Written Answers Nos. 1979-1993
1979. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the capital funding allocated to a university (details supplied) between 2019-2024, in tabular form. [34782/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs requested, the following link shows the capital funding allocation to Dublin City University from 2019 -2024 in tabular form.
1980. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students availing of SUSI grants and for a comparison with 2019, in tabular form. [34783/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the 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 Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the national student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), a business unit of CDETB.
The number of student that were paid SUSI Grants for the 2019/2020 academic year was 71,503. The number of students that will avail of SUSI Grants for the 2024/2025 year is not available at this early stage. Not all students that are awarded at this stage will result in being paid, e.g. student may not register in college.
Therefore, to provide a like-for-like comparison, the table below shows the number of SUSI grant applications awarded for academic year 2019/2020 and academic year 2024/2025 up to 31 August 2024.
|
Academic Year |
2019/2020 |
2024/2025* (Up to 31 August 2024) |
|
Number of Applications Awarded |
76,348 |
67,097* |
|
Number of Applicants Paid |
71,503 |
- |
*Applications are still being received for academic year 2024/2025 so this figure will be subject to change.
1981. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding provided to an organisation (details supplied), and for a comparison with the funding provided in 2019, in tabular form. [34784/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department provides funding to SOLAS who distributes it to 16 Education and Training Boards to deliver Further Education and Training (FET) programmes and services at local level including Youthreach.
The table below sets out the funding provided to ETBs to deliver Youthreach provision (excluding Community Training Centres) for the period 2019 - 2024:
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024* |
|
Totals |
64,602,999 |
65,695,542 |
64,102,006 |
66,040,827 |
68,909,251 |
73,325,157 |
*NOTE: 2024 figures are provisional and are subject to change at year end
Further to engagement between my officials and the Deputy's office, the funding allocated to the Youthreach centre in Ballymun for the same period is set out below:
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Jan-Jul 2024** |
|
Ballymun |
910,660 |
924,043 |
914,976 |
950,363 |
1,000,973 |
665,392 |
** NOTE: Figures in 2024 are from January to July only
It is important to also note that funding is allocated based on programme numbers, and within allocated budgets.
1982. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the North South Research Programme contribution (rounds 1 and 2, 2022-2027) €50 million; to provide the total allocation; the expenditure to date; the amount that is contained with expenditure ceilings laid out in the Stability Programme Update and Summer Economic Statement, and the amount that will have to come from additional funding; the date the project was started; and the projected date of completion, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34815/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe North South Research Programme (NSRP) is funded by the Government’s Shared Island initiative and delivered by the HEA on behalf of Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
In July 2021, funding of €40 million was allocated to the North South Research Programme and a further €10 million was announced by the Department of the Taoiseach in December 2022, bringing the total funding for the North South Research Programme to €50 million.
The revised National Development Plan states that the Government will allocate ring fenced, multi-annual resourcing for all-island investment out to 2030 including through the Shared Island Fund and the previously published expenditure ceilings take this commitment into account.
The first round under the North South Research Programme was allocated in October 2022. Funding was awarded on the basis of excellence, assessed through a rigorous and independent international peer-review process. 62 projects were awarded funding across three programme strands.
The expenditure details for the 2021 NSRP Call 1 as of December 2023 is outlined in the table below. The second round of project reporting was completed in January 2024 with projects submitting details up to the 31st of December 2023. In 2024, there has been expenditure on Strands II and III. This will be reported against in January 2025. There will also be final payments on Strand I in 2024/2025 – approximately 10% of their budget per project which will be paid out after the submission of the final reports.
|
- |
2021 NSRP Call - Project Expenditure |
- |
Admin Expenditure |
|
Year 1 Reporting Expenditure (Project start - Dec 2022) |
Year 1 Reporting Expenditure (Project start - Dec 2022) |
€880,228.46 |
€50,000.00 |
|
Year 2 Reporting Expenditure (Jan 2023 - Dec 2023) |
Year 2 Reporting Expenditure (Jan 2023 - Dec 2023) |
€8,084,587.41 |
€ 179,991.00 |
The following table provides an analysis of the first cycle of reporting under Round 1.
