Written Answers Nos. 497-517
497. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there has been no movement on apprentices (details supplied) who are waiting on their next phase of training. [27851/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraApprenticeship scheduling is carried out on a national basis by the coordinating provider and all efforts are made to schedule apprentices to their nearest available training location. If this is not possible, they will be called to the next nearest available location.
All apprentices are advised at their mandatory Apprenticeship Induction briefings of the apprenticeship scheduling process, and are also assigned an Authorised Officer as their point of contact.
I would advise you to encourage the individual referred to in your query to speak with their Authorised Officer about this matter, who will be able to advise on the issue, and for them to maintain contact with SOLAS or the National Apprenticeship Office.
I am assured by the National Apprenticeship Office that apprentices who are awaiting their next phase of training are being processed in an equitable manner, as efficiently as is possible and advised that offers for Wood Manufacturing and Finishing at Limerick Clare Education and Training Board, Raheen Training Centre due to start on 9 September 2024 are in the process of being issued.
498. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average cost to the State of a place on an undergraduate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27888/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department allocates funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to designated higher education institutions (HEIs). The HEA provides block grant funding to the HEIs, from within the allocation available, through the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which is driven by overall student numbers. The grant is allocated as a block grant and the internal allocation is a matter for each institution.
It is also important to note that HEIs are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation, as such the management of the academic affairs, including the curriculum and instruction and education provided are generally matters for the relevant institution. In this regard it is open to individual institutions to increase the number of places offered at undergraduate level without an increased cost to the Exchequer necessarily arising.
The costs incurred by a HEI in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the cost requested by the Deputy.
However, to provide the Deputy with an indication of the potential costs associated with increased places, the HEA has advised that based on 2023-24 academic year data, it is estimated that the cost to the Exchequer (recurrent grant and tuition fees) of funding a place on a full-time undergraduate programme of study is currently in the region of €6,000 – €7,000.
Please note the following:
• The approximated amount represents the estimated additional cost to the HEA (excluding the €3,000 student contribution – some students may be eligible to have a part or all of this paid by the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) at an additional cost to the Exchequer).
• There are other costs that fall to the State, e.g. student supports – SUSI grants, etc.
• This amount excludes other additional funding which may arise or may be met by other agencies and Departments supporting the provision of undergraduate programmes of study.
499. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a list of all health and social care courses offered in the State; the number of students enrolled on each course; the average annual cost to the State of delivering the courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27889/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe enrolment data for the academic year 2022/2023 for all programmes under the health and welfare education category, is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was obtained from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Student Records System (SRS) and is rounded to the nearest five (or multiple of 5).
The Department does not have the average annual costing for all health and social care programmes.
The university sector collects full economic costing data .The full economic cost of each student enrolled as an undergraduate student will vary depending on the discipline.
The estimated total cost per undergraduate nursing and healthcare disciplines per student is c.€10,000 – €11,000 per student per year.
The estimated total cost of educating an undergraduate medical student is c.€28,000 per student per year.
500. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 630 of 24 October 2023, the status of the proposed new veterinary school for expanded veterinary education in Ireland; the status of the negotiations between the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine and his Department concerning this new school; the possibility of it being located at the University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27941/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra501. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of funding for and the quantity of additional veterinary education places that will be available in the proposed new veterinary school for expanded veterinary education in Ireland at the University of Limerick; if these additional veterinary education places will be listed and available for students to apply for on the CAO system for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27942/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra502. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review a briefing document (details supplied) for expanded veterinary education in Ireland, which highlights the positives of granting the contract to the University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27943/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 500, 501 and 502 together.
The Government recognises the need for expansion in the provision of Veterinary Medicine programmes.
These programmes are complex to deliver and require appropriate equipment, laboratory facilities, and appropriately qualifies teaching staff, to meet the requirements of the regulator.
