme requirements.
The announcement of the successful applications under Measures 1 is expected later in the year.
432. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the totality of the funds requested and drawn down by her Department from EU sources in respect of covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form (details supplied). [30229/24]
View answerMy Department manages European Union funding under the LEADER Programme, the PEACE Programme, and the European Social Fund. No elements of the PEACE Programme or the European Social Fund relate to funding in respect of Covid-19.
In relation to the LEADER Programme, €20 million in funding was allocated in July 2021 through the European Union’s Recovery Instrument (EURI) fund to support rural communities and private businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The purpose of this funding was to provide local communities and enterprises with an opportunity to respond to the emerging challenges and to support measures that encouraged employment and job creation while also providing resources for communities and community groups to respond, recover and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding supported locally-led projects, with the decision on awarding EURI aid resting with the Local Action Groups (LAGs).
A total of 375 projects were approved for EURI funding by the LAGs with all projects to be completed by 31st March 2024. As such, the process for recoupment of funds is ongoing.
433. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will review the current regulations regarding dog control to ensure that they are fit for purpose; if adequate resources will be provided to ensure enforcement and actively promote responsible dog ownership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30450/24]
View answerMy Department has policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters, including enforcement. The Control of Dogs Acts set out a number of legal obligations that all dog owners must comply with.
Government established a working group in early 2023 to examine the current issues surrounding dog control and to make recommendations for improvements in the field. The report of the working group is available on Gov.ie. I am pleased to advise that I have made significant progress in the implementation of the actions assigned to my Department in the working group report.
I recently increased ‘on-the-spot’ fines for offences under the Control of Dogs Act, including trebling the fines for the most serious offences from €100 to €300. Multiple fines can be issued where more than one offence occurs.
In addition, I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation to these issues. The group is independently chaired by retired Deputy Garda Commissioner Mr John Twomey and is comprised of members with a broad range of expertise.
The group have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.
The group has met twice to date: the most recent meeting took place on the 26th June. The work of the stakeholder group is complex in nature requiring full consideration of all aspects of both pieces of legislation under the remit of my Department and this will take some time. However, in view of recent events, I have asked the Chair to prioritise the issue of Restricted Dogs and this was the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its recent meeting. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter as soon as possible once they have considered all the issues arising.
My Department is also supporting a national training programme for dog wardens to ensure consistency and a standardised approach to enforcement. This training commenced in April.
I believe it is important for dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities - not just to the general public but also to their dogs. For this reason, I launched a major national awareness campaign to alert dog owners to their responsibilities and to raise awareness of the dangers that can be posed to people and to livestock by uncontrolled dogs.
Finally, in addition to these measures, I also announced the establishment of a €2 million fund under a new Dog Control Support Initiative. This funding comes as a direct response to increased pressures on dog control services and will make immediate and tangible improvements to the dog control service across the country.
I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues across Government to improve outcomes in relation to Dog Control in Ireland.
434. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023; the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department in the corresponding timeframe that had full-time contracts; and the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed in her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 that had part-time contracts, in tabular form. [30953/24]
View answerMy Department places great emphasis on the promotion of the Department as an inclusive workplace, where all staff can flourish including staff with disabilities. The Department was delighted to take part in the Willing Able and Mentoring (WAM) Programme for 2023 / 2024 where two staff members with disabilities took part and have now taken up permanent roles in my Department as a direct consequence of the programme.
Under the provisions of the Disability Act, my Department and three of the bodies under it's aegis (Water Safety Ireland, Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulatory Authority) are required to conduct a confidential staff survey annually to determine how many staff self declare as having a disability. Due to this being a confidential survey, I am unable to determine those who are employed on a part or full time basis. In this context, the tables below detail the information requested. It should be noted that the 2023 returns are still in draft form as they have not yet been published by the NDA.
Pobal, the other agency under the aegis of my Department, is not subject to this requirement under Part 5 of the Disability Act. However Pobal has collected this data as an employer for 2022 and 2023, and that information is also provided.
|
Year |
Department/ Public Body |
No of Employees self-declared with a Disability |
Percentage with a Disability |
|
2020 |
Water Safety Ireland |
0 |
0% |
|
Western Development Commission |
1 |
4% |
|
|
Charities Regulatory Authority |
5 |
12.5% |
|
|
Department of Rural & Community Development |
13 |
8.13% |
|
Year |
Department/ Public Body |
No of Employees self-declared with a Disability |
Percentage with a Disability |
|
2021 |
Water Safety Ireland |
0 |
0% |
|
Western Development Commission |
3 |
10.71% |
|
|
Charities Regulatory Authority |
1 |
2.44% |
|
|
Department of Rural & Community Development |
13 |
7.98% |
|
Year |
Department/ Public Body |
No of Employees self-declared with a Disability |
Percentage with a Disability |
|
2022 |
Water Safety Ireland |
2 |
20% |
|
Western Development Commission |
1 |
3.6% |
|
|
Charities Regulatory Authority |
7 |
15.6% |
|
|
Department of Rural & Community Development |
17 |
10% |
|
Year |
Department/ Public Body |
No of Employees with a Disability |
Percentage with a Disability |
|
2023 |
Water Safety Ireland |
2 |
15% |
|
Western Development Commission |
3 |
11% |
|
|
Charities Regulatory Authority |
17 |
40% |
|
|
Department of Rural & Community Development |
19 |
10% |
|
Pobal return/year |
No of Employees self-declared with a disability |
Percentage of staff with a Disability |
|
2022 |
38 |
6.2% |
|
2023 |
109 |
15% |
