Written Answers Nos. 254-259
254. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide the amounts by which his Department or agencies within the aegis of his Department has that been defrauded as a result of a cyberattack; and the total amount which has been recovered for each of the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026. [51985/26]
View answerThe amount by which my Department has been defrauded as a result of a cyberattack is NIL for each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026.
The information in respect of State bodies under the aegis of my Department, within the scope of the Deputy's question, is not held by my Department.
The Deputy may obtain information relating to cyberattacks and recovery amounts directly from the aegis bodies of my Department. Contact details for the aegis bodies are below.
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 - tpurtill@hea.ie |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
oireachtas@ggda.ie |
Nigel Thompson - nigel.thompson@ggda.ie |
|
SOLAS |
oireachtasinfo@solas.ie |
Maria Walsh - maria.walshe@solas.ie |
|
Skillnet Ireland |
oireachtasmembers@skillnetireland.ie |
Tracey Donnery - tracey.donnery@skillnetireland.ie |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland |
ceo@qqi.ie |
ceo@qqi.ie |
|
Léargas - The Exchange Bureau |
oireachtas@leargas.ie |
Lorraine Gilligan - lgilligan@leargas.ie |
|
Taighde Éireann - Research |
oireachtasqueries@researchireland.ie |
Donna McCabe |
255. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if. during discussions with a college (details supplied) and SETU prior to the announcement of the closure of the former, his Department was aware that redundancies would be a necessary or likely outcome of the negotiations. [52140/26]
View answer256. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the person or body that completed the independent valuation of the lands and property of a college (details supplied) ; whether the report will be released to the public or interested parties; whether any other valuations carried out, and if so, by which organisations; and whether there was any discordance between different valuations. [52141/26]
View answer257. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has ensured that certain conditions were attached to the finances made available for the wind down of operations and teach-out at a college (details supplied), namely redundancy packages ringfenced for all staff. [52142/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255, 256 and 257 together.
I thank the Deputy for his questions on this important matter. To set them in the appropriate context, I propose to take Questions 255, 256 and 257 together.
As the Deputy may know, following the identification by Carlow College's of the concerns for its ability to continue its operations owing to long standing and ongoing financial difficulties, a representative working group, including representatives of both Carlow College and South East Technological University (SETU), was established. This working group engaged closely throughout 2025 and examined a range of options, including detailed consideration of the potential for full or partial integration.
In this regard, it is important to emphasise that Carlow College is a private, autonomous institution that operates outside the publicly funded higher education system. My Department and I have continuously engaged with the College and provided increased State support since 2022 in order to sustain its operations over a number of years, whilst an examination of its strategic future was undertaken by the College. In considering the potential for full or partial integration of the private college into a public institution, the financial stability and sustainability of Carlow College was a significant factor of consideration.
At the same time, while SETU is publicly funded, it is autonomous in relation to its internal staffing and employment matters. Like all publicly funded higher education institutions, SETU is required to operate on a financially sustainable basis and to determine its staffing requirements in line with its current and projected activities.
Throughout the process, there was a clear awareness of potential impacts on staff, students and the wider Carlow community. Staff have made an enormous contribution to the College over many years, and all parties recognised that any outcome would have very significant implications for those directly affected. Against the backdrop of the College's serious financial difficulties, the engagement process therefore focused on examining every viable option with a view to securing the best possible outcome for learners, staff and the future educational use of the campus.
While it was not possible to secure a pathway that would allow Carlow College to continue indefinitely in its existing form, the objective throughout was to avoid a disorderly closure and its potentially serious consequences. In the absence of State intervention, there was a real risk that Carlow College would have been unable to meet its obligations to students and staff. The agreed approach instead provides for an orderly teach-out and wind-down process over a two-year period, ensuring continuity for students and a structured and supported process for staff.
The agreed arrangement is supported by State funding which will be provided through SETU and linked to the transfer of the College's lands and buildings. This approach will help preserve the educational use of the site, recognising its historic and ongoing importance to the educational, social and civic life of Carlow town.
As the Deputy notes, the level of funding to be provided will be informed by an independent valuation of the lands and property, which was key to estimating the level of support possible. A valuation report, commissioned by the Higher Education Authority, has been received and is currently under consideration by my Department. It will be assessed in the context of a broader due diligence process and the finalisation of legal arrangements between the parties. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage on the valuation process, pending completion of that work and the conclusion of the relevant legal agreements.
In terms of the future use of the site, on my request SETU are establishing a working group of key stakeholders, including Carlow County Council to develop a campus masterplan to ensure that the lands and buildings continue to serve educational purposes into the future. I will support the publication of this masterplan in due course.
With regard to stipulations on the use of the funding being made available, it is important to note that Carlow College, as a private institution outside the publicly funded higher education system, is not subject to the direct oversight of either my Department or the Higher Education Authority. However, throughout the engagement process my Department has consistently emphasised the importance of clear communications with stakeholder and an assurance for the college to protect its students and engage openly with staff. While decisions relating to employment matters remain for the College as employer, the objective of the agreed framework is to ensure that the resources being made available support the successful completion of programmes by students and facilitate a fair and responsible process for staff.