As you are aware, the HEA Expression of Interest process brought to Government in June last year identified a number of options to expand third level places. The options identified through the HEA's process have the potential to transform the numbers of students who can take up places in these key areas. This would be an expansion at a scale rarely seen and is a significant investment of public funding in our Higher Education Institutions. There are substantial capital costs associated with the development of many of the proposals and it is important that the scale of the costs is fully understood and planned for. Consideration is ongoing as to how these capital costs could be met, and I am working closely with my colleague Minister McConologue on this.
At the point when we have established the available level of funding, I will ask the HEA to re-engage with the higher education sector on the potential options, and we will progress to a process considering a range of factors including alignment with skills need, deliverability, regional considerations and value for money.
I want to assure you that increasing places in veterinary medicine is of key importance and a shared priority for Minister McConalogue and for me, and our Departments are continuing to work closely on this matter.
503. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27963/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's main policy achievements from 2020 – 2023 have been outlined previously in the following parliamentary question answered on 14th December 2023 available here: www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-12-14/525/?highlight%5B0%5D=56111&highlight%5B1%5D=23.
Some of the main policy achievements for my Department in 2024 thus far, are set out below.
Distributed Campus Support Fund
A new fund to support higher education institutions that have a regionally dispersed footprint was announced in January 2024. The Distributed Campus Support Fund, worth €4.5 million, was created to support higher education institutions that have a multi-campus and regionally dispersed footprint. Financial challenges faced by institutions with multiple campuses, particularly in more remote regional locations, have been identified as an issue over many years.
Joint publication of a Strategic Framework for Lifelong Guidance with the Department of Education
This milestone achievement, announced in December 2023, gives a policy framework to the continuum of guidance services throughout the life-cycle. The Framework and accompanying Strategic Action Plan (2024-2030) provide for the development of an effective and efficient cross-sectoral system of guidance.
Research and Innovation Bill 2024
The Research and Innovation Bill 2024 was published on the 8th on January 2024. The legislation to enable the establishment of Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland passed all stages in the Oireachtas and was signed into law by the President on 4 June 2024.
Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–25
In 2024, my Department continued to address current backlogs in apprenticeship training and meet future demand?projections as set out in the Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction & Retrofitting, 2023 to 2030. We continued to deliver on the Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan. We also continued to?advance social inclusion measures to aid the apprenticeship population in becoming more representative of wider society.
Access
Since the launch of the National Access plan my Department and the Higher Education Authority have continued to work to increase educational opportunities to learners who have not traditionally accessed or participated in Higher Education.
PATH 4 Phase 2 is a three-year pathfinding project to support an enhancement of course provision for students with intellectual disabilities and to inform future policy considerations for students with intellectual disabilities. Under the project, funding is to be used to develop new programmes for learners with intellectual disabilities, and can be used to provide ancillary supports.
Following a call for proposals in 2023, 10 Higher Education Institution’s proposals for courses specifically designed to meet the needs of students with an intellectual disability were approved as a pilot programme, and a budget of over €10 million. The majority of courses are due to start in September 2024 with a wide geographical spread.
Student Accommodation
The long-term student accommodation policy approach was approved by Government on 16 January 2024. The approach includes measures for increasing supply of student accommodation through state support, reducing cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance, and promoting efficient use of existing stock and vacancy while supporting balanced regional development. It will continue to have a focus on the provision of digs accommodation and will examine commuting alternatives. It also recognises the role and provision of supply from the private sector in key campus locations. This dual benefit policy will make fit for purpose accommodation available for students and therefore increase housing availability for private individuals and families. The long-term policy will inform the revised student accommodation strategy, which will be developed throughout 2024.
In April, capital investment of €100 million from the National Development Plan windfall allocation was announced for delivery of student accommodation projects. This allocation is supporting the development of over 1,000 student beds.
International Cooperation
Global Citizens 2030, Ireland’s new international Talent and Innovation strategy, was launched on 15 January 2024. It sets out Ireland’s international education, research, and innovation ambitions into the next decade and is the first strategy to encompass the breadth of tertiary education, and research and innovation systems.
