Written Answers Nos. 547-564
547. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the total funding for the HSE alcohol programme, broken down into the various services that are funded under the HSE alcohol programme, in the years of 2020, 2021, 2023, and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [37940/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
548. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the total funding for the HSE tobacco-free Ireland programme, broken down into the various services that are funded under the HSE tobacco-free Ireland programme, in the years of 2020, 2021, 2023, and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [37941/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
549. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will allocate €2 billion in Budget 2025 to fund the building of 30,000 student accommodation units to address the severe shortage of affordable and accessible housing for students; if he will provide details on any planned emergency accommodation funds for students (details supplied) as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37917/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability and cost of accommodation is a challenge for many students especially at this time of year. I met with USI and representative Student Unions last week and we have an extensive discussion on student accommodation and other matters of importance.
A capital investment of €100m from the National Development Plan windfall allocation enabled the progression of 1,014 new Purpose-Built Student Accommodation beds - 30% of the new beds will be ringfenced for target group students at below market rates. Construction has commenced on Maynooth University’s 116 bed project, UCD’s 493 bed project will go to tender in 2025 and DCU’s 405 bed project is progressing through the tender process.
Building on Government support for a student accommodation policy, I am developing a new Student Accommodation Strategy for increasing supply of state supported student accommodation, reducing the cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance, promoting efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while supporting balanced regional development through the Technological University feasibility study.
The new strategy will also continue to have a focus on the promotion of digs accommodation as a key provider of flexible and affordable accommodation. The 2024 rent-a-room campaign commenced on 9 August 2024 across print and social media channels. As of the 28th of August 2024, a total of 4,439 digs beds are being advertised by our universities and colleges, an increase of 1,839 beds since the beginning of the campaign. This campaign is complimented by individual localised campaigns undertaken by the Higher Education providers and students unions.
In advance of the 2023/2024 academic year, an additional €440,000 was allocated by Government to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) specifically for any student who may find themselves in financial difficulty arising from their housing or student accommodation situation.
This increased funding to the SAF is intended for assisting students in funding emergency accommodation. However, there will also be discretion to provide funding as per the SAF guidelines for other emergency needs such as transport costs where emergency accommodation is not available to the student.
This fund is intended as a top up to existing practices and does not preclude HEIs continuing to determine how much of the main SAF fund should be used for emergency situations.
550. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will allocate €6 million in multi-annual core funding for mental health services in higher education institutions and invest to improve the counsellor-to-student ratios to international standards as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37923/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecognising the pressures on students arising from COVID and cost-of-living issues, since 2020 my Department has provided a total of €25.9 million in additional funding to Higher Education Institutions to support mental health measures for students on their educational journey.
This funding is to further support Higher Education Institutions in meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of their student population and in implementing the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework (2020).
HEIs in receipt of this additional funding are encouraged to distribute it in support of specific student-facing areas, such as:
• Recruitment of additional Student Counsellors
• Recruitment of additional Assistant Psychologists
• Head of Service posts
• Training of staff to enable them to support and refer students to appropriate services.
• Raising awareness among students of mental health and wellbeing services available, including through student outreach activities
The majority of new posts created through this funding have been counsellors, reflecting the capacity building phase of the implementation of the Framework.
HEIs have reported a breadth of positive impacts, from a reduction in engagement times to an increase in the number of sessions provided.
As autonomous bodies the internal disbursement of funding, including the funding and expansion of student services and mental health supports, is a matter for the individual institution.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Estimates process in ongoing. While I cannot pre-empt the budgetary process, addressing supports for students will be a priority for me in the Budget 2025 discussions.
551. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to address issues in relation to the criteria for students in rented accommodation to qualify for SUSI (details supplied), such as supporting the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2024, which would create a licence notification register, which could be used to demonstrate that students were living alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37225/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Student Grant Scheme does not stipulate precisely how the awarding authority (SUSI) satisfies itself in respect of proof of residence.
For SUSI to be satisfied that an applicant meets the criteria to be classed as an independent student, documentary evidence of their independent residence is requested, and an indicative list of accepted documents is sent to the applicant.
Although utility bills are one form of documentation accepted to confirm independent residency, if an applicant is unable to submit these in their own name demonstrating their independence, they can submit one or more of the following documents.
