Written Answers Nos. 1711-1730
1711. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount higher education institutions (details supplied) spent on their graduation ceremonies; the number of students that graduated in each of the years 2017 to 2024, for TUD and MTU; and the amount spent on graduations by DIT and CIT prior to the establishment of TUD and MTU, respectively, in tabular form. [1437/25]
View answerI thank Deputy Murphy for his questions which I will address separately as below:
1. Graduation Costs: With regard to the matter of the cost of graduation ceremonies, our universities and technological universities are autonomous institutions as provided for in the Universities Act 1997. Therefore the management of their day to day functions, including the management of graduation ceremonies, are matters for the individual institution which would be overseen by appropriate institutional governance arrangements and associated policies. As such, neither I nor my Department have any role in the management of graduation ceremonies and therefore do not have information on this matter.
2. Graduation Numbers: With regard to graduate numbers for TU Dublin and Munster Technological University, this information is provided below in tabular form, as collected by the Higher Education Association. 2023 is the most recent year for which information is currently available.
|
Institute |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
MTU |
4090 |
4300 |
4660 |
4765 |
5145 |
4925 |
4565 |
|
TU Dublin |
7025 |
7385 |
8020 |
8180 |
7815 |
7580 |
5810 |
1712. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who withdrew from their programmes in institutions (details supplied), in tabular form. [1438/25]
View answerThank you Deputy Murphy for your question regarding the number of students who withdrew from programmes in the stated HEI's. Each HEI has multiple programmes of education on offer at any given time I would advise the Deputy to consultation with the information provided by the Higher Education Authority which makes data on Progression and Completion for Higher Education Institutions publicly available on their website. The data requested may be found on the HEA's website under Statistics publications or at this link: hea.ie/statistics/data-for-download-and-visualisations/students/progression/non-progression-and-completion-dashboard/.
1713. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the nature of the commercial relationship between a company (details supplied) and TU Dublin; and if there are no conflicts of interest in the awarding of contracts to this company by TU Dublin. [1439/25]
View answerTechnological University (TU) Dublin is an autonomous higher education institution established under the Technological Universities Act 2018. As an autonomous institution, TU Dublin is responsible for its own internal affairs, including procurement.
TU Dublin is required to comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and all relevant Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circulars and guidelines, including procurement regulations, conflict of interest guidelines and the Public Spending Code.
Any contract between TU Dublin and the named company is a matter for TU Dublin.
1714. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the Funding Our Future policy, published by Government in May, 2022; the current estimate for the shortfall in core funding for the higher education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1479/25]
View answerThe Funding the Future Framework published in May 2022, outlines the vision for how higher education will be funded and how this will support students, employers and wider society. The Framework identified an amount of €307 million as representing the quantum of increase in core funding required to deliver enhanced performance, strategic reforms and strengthened quality of outcomes.
The Funding the Future framework envisioned that the cost of meeting the €307m figure would be met over a number of budgets from a combination of contributions from the exchequer, employers and students. The Government has ruled out further increases to the student contributions paid by students therefore, the funding gap will be met by a combination of exchequer and employer contributions.
Over the three budgets since the publication of Funding the Future, an additional €164.4m has been secured in exchequer and employer funding with a commitment to deliver a further €100 million by 2030 from the National Training Fund (NTF). The €164.4m figure includes €58.7m that was secured in Budget 2025 for Funding the Future.
The €58.7m in additional core funding secured in Budget 2025 will create space for higher education institutions to increase staffing levels and capacity, enable a greater alignment of provision with priority skills needs and facilitate the further development of tertiary programmes.
It is anticipated that further additional exchequer funding will be secured in future estimates processes to deliver on commitments, including on priorities such as healthcare places and tertiary programmes.
