Written Answers Nos. 384-395
384. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the progress of the selections for the Board of Research Ireland, given that his Department, sought expressions of interest for members of the Board of Research Ireland in October 2023, with a closing date of Monday, 23 October 2023. [25948/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department engaged with the Public Appointments Service in an open and transparent process to seek expressions of interest for the roles of Chairperson and members of the Board of Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland in October 2023. This PAS process is currently being finalised.
The legislation to enable the establishment of Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland has recently passed all stages in the Oireachtas and has been signed by the President.
The establishment date for the new agency will be designated by the Minister and drafting of the required secondary legislation arising out of the Act is underway.The Chairperson and the Board for the new agency will be appointed in due course, in advance of the establishment date.
385. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress, if any, in discussions with Ulster University in relation to support for students studying medicine at the Magee campus who would then return to the south to work in the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25974/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is likely aware, in February this year, an agreement was reached with Queen's University Belfast, for the funding of twenty five additional medical places for qualifying students from Ireland or Northern Ireland in Queen's commencing from September 2024.
These places will be co-funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Health. Students who take up one of these places will commit to applying and accepting, if offered, a position in the HSE as an intern at the end of their studies.
Ulster University offers a graduate entry medicine programme, but not a direct entry programme. For this reason, there is no similar agreement with Ulster University.
Last year the Government in this jurisdiction funded 140 additional places in Ulster University across nursing and allied healthcare disciplines. My Department is continuing to work with UU to extend these arrangements this year.
386. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration has been given to supporting medical students studying across Europe, particularly in Poland, with a view to them returning to Ireland to start their careers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25975/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Parliamentary Question falls under the remit of the Department of Health. My officials have been in contact with that department and they have confirmed that they will provide a response should the deputy contact them directly.
387. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a breakdown of the fines issued against his Department by the Court of Justice of the European Union for the period 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26135/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not been issued with any fines by the Court of Justice of the European Union since its formation in 2020.
388. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update regarding his predecessor’s commitment to introduce legislation to ensure student accommodation leases are confined to the academic year of 41 weeks, following a pattern by private student accommodation providers to only offer rooms to students on a 51-week basis. [26168/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI, together with Minister O’Brien brought an updated memo for information to Government in May. This memo noted their intention to expedite a legal change to examine the duration of student accommodation contracts to reflect the academic year accommodation requirements, traditionally September to May annually, unless a student initiates a request for an extended 51 week contract.
The updated memo cited both Departments intention to examine the options in responding to the divergence to 51 week only contracts by some of the private sector providers. Both Departments continue to engage and work closely together so that these changes can be made as soon as possible, subject to advices and agreement of the Office of the Attorney General, to avoid any unnecessary financial hardship and additional costs on students and their families
Student specific accommodation is within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The RTB provides a confidential dispute resolution service. Investigations can commence based on information received from a member of the public. A student with specific concerns regarding their accommodation should contact the RTB in the first instance to seek advice or register a complaint.
389. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown for funding provided to community training centres in the constituency of Dublin central for the years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [26241/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding allocated by SOLAS to City of Dublin ETB for Community Training Centres (CTCs), as per the SOLAS Financial Statements, for the years 2020 to 2023, and the allocation for 2024, is provided in the table below:
|
SOLAS |
2020 €m |
2021 €m |
2022 €m |
2023 €m |
2024 Budgeted €m |
|
Community Training Centres |
7.638 |
8.657 |
6.597 |
7.106 |
7.556 |
SOLAS is not in a position to report on the funding provided to the Programme to date in 2024. This detail will be available in August when SOLAS has completed its mid year review of the ETB funding position.
City of Dublin ETB will provide details of the financial allocations to the individual community training centres in the Dublin Central constituency, directly to the Deputy.
390. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown for funding provided to the Youthreach centres in the constituency of Dublin central for the years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [26242/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding allocated by SOLAS to City of Dublin ETB for Youthreach, as reported in the SOLAS Financial Statements, for the years 2020 to 2023, is provided in the table below:
|
CDETB |
2020 €m |
2021 €m |
2022 €m |
2023 €m |
|
Youthreach |
9.478 |
9.250 |
9.618 |
9.796 |
SOLAS is not in a position to report on the funding provided to the Programme to date in 2024. This detail will be available in August when SOLAS has completed its mid year review of the ETB funding position.
City of Dublin ETB will provide details of the financial allocations to the individual Youthreach Centres in the Dublin Central constituency, directly to the Deputy.
391. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development in view of the recent tragic accidents involving very powerful dogs, the plans to tighten the rules about permitted breeds and codes of conduct when in public places; the plans for public information notices to inform people of rights and duties at places which might be deemed higher-risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25910/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. In March 2024 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. In view of recent events, I have asked the Chair to prioritise the issue of Restricted Dogs and this will be the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its next meeting to be held later this month.
In April 2024 I launched a significant media campaign on Responsible Dog Ownership. My Department has also worked closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish a plain-language leaflet informing dog owners of their legal obligations. This leaflet has been widely distributed and is now available from every dog warden, local authority and veterinary surgery in the country in addition to over 100 animal welfare charities. It is also available in multiple languages online at Gov.ie/ResponsibleDogOwnership.
392. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider a ban on XL Bully dogs in the State. [25922/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. In March 2024 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 DRCD, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.
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. However, in view of recent events, I have asked the Chair to prioritise the issue of Restricted Dogs including the XL Bully and this will be the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its next meeting to be held later this month.
393. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is aware of a report (details supplied); if she agrees with the reforms outlined in the paper that are designed to ensure that Ireland creates a regulatory framework that is well-resourced, controlled and enhances the welfare of dogs; if she intends to implement these reforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25986/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. In March 2024 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. In view of recent events, I have asked the Chair to prioritise the issue of Restricted Dogs and this will be the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its next meeting to be held later this month. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter in the Autumn.
My Department has just recently been made aware of the report referred to by the Deputy and it is my intention to bring this to the attention of the Stakeholder group in the due course.
394. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application by an organisation (details supplied) to Pobal for funding for an additional full-time worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25995/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
An application window for funding additional staff posts for existing CSP funded organisations was opened on September 1st 2023 with a closing date of 29th September 2023.
Pobal, who manage and administer the programme on behalf of my Department, received a huge volume of applications from CSP supported organisations under this call for applications.
All applications under this call are currently being considered by my Department, following assessment by Pobal. I can confirm that the organisation in question did submit an application for additional supports, however, due to the volume of applications received, the assessment process has taken some time. It is anticipated that notifications will issue to all organisations very shortly.
395. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a breakdown of the fines issued against her Department by the Court of Justice of the European Union for the period 2010 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26140/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that since its establishment in 2017, my Department has not had any fines issued against it by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