• A letter confirming that the address is registered with Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
• A Local Authority lease agreement or a letter confirming the applicant’s rental under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) or any Government housing scheme/arrangement. Private housing lease agreements will not be accepted.
• A letter on headed paper from a Rental Agency confirming the applicant’s tenancy.
• A letter confirming the receipt and period of Rent Allowance, Mortgage Interest Supplement or Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
• Official documentation posted to the applicant at this address and relating to an applicant’s residence there.
Like private lease agreements, signed licence agreements between a student and a homeowner would not be accepted as evidence of independent residence.
If an applicant is unable to provide evidence of independent residence and their application is refused, they have the right to appeal this decision in accordance with Section 20(2) of the Student Support Act 2011. The Appeals Officer will review the application and may ask for further information, for example proof of the student’s parents’ address (with the parents’ consent) and proof of the student’s address to demonstrate that both parties are living separately.
If a student is dissatisfied with the determination of the SUSI Appeals Officer, they can further appeal to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant).
Such appeals can be made by the appellant online via www.studentgrantappeals.ie
552. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of college places across Ireland to study medicine; and the number of these places filled from CAO applications in the past five years and 2024. [37282/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe enrolment data requested by the Deputy is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was sourced from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Student Records System (SRS) and is rounded to the nearest five for data protection purposes. The data is for undergraduate entry medicine programmes only.
The enrolment data for the academic year 2023/2024 is not yet available from the HEA as they are currently in the process of gathering and auditing this data. It is expected the data will be published in the coming weeks.
Applications for students coming from Ireland, the UK and EU countries are processed through the CAO. Applications for students from outside the EU are processed directly by the higher education institutions.
553. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to review a case concerning higher education courses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37422/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department has significantly increased its investment in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector in the last number of years, from circa €909 million in 2020 to €1,055 million in 2024 (excluding capital allocation).
As the state agency responsible for the FET sector in Ireland, SOLAS allocates this funding to the 16 ETBs and other agencies to deliver FET programmes and services at local level, based on agreed learner numbers and programmes.
SOLAS have confirmed that the 2024 allocation for Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) is €35.026m, increased from €34.15m in 2023 (excluding capital). The administration and allocation of this funding across different FET programmes is a matter for the individual ETB. However, I am aware that there is a significant funding pressure in the FET sector this year, and in particular CMETB. I am working with my officials and SOLAS to address the overall funding need in the forthcoming Supplementary Estimates, with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
554. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Ukrainian and migrant students in Irish schools are eligible for the cross-Border fees arrangement with universities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37532/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe determination of fees for Ukrainian and migrant students pursuing their studies in higher education institutions in Northern Ireland is a matter for those institutions.
My Department has no role in this matter.
555. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of freedom of information requests submitted to his Department in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the total number of such requests that were rejected in their entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37597/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department reports annually to both the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Information Commissioner on Freedom of Information activity. The Office of the Information Commissioner publish this data in its annual report and the annual reports up to 2022 are available on the OIC’s website - www.oic.ie/publications/annual-reports/.
In 2022 my Department received 84 requests. 25 of these requests were refused.
In 2023 my Department received 59 requests. 16 of these requests were refused.
To date in 2024 my Department has received 49 requests. 17 of these requests have been refused.
556. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projects and programmes with his Department which have been allocated funding under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Programme; the funds drawn down to date in each instance; the profiled drawdown in each of the forthcoming years of the programme; the steps he is taking to ensure that projects and programmes are completed within the specified timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37788/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI outline below the projects and programmes where funding has been allocated to my Department under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Programme; the funds drawn down to date in each instance; the profiled drawdown in each of the forthcoming years of the programme; and the steps taken to ensure that projects and programmes are completed within the specified timeframe.
Projects and programmes funded under NRRP
a. Project 1.5 – A National Grand Challenges Programme
b. Project 3.2 – SOLAS Recovery Skills Response Programme
c. Project 3.3 – The Technological Universities Transformation Fund (The National Technological University Transformation for Recovery and Resilience (N-TUTORR) project)
Funding Details
|
Project |
Funds drawn down to date (€’m) |
Profiled drawdown for remainder of 2024 (€’m) |
Profiled drawdown for 2025 (€’m) |
Profiled drawdown for 2026 (€’m) |
Profiled drawdown for 2027/2028 (€’m) |
Time frame for completion |
|
a |
32.4 |
10.1 |
16.9 |
8.8 |
3.9 |
End Q4 2026* |
|
b |
30 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
End Q4 2024 |
|
c |
40 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
End Q4 2024 |
*project concludes in 2026 with funding carrying over into 2027/2028 for administrative work.