1715. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans, if any, to fund improvements in basic research equipment in our higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1480/25]
View answerResearch equipment is an integral element of any national research and innovation system, as articulated in Impact 2030, Ireland's national research and innovation strategy. It equips researchers across all disciplines to undertake their research, to be internationally competitive and to produce new knowledge and innovations for both economic and wider societal impact. It is also critical for training students, as well as researchers, in research techniques that can then be applied in a variety of working environments.
Research infrastructure comes in many sizes: from that used predominantly at local level within the host institution for both teaching and research purposes, to larger-scale infrastructures that are appropriately shared across a number of research performers.
My Department funds research equipment in a broadly two-pronged approach that reflects this spectrum. It invests in it at a local level by way of institutional allocations and, to this end, in November 2024, I announced a Higher Education Research Equipment Grant totalling €40m for the higher education institutions. Having regard to larger-scale infrastructure, Research Ireland runs a competitively awarded Research Infrastructure Programme. In January 2024, under this Programme, €21m in funding was announced for eight infrastructure awards, one of which is in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
My Department will be continuing its work on this key issue for the future performance of Ireland national research and innovation system.
1716. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the establishment of professorships at the Technological Universities. [1481/25]
View answerThank you Deputy Byrne for your question on the establishment of professorships in Technological Universities. My Department considers the appointment of professorships to TU's as necessary for the full realisation of this sectors’ university status within the HEI landscape. Professorships are at the apex of an academic staffing structure necessary for leading innovation, research and regional development.
The establishment of this new grade in Technological Universities is a priority area of work in my Department as evidenced by its inclusion in the Draft Programme for Government (2025-2030).
DFHERIS is working closely with the sector on the development of draft inputs towards a national framework which specifies the responsibilities and performance for professorship roles in TUs. A series of meetings and union engagements are underway to progress this agenda. This work is drawing on the recommendations and principles of the 2022 OECD report. A consultation phase involving wider stakeholders is currently in planning by DFHERIS.
1717. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the development of the Wexford campus of South East Technological University. [1482/25]
View answerOver the last number of years, SETU have been working closely with Wexford County Council (WCC) to help identify an appropriate site for a permanent home for their Wexford Campus. As part of this engagement, a preferred site was identified. Following a lengthy negotiation process between WCC and the Vendor, agreement could not be reached on price. WCC have progressed the acquisition of the site by way of compulsory purchase order (CPO).
The intention is that a proportion of this site will be used to facilitate a new Wexford Campus for SETU with the reminder of the site being developed by WCC.
The acquisition has significantly progressed with WCC having successfully moved to the final stages of the CPO process.
In parallel to the ongoing statutory CPO acquisition process, which is being led by Wexford County Council, the HEA is considering the Business Case for the development of the proposed site and the evaluation of same is expected to take place in Q1 2025. Once the business case is approved, it will feed into the overall masterplan currently being prepared by WCC for the subject lands.
I am aware that it has been a long-term ambition of SETU to secure a suitable permanent campus site in Wexford to facilitate higher education progression and integration in the South East, and I remain fully supportive of this ambition.
1718. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures available to students to assist with the financial costs of pursuing the graduate education in medicine programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1483/25]
View answerGraduate entry medicine (GEM) is a pathway for degree holders who want to pursue a medical career on an accelerated four-year programme.
Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding. They are also not eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme as they do not meet the progression criteria of the Scheme.
Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of fees to be charged in the case of GEM fees are therefore solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
The State currently provides a subsidy, via the HEA, to HEIs towards the cost of GEM provision for EU student places. The subsidy provides support for broadening access to GEM programmes by assisting HEIs in providing the courses at lower fee rates for EU students than would otherwise be required for the HEIs to offer the courses on a sustainable basis. In this regard EU GEM students benefit under the arrangements as institutions determine the appropriate tuition fee taking the availability of the State subsidy into account.
In terms of student supports, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science provides bursaries to students who have been identified by their higher education institution as being the most socio-economically disadvantaged students under the National Access Plan.
Students who avail of certain bursaries will now be allowed to retain them, if they choose to enter GEM programmes. This is a welcome development and will also help diversify the profession.