Construction and Green Skills
My Department works with partners through the cross-government Offshore Wind Energy Programme to support the skills and workforce required for the development of offshore wind. This includes the completion of a detailed skills analysis report by Greentech Skillnet, the expansion of the Expert Advisory Group on Offshore Wind Skills and Workforce Requirements and the development of new training courses, including the new Marine Bridging Programme delivered by the National Maritime College of Ireland.
My Department is leading the development of skills for electro-mobility, through the establishment of a Project Office for a new National e-Mobility Capability Centre in Longford Westmeath ETB, and the creation of an industry aligned e-mobility advisory committee for the FET sector;
Skills training in the area of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Retrofit is continuing to be expanded. The six NZEB/Retrofit Centres of Excellence which are now operational in ETBs have seen record enrolments, with the numbers enrolled between January and May 2024 outstipping enrollments for the same period in previous years. NZEB/Retrofit training has also been rolled out on a pilot basis in Wheatfield and Midlands prisons by the Irish Prison Service, and a new incentivisation scheme to support plumbers to upskill to install heat pumps was announced in June.
The 20 actions in the Careers in Construction Action Plan are aimed at minimising barriers to construction careers, promoting career opportunities and making construction jobs more attractive to women and involve changes in the sector, training and upskilling, and promotional activity.
We received planning permission for the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) at the National Construction Training Campus in Mount Lucas. The Park will showcase innovative MMC products and systems, raise awareness and help to share knowledge and understanding of MMC innovation.
Further Education and Training (FET)
The Department has continued to deliver its programme of reform of the FET sector. This includes:
• A new further education offering of short, stackable micro qualification programmes in areas such as sustainability, digital, robotics, aquaculture, business innovation and market development to upskill staff and future-proof businesses was launched in January.
• A new programme - the Retrofit Skills Course QQI Level 5 component award – was rolled out in the Midlands and Wheatfield prisons.
• Arrangements applying to the new grade of adult educator were agreed.
• I launched the Community Education Framework in early June, marking an important milestone in ensuring a more consistent approach to SOLAS funded community education across the country.
• I welcomed the allocation of €5million under the REACH Fund to community education groups across Ireland, which will support almost 50,000 educationally disadvantaged learners to access and participate in community education.
• Implementation of the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) strategy. €1 million was awarded to 103 innovative projects under the ALL Collaboration and Innovation Fund across the country to support adults with unmet literacy needs, including numeracy and digital skills.
• National Training Fund (NTF): The Department continued to use the NTF to improve the response to enterprise skills and workforce development requirements for digitisation, climate action, Industry 4.0, and Modern Methods of Construction.
Unified Tertiary System
Since May 2022, my Department has been progressing a policy for a more unified tertiary system. The aim of the policy is to more closely align the further education and training, higher education and research and innovation sectors in order to meet the diverse needs of all learners throughout their lives.
In May 2022, my Department published a Policy Platform setting out the policy, the desired outcomes and objectives, and a number of Spotlight Actions for my Department and its agencies to progress. Many of these actions are sited within and are being progressed through a wide range of DFHERIS policies across skills FET, Higher Education (HE) and Research and Innovation (R&I) with significant progress achieved to date.
SOLAS in partnership with my Department and ETBs have continued to work with the CAO in 2024 on enhancements to the CAO website.
New capital programmes now include an emphasis on unified tertiary objectives for infrastructure and campus development and applications must now demonstrate how they can support a more unified tertiary system.
The ESRI/DFHERIS Joint Research Programme (2022-2025) has, in May 2024, commenced a project which will evaluate current measures funded through the National Training Fund (NTF), which is intended to inform future proposals in this area.
The Rethinking Assessment Masterclass & Events series, organised by QQI, and aimed at FET and HE educators is continuing in 2024 with several events having taken place between January and April 2024.
In May 2024, QQI commenced a project to continue the redevelopment of the Irish Register of Qualifications (IRQ). QQI continues to promote and communicate the upgraded Qualifax platform with a focus on supporting users to navigate the new site.