Steps taken to ensure completion of project:
Each project is managed, on behalf of my Department, by the respective aegis body which is required to establish robust monitoring and reporting processes to manage project timelines and progression. This management process includes regular meetings with participating institutions and quarterly or bi-annual financial, milestones/targets and common indicator reports. Aegis bodies appraise Department officials as necessary on project progression and slippage.
Furthermore, work streams are required to report regularly on their work to the EU in order that DPENDR may draw down NRRP funding.
557. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has considered qualifying veterinary students in Hungary for student grants, similar to the process of allowing students in Northern Ireland access to grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37814/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible 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.
In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States. Article 4(c) of the Student Support Regulations 2024 and Section 8(1) of the Student Support Act 2011 state that approved courses outside of the State must be full-time undergraduate courses, take not less than 2 years to complete and lead to a major higher education award.
Postgraduate courses that take place outside of the State are not approved for funding with the exception of courses in the four publicly funded institutions in Northern Ireland. This provision is consistent with the principles of the Good Friday agreement and is intended to promote greater tolerance and understanding between both jurisdictions.
In the case of a student who is pursuing an integrated master’s course outside the State, such as the course referred to by the Deputy, the first four years of study are considered to be at undergraduate level for grant purposes and any further years to be at postgraduate level. Accordingly, students may apply for grant funding for the undergraduate portion of the course under the Student Grant Scheme. However, as per the student support regulations, the subsequent years of these courses are not approved for grant funding since the Student Grant Scheme does not extend to postgraduate study outside of Ireland.
The Deputy may wish to note that tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.
558. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will permanently reduce student fees by €1,500 and outline a plan to abolish fees over the next few years, in light of Ireland having the highest undergraduate fees in the EU, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37919/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to attending higher education.
I have recently published an options paper (www.gov.ie/en/publication/db3c6-funding-the-future-an-annual-options-paper-on-the-cost-of-higher-education-2024/) which sets out the various possible measures to reduce the cost of attending higher education. I will have regard to these options when making proposals regarding student supports in the context of the 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.
559. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will expand the device lending scheme and invest in digital infrastructure to support hybrid learning and teaching in higher education institutions, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37920/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe device lending scheme referred to by the Deputy was the 'Covid-19 ICT Devices scheme, a once-off special grant as part of a package of COVID-19 measures. The grant was intended to respond to concerns raised by higher and further education providers, and by student representatives, regarding the digital divide in the context of the shift to online and blended models of learning as a result of COVID-19.
The full package approved by the Government in July, 2020 consisted of a €168 million package of supports for the further and higher education sectors to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. €15 million of this was earmarked for devices to support disadvantaged students in eligible further and higher education institutions.
Since 2020, thousands of disadvantaged students have benefitted from the scheme. Additional disadvantaged students continue to benefit from the scheme in 2024/25 as some institutions still have scope to support more disadvantaged students from the pool of devices that have already been procured (in addition to the devices being returned by disadvantaged students completing their studies).
A general ICT Devices Scheme exists to support disadvantaged students once they can demonstrate eligibility. Students who consider they may be eligible for a device should contact the Access Office in their higher education institution for further information. The management of the device schemes (including specific terms and conditions) is a matter for each institution.
This also pertains to the second point of the Deputy's question regarding investment in digital infrastructure to support hybrid learning and teaching in higher education. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the development of digital infrastructure on-campus. However, the matter of digital infrastructure and development spans a whole host of areas that are important to my Department. My Department's Statement of Strategy 2023-2025, sets out a number of relevant priorities including enabling access to Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Skills, as well as supporting implementation of Digital for Good, Ireland's Digital Roadmap, which makes commitments to both Digital Inclusivity and ensuring meaningful access to affordable, high-quality, high-speed broadband services.
560. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will remove apprenticeship registration fees, with an estimated cost of €11.39 million, and increase income and allowances for apprentices to make apprenticeship education more accessible, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37921/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding for the National Apprenticeship programme 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 on the 1st October, my department published the Funding the Future - An annual options paper on the cost of higher education 2024, on the 16th September, which can be found on Gov.ie.