Students on GEM programmes may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. This Fund provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education.
1719. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to state his policy on the development of Confucius Institutes at Irish universities; the role that will be played in these institutes by the Chinese government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1484/25]
View answerThe Confucius Institutes are an initiative of the Chinese Government, intended to promote study and awareness of Chinese language and culture worldwide. There are three Confucius Institutes in Ireland; in UCD, UCC and the University of Galway.
Ireland's universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, and the management of their day to day functions are matters for the individual institution which would be overseen by appropriate institutional governance arrangements and associated policies. As such, the presence of Confucius Institutes in Ireland is fundamentally a matter for individual higher education institutions (HEIs) to consider, depending on the value they see them as adding.
The diverse international linkages that our HEIs have bring a richness to the experience of students. As such, it is for the HEIs themselves to consider how best to pursue different international partnerships, while ensuring that other considerations, including those of academic integrity and independence, are also maintained and supported.
1720. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline measures being put in place by his Department to address skills shortages in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1485/25]
View answerI welcome the opportunity to set out some of the main actions led by my Department to help alleviate constraints that inevitably arise in meeting labour demand in a full employment economy.
A key priority is to equip the current workforce and those entering it with the skills required to deliver national priorities for residential construction and retrofitting, and delivery of infrastructural priorities under the National Development Plan.
My Department works with key sectoral partners such as SOLAS, the National Construction Training Centre (NCTC), Skillnet and Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to increase skills supply across the tertiary system.
Construction apprenticeships are a key tool to help deliver on national targets. The range of construction-related apprenticeships continues to grow, as do registrations on existing programmes. There was a 10% increase in registrations for construction apprenticeships between 2023 and 2024. This underpins the value of this training route at a time of near-full employment and high demand for construction skills. There are now 30 construction or construction-related apprenticeship programmes, approximately 40% of all apprenticeships.
My Department secured a significant investment of €77.4 million into the apprenticeship system in Budget 2025. This is the single largest investment in core apprenticeship funding since the formation of the Department in 2020, an increase of 83% since then.
Greater adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC) is key to increasing innovation and achieving productivity gains in the delivery of housing. MMC is also expected to significantly lessen the demand for workers in the construction sector and promotes diverse career opportunities. My Department is working with partners to ensure that there is provision of training for emerging skills requirements such as MMC.
A July 2024 report by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) identifies projected future MMC skills requirements. My Department is developing a responding action plan which will be finalised this quarter.
There has already been a significant expansion of the education and training pipeline for MMC courses. For example, Skillnet and University of Galway recently launched two innovative programmes - L9 Postgraduate Certificate in Modern MMC and L8 Specialist Diploma in Automation and Control - designed to meet the evolving needs of the construction sector. In addition, the National Construction Training Campus at Mt Lucas has a wide range of MMC training on offer.
Budget 2025 provided €2.7m to help equip the workforce with new innovative construction skills. Through this allocation, SOLAS will fund a range of MMC training pathways while Skillnet will develop the Skillnet MMC Accelerate national platform. The platform will highlight MMC projects and will provide learners and workers with career pathways and new education and upskilling provisions.
A particular focus is on increasing the number of people employed in the construction sector. The Update to the Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction & Retrofitting was published in October 2024 and estimates that 69,000 new entrants are required by 2030 in order to build an annual average of 50,00 new homes and meet retrofitting targets. This figure increases to 79,000 if MMC are not widely adopted and more traditional building methods continue to be used.
Research undertaken by the Department found a lack of knowledge and understanding about the industry and the roles available, as well as a perception that construction is not suitable for women. In response, the Department is implementing the Careers in Construction Action Plan. The Action Plan’s 20 actions relate to structural, promotional, and training activities to minimise barriers, promote career opportunities, and make construction jobs more attractive to women. Reporting on the Action Plan has been ongoing since Q4 2023.