In April 2024, QQI published a report titled '20 years of the Irish NFQ - A story of collaboration and cooperation' which reflects on the 20-year history of the NFQ, includes stakeholder perspectives and highlights themes arising from the conference. A plan for reviewing and updating NFQ policies is currently being developed with substantive work expected to start in early 2025.
Funding was provided in 2024 to Skillnet Ireland to develop a pilot project to explore the feasibility of a skills and career guidance portal. This is led by a collaborative inter-agency steering group, and following approval, Skillnet Ireland will move to procure support from a contracted partner.
Under the project ‘Assessing the impact of the tertiary system on innovation in the workplace’, DFHERIS has successfully recruited two fellows, Prof Brian Donnellan (MU) and Dr Krishna Vadlamannati (UCD).
Technological University (TU) Development
My Department secured €83.68 million in technological university-oriented funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which will facilitate the establishment, equipping and staffing of regional research and innovation offices within the regionally based TUs to enable engagement with local and regional business, industry and enterprise stakeholders.
Health Workforce Planning
An agreement was reached in February this year with Queen's University Belfast, for the funding of 25 additional medical places in Queen's from September 2024 and another 25 in September 2025 bringing the number of places to 50 in total. 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.
Microcredentials
A Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy was launched on 12 March 2024, with an allocation of €9.7 million under the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 3 to subsidise fees for 13,763 learners across 650 micro-credential courses.
Tertiary Programmes
Applications were opened for the September 2024 intake of Tertiary Programmes in February 2024. 40 programmes are on offer this year, with new programmes in areas such as Social Work and Construction Management and Public Health, while programmes in Nursing are now available in additional locations.
504. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated first- and full-year cost of reducing the student contribution charge by €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27984/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the State provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible full time undergraduate higher education students with students paying the student contribution of up to €3,000 per annum.
The State pays the student contribution (in full or part) on behalf of students who qualify under the student grant scheme administered by SUSI. In addition to this, a new student contribution grant of €500 was introduced last year for applicants whose income was below €100,000. This is a permanent reduction to the student contribution costs for qualifying students.
The data to allow for the costing of a €1,000 reduction in the contribution for 2024/25 is not yet available. However, it is anticipated that the estimated costs of applying a student contribution reduction in 2024/25 would be of a similar magnitude to that in 2023/24. On that basis it is estimated that the cost to the State to reduce the student contribution by €1,000 for 2024/25 would be in the region of €92 million.
Please note that these figures are the estimated net cost to the State after adjusting for savings that would accrue on the student grant scheme. The figures may change as more up to date data becomes available.
505. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current core funding deficit for the university sector; the estimated first- and full-year cost of reducing this by a third; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27985/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Funding the Future funding and reform framework, published in May 2022, settled the question on funding higher education. 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 Framework set out the policy intention to prioritise this additional investment over a number of budgets alongside increased supports for students.
Budget 2024 secured an additional €65.2 million in core funding under Funding the Future, which combined with the €40.5 million secured in Budget 2023, brings the total additional core funding provided under Funding the Future to €105.7 million.
The additional €105.7 million provided over the last two Budgets in response to Funding the Future, is aligned with the intent of Funding the Future that over a number of years, further additional core funding will be prioritised through the Estimates process, to meet the overall €307m identified, while taking account of the Government’s budgetary and fiscal stance.
506. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated first- and full-year cost of extending free fees initiative to graduate entry medical students up to €10,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27986/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) provides tuition fee funding for eligible first time undergraduate students and therefore students pursuing second level 8 degree courses, including graduate entry programmes, are not eligible for the FFI.
The total level of fees charged to graduate entry students is a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.
Development of a scheme or the adjustment of exiting schemes to provide for Graduate Entry Medicine tuition fees would require a specific engagement with providers to agree terms and conditions, including funding arrangements and student numbers. In this regard it is not possible to estimate potential costs associated with introducing a specific scheme or amending the FFI to provide for free or partial tuition fees for all graduate entry medicine students.
The Deputy may be aware that the State already provides support for broadening access to GEM programmes through the part-subsidy of places for EU students. The fees payable by students, as determined by each higher education institution, are net of the subsidy paid by the State.
507. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated first- and full-year cost of providing free Irish language classes to all adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27987/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are making enquiries with SOLAS on your behalf and a response will be sent to the Deputy directly.
508. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated first- and full-year cost of abolishing all craft apprenticeship course fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27988/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra509. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated first- and full-year cost of extending State support for allowances for craft apprentices by increasing the rates by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27989/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together.
Funding for apprenticeship is determined through the annual Estimates process, led by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
In advance of Budget 2025 this autumn, an Education Options Paper will be published. This paper will outline various possible measures to reduce the cost of education. This is being done in order to facilitate public discussion about the various choices available to improve student supports. I will be taking these options into consideration when making proposals in the context of Budget 2025 discussions.
However, it should be noted that investment in apprenticeship to grow capacity in the system has been a priority for my Department.
To that end, an additional €67 million was allocated for apprenticeship in Budget 2024, making the total 2024 apprenticeship allocation €298 million. This is an 83% increase when compared to the apprenticeship budget of €163 million in 2021, when the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 was published.
Funding for apprenticeship delivery in Further Education and Training increased from €107m in 2021 to €215m in 2024, while funding for delivery in Higher Education increased from €56m in 2021 to €83m in 2024.
The following table outlines funding for apprenticeship by year since 2021, and by Further Education (SOLAS and the National Apprenticeship Office) and Higher Education (the Higher Education Authority):
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
SOLAS and the National Apprenticeship Office |
€107m |
€150m |
€160m |
€215m |
|
Higher Education Authority |
€56m |
€65m |
€ 112m |
€83m |
|
Total |
€163.4m |
€214.7m |
€271.9m |
€298.3m |
During this time, capital funding has also been provided to increase craft capacity. In the immediate pandemic period, €12m was allocated to support additional classes and teaching capacity to ameliorate Covid-19 measures, and €6m was invested to provide additional instructor posts. Additionally, capital expenditure of €54.2m was allocated from 2021-2023 to SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority to facilitate additional craft places across the system.
The Government’s continued investment reaffirms the strong commitment to enhancing and expanding the apprenticeship system.
510. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a full list of capital works projects currently ongoing at present valued in excess of €1 million that were funded by Higher Education Authority at each university; the nature of each of these capital works projects; and when each of these works projects will be completed, in tabular form. [28079/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapital works projects are detailed in the attached spreadsheet. It includes projects that are currently under construction and have received in excess of €1 million in funding from the Higher Education Authority. Each university is listed along with the nature of each of the capital works projects and when each of these works projects will be completed. Projects that are under construction that have not received funding of in excess of €1 million for the Higher Education Authority have not been listed.
511. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a Disability is recognised by the CAO (details supplied); what criteria does the CAO require for proof of disability for DARE purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28253/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra512. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for his views on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28254/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 512 together.
The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a higher education admissions scheme for Leaving Certificate students (under 23) whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. The scheme is owned and controlled by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) participating in the scheme. The HEIs determine the criteria for eligibility, not CAO, and CAO has no authority to make decisions on any particular disability.
Applications to the scheme are submitted to the Central Applications Office (CAO) who coordinate the scheme for participating institutions. Therefore it does not come within the remit of my Department and it is not open to my Officials to intervene in individual cases.
However, officials from my Department have been in contact with the IUA concerning this question and they have reported that the application submitted by the person to whom the Deputy refers has been assessed and deemed ineligible.
If the applicant would like to make a Review and Appeal application they must complete the online Review and Appeals application form by 5pm on 2 July 2024. This application form can be found under the 'My Application' section of www.cao.ie .
In addition they can contact the access officer of the institute they have applied to for any further guidance on the appeal process.
513. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a person (details supplied) is not in receipt of the full grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28306/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
The qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years as specified under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 and 2024 and are as follows:
1. Students must qualify for the standard rate of grant;
2. Total reckonable income (net of income disregards and Increase for Qualified Child) must not exceed €25,000 (2023/24) and €26,200 (2024/25), and
3. As at 31st December, 2022 and 2023 respectively, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme.
With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student to whom the Deputy refers was awarded the Full Non-Adjacent Standard Rate Band 1 of Maintenance Grant, together with 100% Student Contribution/Tuition Fees, by the awarding authority (SUSI) in both the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic years.
As there was no income from an eligible payment on 31st December 2022 or 2023 respectively, the applicant was not eligible for the Special Rate of maintenance grant under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2023 and 2024.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
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. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie .
514. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the evolution of participation rates in higher and in further education for representative years since 1990; and how the student-to-staff ratios have evolved in the same years. [28308/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are gathering data on this request. I will revert with a reply to the Deputy directly as soon as it is received.
515. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an Irish citizen, who moved to Switzerland with their family five years ago, will be classed as a foreign student and charged fees as such, if they were to attend university in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28322/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe higher education tuition fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route. The assessment of a student’s application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended.
As the Deputy may be aware there are typically two rates of fee, an EU Rate of Fee or a non-EU rate of tuition fee. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs. This includes setting the criteria a person must meet to be regarded as an EU or a Non-EU tuition fee student.
The criteria may vary by institution and I understand that an institution’s criteria will generally include specified Nationality and/or Residency requirements that students would be expected to meet to qualify for the EU rate of fee.
My Department responded previously to concerns about the impact of the Free Fees Initiative eligibility criteria on Irish nationals who had, for occupational or economic reasons, to move abroad, requiring them to take their children out of the Irish education system in the process.
To this end, the Department advised that, with effect from the academic year 2014/15 onwards, higher education institutions should charge the more moderate rate of EU fee for students that commence their first undergraduate course of study in an approved institution here and:
• Hold EU/EEA/Swiss nationality but do not meet the residency clause of the Free Fees Initiative; and
• have completed five academic years of study (at either primary or post-primary level) in an EU/EEA/Swiss State.
The application of this policy remains a matter for individual institutions.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for my Department to intervene in the fee policy of the institutions or to advise on the specific criteria of individual institutions. Where a student has a query in relation to an institution's EU or non-EU fee policy they can contact the institution they wish to attend for advice appropriate to their own individual circumstances.
516. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to provide increased financial supports for students of Masters in Post Primary Education; if he will report on his engagement with the Minister for Education in respect of the need to train more teachers; and the existing financial supports in place. [28367/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that policy and regulatory questions relating to the Professional Masters in Education, and the teaching profession more generally, are a matter for the Department of Education and my colleague Minister Foley. The Department of Education engage directly with higher education institutions in relation to the scale of provision in teacher education programmes.
Students on the PME courses are entitled to apply for the Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI on behalf of my Department, which supports students on their journey through education.
The Deputy may also be aware that my Department also supports access to Initial Teacher Education (ITE) for targeted priority groups under the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) 1, as part of the National Access Plan. The objectives of PATH 1 are to increase the number of students from under-represented groups entering ITE and provide more role models for students from these groups. PATH 1 supports a range of new initiatives and partnerships, and it is expected that these activities will result in increased students from under-represented groups participating in ITE programmes.
517. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding streams are available for the construction of a new public horse stables, similar to those already in place in a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27919/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.
Funding under the 2023-2027 LEADER programme is not targeted at any particular group or sector in rural communities. It is, rather, focused on a thematic approach to rural development under the headings; Economic Development and Job Creation, Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Funding for activities such as that referenced by the Deputy may be available under one of these themes.
In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be located within an area supported by the 2023 - 2027 LEADER programme, that is, all parts of Ireland with the exception of the five main cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The proposed activity must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy in the sub-regional area concerned and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.
It should also be noted that the LEADER programme does not fund the operational costs of a project such as salary or overheads and does not support the purchase of animals.
Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant LAG, through its Implementing Partner to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. The Implementing Partner in County Dublin is Fingal LEADER Partnership CLG and may be contacted by phone at 01 8074282 or by emailing info@fingalleaderpartnership.ie