Round 1.
|
Strand Type |
No. of funded projects |
Project duration |
|
Strand I – Bilateral researcher - researcher (maximum award per project €200,000) |
55 projects |
1-2 years |
|
Strand II – Emerging hubs of excellence (maximum award per project €4,000,000) |
5 projects |
4 years |
|
Strand III – Partnerships of scale maximum award per project €4,000,000) |
2 |
4 years |
|
|
62 Projects |
4 years |
Round 2
Depending on the scale of budgets requested by the top-ranking applications, it is expected that Call 2 will support 4-5 Strand II projects (the maximum budget is €4m).
It is expected, subject to agreement with the Shared Island Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach, that a formal announcement will be made in the next few weeks.
1983. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the Ulster University new teaching and student services building in Derry; to provide the total allocation; the expenditure to date; the amount that is contained with expenditure ceilings laid out in the Stability Programme Update and Summer Economic Statement, and the amount that will have to come from additional funding; the date the project was started; and the projected date of completion, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34816/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe location for the proposed building is significant from an heritage perspective, and as such, UU has engaged extensively in a pre-planning process with Derry-Strabane District Council. My officials understand that this process is ongoing, and is likely to lead to the submission of a full planning application to Derry-Strabane District Council in late Q4, 2024 or early Q1, 2025.
The contribution from the Shared Island Fund in the Department of Taoiseach is up to €44m over the lifetime of this capital project, which will take up to 4 years to complete.
My Department has not sought any contribution from the fund at this stage.
1984. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on All-Island Co-Centres for Research and Innovation contribution; to provide the total allocation; the expenditure to date; the amount that is contained with expenditure ceilings laid out in the Stability Programme Update and Summer Economic Statement, and the amount that will have to come from additional funding; the date the project was started; and the projected date of completion, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34817/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2023, the Co-Centres Programme was established to take forward an Irish Government commitment in the Programme for Government and under the New Decade, New Approach Agreement to establish all-island research and innovation hubs, working with partners in Northern Ireland and at UK.
The Co-Centres Programme is jointly funded up to €70 million by Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland), Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA) and United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) and will focus on Climate/ Biodiversity and Water, and Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems.
The following table provides an update on Ireland's financial contribution to the programme:
|
Total allocation |
€35m |
|
The expenditure to date: |
€2,627,617 |
|
Date project was started |
01/01/2024 |
|
Projected date for completion. |
31/12/2029 |
The revised National Development Plan states that the Government will allocate ring fenced, multi-annual resourcing for all-island investment out to 2030 including through the Shared Island Fund and the previously published expenditure ceilings take this commitment into account.
1985. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the delays encountered by building workers returning from Australia getting the necessary licences from Solas; if he would review the availability of information for people who wish to get such licences and the effectiveness of the processes for handling such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34865/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, the guiding legislation governing the process for managing each recognition of professional qualification is S.I. No 8 of 2017. SOLAS operates in full compliance with the applicable S.I.
SOLAS is required to reply within one month on receipt of an application and subsequently, provide a decision to each applicant within three months, post the submission date. Operationally, SOLAS endeavours to respond to individuals within two weeks of a completed application, but in some cases, this can take - up to three months due to (a) the diverse categories of skills and (b) the nature of skills certification outside of the EU.
Where delays have occurred, my Department has been advised by SOLAS that they are the exception, rather than the rule. According to SOLAS, the cause of such delays pertain to applicants not having complied with the application process and/or not having followed advice from SOLAS.
Considering the risks associated with working within the construction sector, the Health and Safety thresholds aligned to safe working on construction sites, the scale of specialised equipment utilised and finally, the elevated level of fraudulent qualifications in circulation, SOLAS is required to undertake a detailed due diligence for each application it receives.
Detailed analysis on the number of applications by categories is supplied hereunder for the period 2022 – July 2024.
|
Year |
Total Approvals |
Third Countries (including Australia) |
EU Applications |
|
2022 |
491 |
289 |
202 |
|
2023 |
699 |
464 |
235 |
|
2024 (July) |
521 |
394 |
127 |
SOLAS does not issue individual licences for any of the above programmes. Once each application is approved, successful applicants receive what the construction industry refer to as a “card” or multiple cards for each CSCS or QSCS programme\s for which they been approved.