Supported by the Housing for All Implementation Fund for 2024, my Department delivered a cross-partner effort to promote the sector through several campaign initiatives. These included the Building Heroes peer-to-peer social media campaign (which has reached 3.5m people), a documentary on careers in construction for second-level schools, and the Build Back Home campaign which encouraged Irish workers to return home to take up employment in the construction industry.
My Department was granted €550,000 under the 2025 Housing for All Implementation Fund for further communications initiatives to promote careers in construction.
My Department also works with the Department of Social Protection on the Future Building Initiative. Through the initiative Intreo, SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards of Ireland have formed a dedicated cross-functional team to support recruitment and training across the construction sector. The team collaborate closely to drive progress in recruitment for training courses, apprenticeships and jobs.
The broad range of initiatives outlined above play a very important role in responding to skills requirements to meet national priorities, complimenting the vital role to be played by employers themselves in recruiting, retaining and upskilling their workforce.
1721. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if the Department has used AI (including large language models) in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1486/25]
View answer1728. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if his Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1582/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1721 and 1728 together.
My Department and officials do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate official text. My Department will continue to monitor developments in relation to AI, in particular with regard to potential applications that may be identified by other Government Departments and whether specific training is appropriate.
The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with their query.
Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
|
Name of Body |
Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas |
Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members |
|
Higher Education Authority |
Oireachtas@hea.ie |
Trevor Purtill |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
Communications@ggda.ie |
nora.rahill@ggda.ie |
|
SOLAS |
oireachtasinfo@solas.ie |
Maria Walsh maria.walshe@solas.ie |
|
Skillnets Ireland |
oireachtasmembers@skillnetireland.ie |
tracey.donnery@skillnetireland.ie |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland |
ceo@qqi.ie |
ceo@qqi.ie |
|
Léargas – The Exchange Bureau |
oireachtas@leargas.ie |
fbroughan@leargas.ie |
|
Research Ireland |
oireachtasqueries@researchireland.ie |
Donna McCabe |
1722. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a PLC course can be attended by a person (details supplied) in the Institute of Further and Higher Education in Carlow, based on her residency status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1491/25]
View answerI welcome the Deputy’s question on this matter.
Access to further education and training (FET) courses for those who are not citizens of Ireland, other member states in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom or Switzerland is dependent on their immigration status.
I note in the details provided that the person in question does not currently have an Irish Residency Permit. Therefore, based on the information provided by the Deputy, the person in question is not eligible to participate on FET courses.
While the FET sector have no desire to exclude the person in question, my Department must adhere to national guidelines established by the Irish Immigration Service. Regretfully, this Department cannot be of further assistance as Irish Residency Permits are a matter for the Department of Justice.
1723. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has applied for funding under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers to support workers in a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1516/25]
View answerThe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant in major restructuring events. The EGF does not provide supports directly to workers. Instead, it co-funds active labour market supports that Member States offer.
Under the EGF rules, in general, Member States may apply for EGF co-funding where at least 200 redundancies have taken place in a company in a 4-month reference period. EGF applications must specify the number of redundancies that have occurred within the reference period and must be submitted within 12 weeks of the end of that period. The announcement by Cardinal Health related to 308 redundancies over a 15-month period, commencing in April of this year. Therefore, the actual timing of the redundancies will determine if this eligibility criterion is met.
I have been advised that, since the announcement by Cardinal Health of the intention to cease operations at the Tullamore site, IDA Ireland has been actively engaged with the company, including meetings with Tullamore leadership on-site, and meetings with senior corporate leaders and is actively exploring all avenues of opportunity for the site and any impacted employees as a result of this announcement.
In addition, the relevant local agencies, including Laois Offaly ETB, the Department of Social Protection/Intreo, the IDA, Offaly Local Enterprise Office and the Regional Skills Manager, are partnering to support impacted employees. There is an established process of coordinated engagement by support agencies at a local level to provide supports to employees in consultation with the company.