I fully appreciate the anxiety, uncertainty and disappointment that many staff members have experienced during this period. I have met directly with staff and with union representatives, including SIPTU, and have listened carefully to the concerns they raised regarding their future and the impact of these developments on them and their families. Those concerns have been heard and understood. While responsibility for employment matters rests with the College, it has always been my view that staff should be treated fairly and with respect throughout this process.
I very much welcome the constructive engagement that is continuing between the College, staff and trade unions. I believe it is important that every effort continues to be made to achieve fair outcomes for staff, while also protecting students and safeguarding the future educational use of the campus. In very challenging circumstances, the agreed framework represents the most balanced and responsible approach available, providing certainty for learners, supporting an orderly process for staff and ensuring that this important educational asset continues to serve the people of Carlow and the wider region into the future.
258. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that there is an inconsistency in entry requirements for Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programmes across State-funded providers (details supplied); whether he considers this inconsistency to be consistent with the founding purpose of the PLC programme, which was established to serve as a second-chance education route for adult learners who may not have accessed or completed formal secondary education; and whether he will confirm that, in line with the programme's original intent as documented in research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (McGuinness et al., 2019), no adult learner over the age of 18 should be required to hold a Leaving Certificate or equivalent as a precondition for entry to a PLC programme where they can demonstrate readiness to engage with the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52239/26]
View answerPost-Leaving Certificate (PLC) programmes are a key component of the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, providing learners with pathways to employment, higher education, and opportunities to re-engage with education through second-chance learning.
SOLAS' Conditions of Approval for PLC programmes provide that academic entry requirements should be appropriate to the award being offered. These may include a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Level 4 award, the Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, or an equivalent qualification. The Conditions of Approval also recognise that PLC programmes may admit adult learners who have not completed the Leaving Certificate, where the provider is satisfied that they have the competencies and capacity required to successfully undertake the course.
Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have developed significant experience in the recognition of prior learning and in assessing applicants' readiness to participate in programmes. This enables providers to consider prior learning, work experience and other relevant evidence of an applicant's capacity to engage successfully with a course, including where they do not hold a Leaving Certificate or equivalent qualification.
Responsibility for setting and publishing entry requirements rests with individual ETBs and other approved PLC providers through their quality assurance arrangements. Consequently, requirements may vary across programmes to reflect the nature of the course, the award being pursued and any specific skills or competencies required.
As outlined in the 2019 evaluation conducted by the ESRI, PLC provision evolved from pre-employment and vocational preparation programmes established with support from the European Social Fund in 1977. The evaluation highlights the multiple purposes of PLC programmes, including supporting progression to employment, facilitating access to higher education and providing second-chance opportunities for adult learners.
My Department is committed to ensuring that learners have access to education and training pathways that are appropriate to their individual circumstances, capabilities, aspirations and learning needs. Through SOLAS, the Department funds a broad range of FET provision, including PLC programmes, Youthreach, Adult Literacy programmes, Specific Skills Training and other flexible learning opportunities designed to meet the diverse needs of learners.
ETBs and other providers are expected to support applicants in identifying the pathway that best matches their educational and developmental needs. In addition, each ETB provides an Adult Education Guidance Service to assist prospective learners in understanding and accessing the options available to them.
My Department will continue to work with SOLAS and FET providers to ensure that the system remains inclusive, flexible and accessible.
259. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide the amounts by which his Department or agencies within the aegis of his Department that has been defrauded as a result of a cyberattack; and the total amount which has been recovered for each of the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026. [51990/26]
View answerI can confirm that in the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026 my Department has not been defrauded as a result of a cyber attack.
With regard to agencies, there are currently eight agencies under the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht: Pobal, Western Development Commission, Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Foras na Gaeilge, and the Ulster-Scots Agency. These are independent entities, responsible for managing their own corporate arrangements, including ICT services provision. However, the table below details the position as reported to my Department by each of the agencies.
With regard to the incident reported by Foras na Gaeilge, a series of actions were subsequently undertaken to strengthen controls within the agency, including staff training, financial software updates, and additional resources for cybersecurity. I am also informed that the draft 2024 Account submitted to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General references the incident in the Statement of Internal Financial Controls and includes a specific note on the matter.
|
Agency |
Year(s) |
Amounts |
|
Pobal |
2021- To date 2026 |
Nil |
|
Western Development Commission |
2021- To date 2026 |
Nil |
|
Charities Regulatory Authority |
2021 - To date 2026 |
Nil |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
2021- To date 2026 |
Nil |
|
Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga |
2021- To date 2026 |
Nil |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
2021- To date 2026 |
Nil |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
2021-2023, 2025 and to date in 2026
2024 |
Nil
Defrauded - €25,000 Recovered - €3,601.85 |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
2021- To date 2026 |
Nil |