1986. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to excessive fees for graduate entry medicine courses (details supplied); the actions he will take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34880/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, graduate 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.
In advance of Budget 2025 this autumn, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the choices available to improve student supports. I will have regard to the issue raised by the Deputy when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
1987. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of political staff employed in his Department, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, drivers and other relevant positions; the number of civil or public service staff seconded to work within his Department or constituency offices; the salaries and job titles of each such person; the duty or role of each, in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34915/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe tables below provide details of political appointments, ministerial drivers and staff seconded to work within my Department’s Private Office and Constituency Office by the Minister of the day and Minister of State from 2020 to date in 2024.
Parliamentary Assistants and Secretarial Assistants appointed by Ministers and Ministers of State are paid by the Houses of the Oireachtas Service and as such my Department does not hold the requested information on them.
Minister Harris from 2020 – 08 th April 2024
Political staff:
|
Role |
Remuneration |
Period of Employment |
|
Special Adviser |
PO scale |
28/06/2020 - 26/02/2021 inclusive |
|
Special Adviser |
PO scale |
27/06/2020 - 08/04/2024 inclusive |
|
Special Adviser |
PO scale |
01/03/2021 – 17/12/2022 inclusive |
|
Special Adviser |
PO scale |
26/06/2023 - 08/04/2024 inclusive |
|
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver Scale |
27/06/2020 - 16/12/2022 inclusive |
|
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver Scale |
27/06/2020 - 16/12/2022 inclusive |
Seconded staff:
|
Role |
Remuneration |
Period of Employment |
|
Private Secretary* |
AO scale plus PS allowance |
10/07/2023 to date |
|
Administrative Support |
Staff Officer scale |
31/08/2020 – 08/04/2024 inclusive |
* The Private Secretary to Minister Harris continued in their role under Minister O’Donovan
Minister O’Donovan from 09 th April 2024
Political Staff:
|
Role |
Remuneration |
Period of Employment |
|
Special adviser* |
PO scale |
15/04/2024 to date |
|
Special adviser |
PO scale |
09/04/2024 to date |
*This special adviser is seconded into the Department but included in the political staff table rather than table below
Seconded staff:
|
Role |
Remuneration |
Period of Employment |
|
Private Secretary |
AO scale plus PS allowance |
10/07/2023 to date |
|
EO Constituency Office |
EO scale |
26/08/2024 to date |
|
Administrative Support |
Assistant Staff Officer scale |
09/04/2024 to date |
Minister of State Collins
Political staff:
|
Role |
Remuneration |
Period of Employment |
|
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver scale |
01/07/2020 – 17/12/2022 & 21/12/2022 – to date |
|
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver scale |
01/07/2023 to date |
|
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver scale |
07/06/2021 – 19/08/2022 inclusive |
|
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver scale |
22/02/2021 – 06/06/2021 inclusive |
|
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver scale |
03/01/2023 – 31/05/2023 inclusive |
1988. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a list of the names of each special adviser employed by his Department since 2020; the Minister and Minister of State whom each adviser is associated with, and their respective salaries, in tabular form; the areas of expertise covered by such advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34933/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe tables below provide a list of the names of each special adviser employed by my Department since 2020.
All special advisers were appointed to the Minister of the day and their salaries are all on the Principal Officer pay scale, in line with DPENDR gudelines.
All special advisers assist the Minister with both policy and press matters.
Minister Harris from 2020 – 08 th April 2024
|
Name |
|
Joanne Lonergan |
|
Sarah Bardon |
|
Deirdre Duffy |
|
Max Murphy |
Minister O’Donovan from 09 th April 2024
|
Name |
|
Theresa Newman |
|
Michael O’Connor |
1989. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34951/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below provides details of the expenses paid to Ministerial advisers in my Department from January 2020 to September 6th 2024.
Minister Harris was in place from January 2020 – 08th April 2024.