This paper outlines the various measures possible to reduce the cost of education. This was done in order to facilitate public discussion about the various choices available to improve student supports. The body referenced had input into this document along with other stake holders at the options day held by my department in April of this year. These options are being taken into consideration in the context of Budget 2025 discussions.
In both Estimates 2023 and 2024, a 33% reduction in the student contribution was provided for apprentices registering in higher education. In each year, this measure cost €3.8 million and it was estimated that it benefitted over 11,000 apprentices.
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.
The Government’s continued investment reaffirms the strong commitment to enhancing and expanding the apprenticeship system.
561. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will double the funding for access to e-books through transformative agreements and increase funding for open education resources to alleviate the financial strain from e-book licensing on students and libraries as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37922/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of issues regarding ebook licencing and is engaging with the higher education sector and the Department of Rural and Community Development who have responsibility for public libraries. Those discussions are at an early stage.
In terms of supports for students, I am conscious of the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to attending higher education. I have recently published an options paper (www.gov.ie/en/publication/db3c6-funding-the-future-an-annual-options-paper-on-the-cost-of-higher-education-2024/ ) which sets out various possible measures to reduce the cost of attending higher education. 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 or to anticipate the outcome of the wider consultation process on ebook licencing.
562. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will continue annual funding for the student assistance fund at post-pandemic levels; to ensure eligibility for all students to address the hidden costs associated with education which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37927/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Assistance Fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department. The HEA allocates funding based on the academic year to each of the universities, Institutes of Technology, the Colleges of Education and a number of other higher education bodies. The core allocation for the SAF is €9.1 million per annum and increases were secured for this academic year 2023/24, which brought the fund to over €19M and supports circa 14,000 students.
In advance of Budget 2025, I recently published the annual options paper which set out various possible measures to address matters pertaining to the cost of education. This paper facilitated a public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports including the Student Assistant Fund. These options will be considered as part of the deliberations around Budget 2025.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Estimates process in ongoing. While I cannot pre-empt the budgetary process, addressing costs for families and learners and supporting disadvantaged students will be a priority for me in the Budget 2025 discussions.
563. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will increase the holiday earnings eligible for deduction from reckonable income to €13,104; if he will amend the dependent brackets for SUSI to better support students which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37928/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address the high cost of attending higher education.
The Deputy will be aware that, on Monday 16th September, I published the third Annual Options Paper which sets out various possible measures across various sectors to address the cost of education including options in relation to holiday earnings and amendments to the dependent children increments. I will have regard to all options set out in this paper when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
The Deputy will appreciate that the funding for allocation for the Student Grant Scheme is determined in the context of the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments.
564. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will introduce a minimum stipend of €25,000 for all postgraduate researchers; to cap postgraduate fees at €3,000 to address the financial strain on postgraduate students which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37929/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2022, an independent and comprehensive National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers was announced; the first time that this issue has been considered holistically in this manner. The first report of the Co-Chairs, Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney, was published in summer 2023. In it they recommended an increase towards an optimum PhD stipend level of €25,000, subject to funding availability. In Budget 2024, funding was secured to increase the PhD stipend offered by my competitive research funding agency (now Research Ireland), from €19,000 to €22,000 annually, i.e. a 15.8% increase. This builds on the increase secured under Budget 2023, demonstrating my Department's clear and consistent commitment to this issue. My officials continue to engage with the budgetary processes with the aim of progressing the matter further. Institutional scholarship supports received by PhD students from their higher education institution are funded primarily by the core funding provided to the sector and thus fall under the Funding the Future initiative. As Minister, I cannot direct any institution to increase their stipend. This is at the discretion of each autonomous institution. However, I understand that some have already increased the stipend and others have indicated they will follow suit. For those PhD students in receipt of stipends from national competitive funding agencies outside the remit of my Department, the level of stipend awarded is at the discretion of each funder and its parent Department. The final review report of the co-chairs on State Supports for PhD Researchers will be published on the Department’s web site in due course. In relation to capping postgraduate tuition fees, as I note above, the institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs and determining postgraduate fee rates.
I have recently published an options paper which sets out the various possible measures to reduce the cost of attending higher education. This paper includes options to support postgraduate students via the SUSI grant scheme. I will have regard to these options when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
