Results 121-140 of 5,220 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: 462 permanent additional places in healthcare disciplines were introduced in September 2023 in Irish higher education institutions. In addition, last September saw an innovative cross border collaboration with the Government funding of 80 additional health and social care places in Ulster University. There is ongoing engagement with my Department and the Department of Health, HSE and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am committed to engaging with all Departments and agencies to ensure our Tertiary Education Sector rises to meet the demands of our public sector workforce requirements. Particular focus has been paid to skills challenges across health and social care services. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Apprenticeship scheduling is carried out on a national basis by the coordinating provider. As far as possible, apprentices are scheduled to the nearest available training location relative to their home location on the day of scheduling. If a placement is not available near an apprentices home location, they may be called to the next nearest available location. Apprentices are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department's Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 aims to promote apprenticeship as a route to valuable qualifications and high-quality jobs and careers. My priority is to make apprenticeships attractive for even more young people, given our skills and workforce needs under priority Government strategies. As part of this, the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) is continuing to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together. In 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department does not have any staff who are specifically assigned to processing of freedom of information requests. It has a Memorandum of Understanding in place and operates on a shared services basis with the Department of Education in this regard. The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Apprenticeship 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 527, 528, 533 and 534 together. It is a top priority of my Department to remove barriers to third level education. Since the establishment of my Department in June 2020, there has been significant progress in enhancing both quality and access in the tertiary education system. As the Deputy is aware, a substantial amount of additionality has been introduced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: One of my goals as Minister is to ensure that potential learners have access to the educational pathways that allow them reach their potential in a way that meets the very broad and rapidly changing needs of our labour force, the economy and society. It is therefore my objective to ensure that there is access into either further or higher education for each person who wishes to pursue...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Against the backdrop of the accelerating and intensifying changes in the world brought about by digital and green transitions taking place globally, it is essential more than ever that our skills ecosystem has the agility and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and the skills needs of the labour market and society. In this context, one of the key themes of the OECD Review of Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: This Government has made significant investment to grow the apprenticeship system. Budget 2024 provides €67m for investment into apprenticeship. In total, €300m has been provided for apprenticeship in 2024. The funding will support skills development in vital areas, especially in construction skills, and support delivery of Government commitments in Housing for All, Action...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: 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. These surveys have now taken place and the findings published. Our higher education institutions have a duty of care...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (20 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, Technological Universities Act 2018, and Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 -2006. Under this legislation HEIs are academically independent and entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes including the number and type of programmes offered. As such, neither I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (20 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study undergraduate medicine. Graduate entry courses require applicants to hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry with the graduate entry medicine degree conferring a further level 8 qualification on the recipient. As the Deputy will be aware, the free fees initiative (FFI) provides tuition fee funding for eligible first time...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (19 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy may be aware Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous under the relevant legislation and neither I or my Department have a role in the management of their academic or administrative affairs. If your constituent has not done so already I would suggest they contact the HEI directly in relation to this matter. If this does not resolve the matter, I would encourage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (18 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: A pilot part time fee grant scheme will be introduced effective from September 2024 for eligible part-time students attending specified undergraduate courses leading to a major award. This is an important new initiative which will open the doors of higher education to many groups who cannot participate in full time programmes. The parameters of the scheme are currently being finalised and I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (18 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (18 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy is likely aware, in February this year, an agreement was reached with Queen's University Belfast, for the funding of twenty five additional medical places for qualifying students from Ireland or Northern Ireland in Queen's commencing from September 2024. These places will be co-funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (18 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: This Parliamentary Question falls under the remit of the Department of Health. My officials have been in contact with that department and they have confirmed that they will provide a response should the deputy contact them directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Court of Justice (18 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department has not been issued with any fines by the Court of Justice of the European Union since its formation in 2020.