Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to indicate the extent to which his Department continues to monitor incidents of professional bullying throughout the higher education system; the extent to which bullying is evident in colleges throughout the country; the action taken or being taken to counter this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15895/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that there are a number of Programme for Government (PfG) commitments aimed at addressing bullying, including a commitment to commission surveys of staff and students in the areas of harassment, sexual harassment, and bullying in higher education.

Our higher education institutions have a duty of to ensure that staff and students have a safe environment to study and work; free from bullying, harassment or other forms of unwanted behaviour. This is not an ‘add-on’ or part of a wish-list. This is an entitlement for everyone who works and studies at our third level institutions.

The Deputy will also be familiar with the ‘Speak Out’ tool which my Department has funded. Speak Out is an online, anonymous reporting tool for staff, students and visitors to higher education institutions that was developed by the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland with financial support from my Department, the Department of Education and the Higher Education Authority.

This tool provides a safe space for members of higher education communities to speak out about experiences of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, discrimination, hate crime, coercive behaviour/control, stalking, assault, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. Users of the tool are provided with tailored information on the support services available to them.

Data on reports made via Speak Out is regularly reviewed at the institutional level. Data from all institutions implementing Speak Out is currently being collated by PCHEI, and once available it will be published alongside a report of the pilot of the tool. PCHEI and the HEA are organising an evaluation of the pilot of the Speak Out Anonymous Reporting Tool initiative which is expected to commence in April 2023.

In August 2022, I launched the findings of a Report on the National Survey of Staff Experiences of Bullying in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)conducted by the specialist DCU Anti-Bullying Centre.This report presents the findings of an anonymous online survey, commissioned by my department, examining the prevalence and impact of workplace bullying among staff in 20 publicly-funded HEIs in Ireland. The survey of staff experiences of bullying in higher education was conducted in late 2021. A total of 3,835 HEI staff responses were analysed. The survey report includes a number of recommendations, which will inform future policy decisions to tackle workplace bullying within higher education institutions.

On 28th October, 2022 I launched a national survey on student experiences of bullying in the higher education sector. The survey was conducted by researchers at the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre, and it was sent to higher education students in Ireland by their institutions. A report on the findings will be published later this year.

The primary goal of the proposed project is to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of bullying among higher education students across Ireland. Insights from this study will be used to implement new or updated policies, processes, training and resources to support higher education institutions in addressing these issues.

We currently have an expert Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in HEIs in place which is providing advice on appropriate policy responses in this area. The intention is to establish a working group, under the auspices of the HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, to review the findings of the two bullying surveys and develop actions to achieve our shared goal to develop a more inclusive organisational culture for both staff and students in Irish higher education institutions.

I have been very clear that the tertiary education and training sector must lead the way in changing cultures, behaviours and practices across society to ensure that bullying, sexual violence and harassment are not tolerated. I want to bring about institutional change where all forms of unwanted behaviour are eradicated.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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266. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure continued access to third level for all students seeking to avail of education at this level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15896/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the Student Grant Scheme, the Deputy may be aware that I already instigated improvements to the student grant scheme in Budget 2022. For the academic year 2022/23, I increased the income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant by €1,000 & all maintenance grant holders benefited from a grant increase of €200.

I also announced a range of further measures to enhance the scheme as part of Budget 2023. Some of these cost-of-living measures commenced in 2022.

- As part of the Government's cost of living measures, every SUSI maintenance grant recipient received an additional once-off extra maintenance payment;

- All higher education students who are eligible for the fees initiative benefited from a once off reduction in the Student Contribution rate of €1,000 for the 2022/2023 academic year;

- PhD students funded by the SFI and the IRC benefited from a once off payment of €500 in the current academic year; and

- Post Graduate Students who met the eligibility criteria for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant benefited from a once off increase in this grant of €1,000 from €3,500 to €4,500.

In addition, I increased all maintenance grants effective from January 2023 in order to provide further financial assistance to those students most in need. The special rate and Band 1 rate of maintenance increased by 14% and all other maintenance grant rates increased by 10%.

A further range of improvements to the student grant scheme as announce in Budget 2023 will take effect for the 2023/24 academic year, including:

- An increase in income limit from €55,240 to €62,000 for the 50% student contribution grant;

- A new student contribution grant of €500 for incomes between €62,000 and €100,000;

- An increase the postgraduate fee grant by €500 on 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000;

- A reduction in the eligibility for second chance mature students from 5 to 3 years;

- Exclusion of up to €14,000 rental income earned under Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme from reckonable income;

- An increase in student earnings outside of term time from €4,500 to €6,552; and

- A greater degree of flexibility for students who may have a long term social welfare payment but are falling outside of the special rate (this will allow a small increase on the income threshold for the special rate if a family has 4 or more children and/or has two or more students in college).

As I did for the first time last year, it is my intention to publish a cost of education options paper which will set out options for further enhancement of student supports for consideration as part of the Budgetary process in the Autumn.

In addition to all of these improvements to the Student Grant Scheme, a further €8 million of funding has been secured for the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The Fund provides financial support to students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college. Students can apply for SAF to help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties and can be assisted towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. It is designed to provide a source of financial support in addition to a SUSI grant.

Regarding access measures for disadvantaged students, the new National Access Plan, a Strategic Action Plan for Equity of Access, Participation and Success 2022-2028 was developed in the context of Programme for Government (PfG) commitments and other social inclusion policy measures. The plan aligns with and builds on the wider ambitions of the PfG by providing accessible, affordable education to all citizens. €5m was secured under Budget 2022 to support new pilot initiatives and enhance existing initiatives under the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund to address priority actions under the NAP. Delivery of the Plan is supported by the PATH programme which provides a range of supports to priority groups including bursaries under the 1916 scholarship scheme and support for people from target groups in accessing initial teacher education. The programme also supports clusters of higher education institutions in attracting under-represented students. PATH will receive an additional dedicated investment of €35 million over the course of the plan.