199. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to develop and reform the placement and allocation system for apprentices, ensuring that these are reasonably within a commutable area close to where they live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67911/25]
Sentiment score: 0.20
One of the biggest issues for apprentices is placements for educational training. While there is an option to swap placements, sometimes there is not enough time to do this or to find someone to swap with. Apprentices have no idea where they will be placed, causing huge stress as they will need to budget for this added expense. Furthermore, the accommodation allowance for this is only €70 per week. Does the Minister accept that more supports are needed in the current cost-of-living crisis? If we consider the cost of rent in the country, the current system is forcing people into paying double for their accommodation and this is not acceptable.
Sentiment score: -0.09
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I welcome that he has been in contact with SOLAS, as have we on the committee. In some cases, we were finding at the committee that someone in Donegal was going to Cork and someone from Cork going to Donegal, both doing the same apprenticeship. It just beggars belief how that happens so I welcome the fact that SOLAS will review, and also fix, this. During recent committees, we heard directly from apprentices about the challenges for their placements. The situation is affecting all ages of apprentices now within a wider age range as the demographic for apprentices has changed significantly, as the Minister knows. There are now more and more apprentices who have families to support and mortgages in one location. This means that their responsibilities at home would be severely impacted as they would need to leave for 12 weeks. It is not sustainable. I welcome the fact that the Minister is going to get SOLAS to look into this. It should stop this whole lottery basis and apprenticeships should be closer to home.
Sentiment score: 0.11
The only issue there is that they have to accept a placement within seven working days of the notification date. If they start declining, there is a fear that they may not ever get placed on this. It is an absolutely hellish situation out there for student accommodation and there is the fear too that if they do not accept the place they may not get accommodation. This process should ensure fairness for all apprentices. The Minister has said that himself. Is it fair for apprentices, many of whom are paid below minimum wage and are already paying extra rent, to be forced into living in unregulated digs because of their placement? They also may not even find a place to live and instead have to make long commutes. Once again, let us hope SOLAS rectifies all this for them.
Sentiment score: -0.04
200. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking in relation to the reports that a €17 million business school at University College Cork has been permanently shelved; and for an update on the status of the matter. [67912/25]
Sentiment score: 0.13
The plans for a business school at UCC have been in development for the past three years, with reports that an architect firm had signed a contract of €3.5 million in 2022. From my understanding, the project was expected to cost over €100 million and was slated to start in 2024. This would have also included the provision to accommodate 4,000 students. The statement from UCC stated the college would provide an update on Cork university business school in the new year. Are we now in a situation where millions of euro of taxpayers' money is effectively down the drain? Will the Minister clarify what the situation is?
Sentiment score: 0.07
It is no secret that universities are continuing to deal with chronic underfunding for the best part of 30 years and there does not seem to be any let-up on that front. This means many universities have a heavy reliance on international students, who pay costly fees towards the Irish university sector, and potentially this is a factor in this project not going ahead. According to the Irish Examiner, the UCC business school plan was reliant on the expected income to the business school coming from international students. The publication also recorded that during the first post-pandemic year of 2022, 52,000 student visas were authorised in the State. That increased to 60,901 last year. According to statistics provided to the Dáil in May, figures for this year are not in yet but the indications are that there has been a drop-off in the number of students, particularly Chinese students, coming here. Why do our State-owned universities have to scramble for funding elsewhere? Is there not a need for funding contingency in these types of situations?
Sentiment score: 0.10
I welcome that there is still ambition for this project. However, ambition is not reality or actual work on the ground. Is the Minister aware of any timeframe for how long the review will take? What happens if we are left with an unfinished site? That site could accommodate 4,000 students. Meanwhile, students continue to struggle to afford extortionate rents in the private market. We are now in a situation wherein the university has paid out millions of euro on a development that is, in effect, abandoned for now, although the Minister says the ambition to progress it is still there. This should not be happening. Hard-working taxpayers have a right to know what has happened. Can the project be taken over by the Department to ensure the site is developed to house students if what is planned does not go ahead?
Sentiment score: 0.05
202. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there are no professors at technological universities (TUs); if his Department will review this; if not, the reasons not to include professors under the remit of TUs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67913/25]
Sentiment score: 0.04
This question is a bit outdated since the rescheduling of the Dáil last week. A recent OECD report on technological universities identified the exclusion of professorships at TU level as a huge shortcoming that should be urgently addressed. The report states the current TU system cannot fully achieve the expectations set out in the Technological Universities Act 2018. I welcome the announcement the Minister recently made that professors will be coming into TUs.
Sentiment score: 0.12
There is a huge issue with parity of esteem within further and higher education and that needed to be addressed. There should not be this distinction between our institutions and those wishing to pursue their education, whether at Trinity College or a TU. The development of technological universities has undoubtedly been a hugely impactful and positive change for higher education, boosting regions that otherwise would not have the opportunities for regional development. The absence of professorships has been a massive drawback in developing research capacity, crucial to these landmark TUs. Currently, legacy universities employ between 10% and 15% of their staff at professor level while the TUs have none. What percentage of staff will these new professors represent? Will their pay equal their counterparts' in legacy institutions?
Sentiment score: 0.16
The potential for massive increases in research and development if professors accounted for 5% of TU staff by 2030 is very significant. This would also increase postgraduate research student numbers and EU Horizon research funding, which could reach €80 million per year. The overall economic impact nationally would be in the region of €2.8 billion. Getting to 5% of TU staff by 2030 would be welcome. Another important focus of the OECD report is on the comparison of various strands of benchmarked institutions with TU Dublin. The findings show greater levels of research activity and available financial resources at TU Dublin and Ireland's other TUs. A medium-term aspiration from the emerging TU sector is there when a much higher one could be available. The timelines are being closely monitored. I welcome the update the Minister has given us today on this.
Sentiment score: 0.23