The types of supports/ initiatives available from local agencies has been communicated to the site leadership and includes the following:
• Provision of a detailed skills profile for the employees on the site, which can be shared with other potential employers.
• Recruitment opportunities through identification and connection with other employers who may be hiring across the locality and wider region.
• Marketing of the property solution, when appropriate, through agents appointed by the company and by IDA Ireland through its global office network.
• Information sessions by DSP/Intreo to impacted employees on social welfare services and employment support services to support impacted employees’ transition to new employment opportunities. These information sessions are scheduled to commence at the start of next month.
• Identification and provision of training and further education opportunities for employees (ETBs; Skillnet; Universities).
• Exploring opportunities to start your own business through LEOs and Enterprise Ireland.
All relevant local agencies will continue to support and assist the impacted employees, as and when appropriate. All stakeholders are conscious that the company continues to operate with a significant workforce and that job losses will happen on a phased basis.
1724. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on his work to access funding through the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers with respect to supporting workers at a facility (details supplied). [1517/25]
View answerThe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant in major restructuring events. The EGF does not provide supports directly to workers. Instead, it co-funds active labour market supports that Member States offer.
Under the EGF rules, in general, Member States may apply for EGF co-funding where at least 200 redundancies have taken place in a company in a 4-month reference period. EGF applications must specify the number of redundancies that have occurred within the reference period and must be submitted within 12 weeks of the end of that period. The announcement by Cardinal Health related to 308 redundancies over a 15-month period, commencing in April of this year. Therefore, the actual timing of the redundancies will determine if this eligibility criterion is met.
I have been advised that, since the announcement by Cardinal Health of the intention to cease operations at the Tullamore site, IDA Ireland has been actively engaged with the company, including meetings with Tullamore leadership on-site, and meetings with senior corporate leaders and is actively exploring all avenues of opportunity for the site and any impacted employees as a result of this announcement.
In addition, the relevant local agencies, including Laois Offaly ETB, the Department of Social Protection/Intreo, the IDA, Offaly Local Enterprise Office and the Regional Skills Manager, are partnering to support impacted employees. There is an established process of coordinated engagement by support agencies at a local level to provide supports to employees in consultation with the company.
The types of supports/ initiatives available from local agencies has been communicated to the site leadership and includes the following:
• Provision of a detailed skills profile for the employees on the site, which can be shared with other potential employers.
• Recruitment opportunities through identification and connection with other employers who may be hiring across the locality and wider region.
• Marketing of the property solution, when appropriate, through agents appointed by the company and by IDA Ireland through its global office network.
• Information sessions by DSP/Intreo to impacted employees on social welfare services and employment support services to support impacted employees’ transition to new employment opportunities. These information sessions are scheduled to commence at the start of next month.
• Identification and provision of training and further education opportunities for employees (ETBs; Skillnet; Universities).
• Exploring opportunities to start your own business through LEOs and Enterprise Ireland.
All relevant local agencies will continue to support and assist the impacted employees, as and when appropriate. All stakeholders are conscious that the company continues to operate with a significant workforce and that job losses will happen on a phased basis.
1725. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of applications made to date to the student support scheme by eligible school leavers who are in the international protection system; the total amount in funding provided under the scheme, to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1519/25]
View answerA Pilot Support Scheme was introduced in 2015, for prospective students who are in the broad international protection system.
It provides supports to students who are pursuing an approved course in an approved college. It offers grant support along similar lines to the current Student Grant Scheme (the SUSI scheme) to eligible applicants who are in the protection system and who are either:
• Asylum applicants (protection process) – a person who has made an application for refugee status but where a determination has not been made;
• Subsidiary protection applicants (protection process) – a person who has made an application for subsidiary protection but where a determination has not been made;
• Leave to remain applicants – a person who has completed the protection process (i.e. asylum and/or subsidiary protection) and whose eligibility for leave to remain has yet to be considered.