Minister O’Donovan is in place from 09th April 2024 to date.
|
Name |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Joanne Lonergan |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A* |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Sarah Bardon |
Nil |
€379 |
€1,150 |
€1,005 |
Nil |
|
Deirdre Duffy |
Nil |
€479 |
€302 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Max Murphy |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Nil |
€1,112 |
|
Theresa Newman |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Nil |
|
Michael O’Connor |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
€1,736 |
*N/A or Not Applicable refers to years the adviser was not in employment in my Department.
1990. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will make a provision in budget 2025 for such a contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35004/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Government made provision to reduce the student contribution payable by each ‘free fees’ eligible student by €1,000 in academic years 2022/23 and 2023/24. Those reductions in Budgets 2023 and 2024, formed part of a wider cost of living package.
As I look ahead to Budget 2025, I am conscious of the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to attending higher education.
In advance of the Budget, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to reduce the cost of attending higher education for students. I will have regard to these options when making proposals regarding student supports in the context of budget discussions.
As the Deputy will appreciate, at this time it is not possible to provide an indication of any measures that may be introduced in Budget 2025.
1991. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projects supported by the regional skills funds operated by his Department in support of each of the regional skills fora in the past five years and the value of the support in each year; and if he will outline his ambition for further projects in the coming years. [35017/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Skills Strategy to 2025 (NSS) provides a framework for skills development to help drive Ireland’s growth, both economically and societally. One of the key elements of the NSS was the development of a new skills architecture, composed of a National Skills Council and nine Regional Skills Fora.
It is important to note that the core function of the Regional Skills Fora is to foster engagement and collaboration, and the Fora achieve this by providing an opportunity for employers and the education and training system to work together to meet the emerging skills needs of their regions. This involves identifying, interrogating and validating skills needs, while acting as an impartial broker to ensure that employers are linked to the right places to get responses they need.
To support the Regional Skills Fora to foster engagement and collaboration my Department, through the National Training Fund, funds the nine Regional Skills Fora Manager posts, as well as the yearly operating costs of the Regional Skills Fora.
Additionally, my Department provided funding from 2018 to 2023 for two digital skills programmes - DigiEco and the Explore Programme. Expenditure for both programmes was as follows:
|
Year |
Spend |
|
2018 |
€444,784 |
|
2019 |
€544,131 |
|
2020 |
€291,910 |
|
2021 |
€293,602 |
|
2022 |
€538,837 |
|
2023 |
€185,135 |
These programmes concluded in 2023, having been mainstreamed into further education provision.
In line with the 2023 OECD Review of Ireland’s National Skills Strategy, and its recommendation to strengthen skills governance to build a joined-up skills ecosystem, I recently announced reform of the National Skills Council. This reform includes a new Council membership, including a representative of the Regional Skills Fora, thereby ensuring that there is a joined up and coherent approach across the skills ecosystem in order to effectively meet the skills needs of a rapidly changing world.
1992. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students from this State studying at further and higher education level in Britain in the academic years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024; the financial supports available for such students to meet fees and maintenance costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35042/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy on the number of students from this State studying at further and higher education level in Britain is not available within my Department.
Regarding the financial supports available for such students to meet fees and maintenance costs, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States.
Grant funding is available to eligible students to pursue approved Postgraduate courses in four approved institutions in Northern Ireland.
The student grant scheme does not extend to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State for undergraduate courses.
1993. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure that students studying outside the State are eligible for any additional supports that may be provided for third level students, such as a reduction in student contribution fees in the forthcoming budget, to ease the cost of living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35048/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to attending higher education. In advance of Budget 2025, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to reduce the cost of attending higher education for students. I will have regard to these options when making proposals regarding student supports in the context of budget discussions.
As the Deputy will appreciate, at this time it is not possible to provide an indication of any measures that may be introduced in Budget 2025.
In considering the matters raised it is important to note that the student contribution arrangements in place under the free fees initiative (FFI) do not apply to any courses outside the State. In this regard the current student contribution arrangements, or any adjustments that may apply in the future, cannot apply where students study in another jurisdictions.