Since 2015, there have been a total of 457 applications to the administrative Student Support Scheme. This figure is subject to change as SUSI continues to process applications for the 2024/2025 academic year.
The total amount in funding administered under the scheme to date is €669,799. This figure only includes the maintenance element for the 2024/25 academic year as the fees amount is not available at present.
The Deputy asked specifically for the number of applications to the scheme by eligible school leavers, however, this information is not available as SUSI do not request this data on application.
1726. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the recent and scheduled payment rise for PhD students (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1568/25]
View answerIn October 2022, an independent and comprehensive National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers was announced; the first time that this issue has been considered holistically in this manner. The first report of the Co-Chairs, Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney, was published in summer 2023. In it they recommended an increase towards an optimum PhD stipend level of €25,000, subject to funding availability.
In Budget 2024, funding was secured to increase the PhD stipend offered by this Department's competitive research funding agency (now Research Ireland), from €19,000 to €22,000 annually. Furthermore, as part of Budget 2025, I announced an additional €9 million package to raise PhD stipends from €22,000 to €25,000 per annum.? This was part of a major capital and funding package for tertiary education to reduce the cost of education and tackle cost-of-living pressures.? This builds on the previous increases, demonstrating my Department's clear and consistent commitment to this issue.
Regarding the timeline for this increase, Research Ireland has confirmed to all higher education institutions that funds are available to uplift students to €25,000 per annum. Research Ireland has directly engaged with the finance offices in the institutions, who will be commencing payment to PhD students at the €25,000 level from January this year.
1727. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if SUSI will review its eligibility criteria to be classed as an independent student to account for the thousands of people who are residing at home with their parents because of the housing crisis, who are now excluded from accessing higher education due to being means tested along with their parents’ income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1571/25]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the objective of the statutory based student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.
For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian or as independent mature students.
A student’s status for grant purposes is defined at their first point of entry to an approved further or higher education course or at their point of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years and continues to apply for the duration of their studies.
A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if they have reached the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course and are not ordinarily resident with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) from the previous 1st October. The documentation required can be found here: www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/applicant-class/independent-students/.
A student under the age of 23 may be assessed without reference to parental income only in exceptional cases, for example orphans, students in foster care, cases where there is evidence of irreconcilable estrangement from parents or legal guardians etc. Applicants are requested to share documentary evidence with SUSI to confirm their situation. The type of documentary evidence required is dependent on the applicant’s individual circumstances and may vary widely from case to case. This approach is taken with a view to giving applicants the flexibility to provide documents that relate to their specific circumstances.
The Deputy will appreciate that the funding allocation for the Student Grant Scheme is determined in the context of the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments. All proposals made in relation to SUSI grant expenditure can only be considered in the context of the budgetary allocation, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector.
1729. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the full address and Eircode of each property that is directly occupied by his Department where that address is located in Dublin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1765/25]
View answerStaff of my Department are accommodated in premises in St.Stephen's Green. They are also in Marlborough Street and Tullamore on a shared basis with other Departments and Offices. The full address and Eircode can be found below:
|
Address |
Eircode |
|
52 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 |
D02 DR67 |
|
Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 |
D01 RC96 |
|
Portlaoise Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly, R35 Y2N5 |
R35 Y2N5 |
1730. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a schedule of all foreign travel undertaken by him and her accompanying officials in 2023 and 2024, including flight, hotel, transfers and other miscellaneous costs. [1862/25]
View answerThe details sought by the Deputy are as follows:
|
Year |
Minister & Accompanying official |
Purpose/visit |
Flights |
Hotel |
Transfers and other Miscellaneous costs |
|
2023 |
|
Saint Patrick's Day visit San Francisco/Vancouver March 2023 |
|
|
|
|
Minister Harris |
San Francisco/Vancouver March 2023 |
€2768.35 |
* See Accommodation note below |
|
|
|
Private Secretary |
San Francisco/Vancouver March 2023 |
€2712.68 |
* See Accommodation note below |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
Ministerial visit to CERN - Geneva - June 2023 (same day return) |
|
|
|
|
Minister Harris |
Geneva - June 2023 |
€1,142.15 |
______ |
|
|
|
|
Private Secretary |
Geneva - June 2023 |
€1,142.15 |
______ |
|
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
Geneva - June 2023 |
€499.76 |
______ |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
Team Ireland Trade Mission to the Republic of Korea - October 2023 |
|
|
|
|
Minister Harris |
Republic of Korea - October 2023 |
€5,962.28 |
€669.43 |
|
|
|
Assistant Secretary |
Republic of Korea - October 2023 |
€2,720.65 |
€836.80 |
|
|
|
Minister's Advisor |
Republic of Korea - October 2023 |
€2,192.90 |
€669.43 |
|
|
|
Private Secretary |
Republic of Korea - October 2023 |
€2,192.90 |
€669.43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€1,739.13 |
|
2023 |
|
Ireland-Wales Forum - October 2023 |
|
|
|
|
Minister Harris |
Ireland-Wales Forum - October 2023 |
|
€244.05 |
|
|
|
|
Minister's Advisor |
Ireland-Wales Forum - October 2023 |
€244.05 |
€69.92 |
|
|
|
Private Secretary |
Ireland-Wales Forum - October 2023 |
€244.05 |
|
|
|
|
Assistant Principal |
Ireland-Wales Forum - October 2023 |
€76.00 |
€95.50 |
|
|
2024 |
|
Education Trade Mission - Washington DC and Boston - February 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Minister Harris |
Washington DC and Boston |
€4,381.95 |
€887.50 |
|
|
|
|
Minister's Advisor |
Washington DC and Boston |
€2,084.96 |
€887.50 |
|
|
|
Private Secretary |
Washington DC and Boston |
€2,084.96 |
€887.50 |
|
|
|
Secretary General |
Washington DC and Boston |
€4,381.95 |
€887.50 |
|
|
|
Assistant Secretary General |
Washington DC and Boston |
€2,107.78 |
€887.50 |
|
|
|
Assistant Principal |
Washington DC and Boston |
€2084.96 |
€887.50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€10,081.70 |
|
2024 |
|
Saint Patrick's Day Visit - London - March 2024 |
|
|
|
|
2024 |
Minister Harris |
Saint Patrick's Day Visit |
€504.85 |
€631.75 |
|
|
|
Minister's Advisor |
Saint Patrick's Day Visit |
€504.85 |
€514.76 |
|
|
|
Private Secretary |
Saint Patrick's Day Visit |
€504.85 |
€538.16 |
|
|
|
Principal Officer |
Saint Patrick's Day Visit |
€568.84 |
€257.64 |
|
|
|
Assistant Principal |
Saint Patrick's Day Visit |
€538.81 |
€257.64 |
|
|
|
Press Officer |
Saint Patrick's Day Visit |
€510.69 |
€257.64 |
|
|
2024 |
|
Meeting with OECD Secretary General in Paris and World Skills Competition in Lyon - September 2024 |
Flights |
Hotel |
Transfers and other Miscellaneous costs |
|
Minister O' Donovan |
Paris and Lyon |
€651.46 |
€1,045.37 |
€29.40 |
|
|
|
Minister's Advisor |
Paris and Lyon |
€689.46 |
€1,009.16 |
€29.40 |
|
|
Private Secretary |
Paris and Lyon |
€680.47 |
€1045.37 |
€29.40 |
|
|
Principal Officer |
Paris and Lyon |
€234.21 |
€1,196.27 |
€34 |
|
|
Press officer |
Lyon |
€293.22 |
€1,122.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€3,610.00 |
* Due to Minister Harris's dual responsibilities, costs incurred for his St. Patrick's Day trip in 2023 were shared with the Department of Justice.
