Results 81-100 of 4,991 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The revised National Development Plan (NDP) published in October 2021 provided clarity on Departmental capital ceilings for the period 2022 – 2025. Capital funding in the amount of €658.6m is available to, and is profiled to be fully expended by my Department in 2024. This amount comprises the NDP capital allocation for 2024 of €619m in addition to the carryforward of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Government investment in research, development and innovation reached €964 million in 2022, an increase of 30% over 2017 when funding was €739 million. This investment in R&D includes funding for programmes that encompass all disciplines and all types of research. It should be noted that public funding for research is awarded according to the criteria set out in the various...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a pilot part time grant scheme will be introduced from September 2024. It will provide fee support to eligible part-time students attending specified publicly funded undergraduate courses leading to a major award.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department has been made aware that the college referred to by the Deputy will close and cease to deliver degree level programmes accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) with effect from September 2024. In preparation for the forthcoming closure the college has engaged with QQI’s statutory Protection of Enrolled Learners (PEL) process. The PEL process ensures that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under 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. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Period Poverty (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The provision of period products in publicly funded educational settings is a Programme for Government commitment. My Department has been involved in a number of initiatives to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period indignity. These include the following: - worked collaboratively with the Department of Health and the OGP on the development of a drawdown...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Delivery of Impact 2030 is a collective effort by a range of Government Departments and their Agencies, each of which is responsible for advancing the R&I agenda in the sectors under their remits. The strategy is driven by DFHERIS by bringing together research funding and performing Departments and Agencies to ensure a cohesive, Whole-of-Government approach is achieved. As part of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Medical Research and Training (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I recognise the significant benefits of access to and engagement with world class shared infrastructure and facilities, for our national research and innovation system and I support transnational collaborative research. As part of its whole of government strategic approach to drive research and innovation (Impact 2030), my Department directly manages some of Ireland's EU and other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy may be aware, Higher Education Institutions and Professional Accreditation Bodies are autonomous organisations in relation to their administrative and academic affairs. This includes programme governance and award of professional accreditation to practice . Additionally, mindful that this professional accreditation body is located in the UK, it would not be appropriate for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The audited financial statements for 2022/2023 for the majority of universities are not yet available. Information is provided in the table below of the surplus/deficit for universities for the financial year 2021/2022 and if available for the financial year 2022/2023. It is noted that the traditional universities have a year end of 30 September and the technological universities have a year...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: A key Government priority is to increase and retain the number of people employed in the construction sector. This is essential to the Government meeting its ambitious targets under the National Development Plan, Climate Action Plan, Housing for All. The Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction & Retrofitting 2023–2030 outlined the labour market...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In February of this year, an agreement was reached with Queen's University Belfast for the funding of twenty-five (25) additional medical places for qualifying students from Ireland or Northern Ireland in Queen's from September 2024. A further twenty-five places will be made available in September 2025 bringing the total number of additional places available to 50. These places are being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf. Decisions on admissions are made by the higher education institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore neither I nor my Department have a function in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (18 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the statutory body with responsibility for developing, promoting and maintaining the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). In line with the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) currently recognises the qualifications of Irish awarding bodies including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Student Grant scheme, SUSI grants are awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the conditions of funding, including nationality and residency. The scheme has a statutory underpinning and is operated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant primary legislation, namely the Student Support Act 2011. In order to be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: An Garda Síochána (9 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: During 2012 and 2013, 139 Garda stations were closed as part of An Garda Síochána’s rationalisation programme. The table below outlines the Garda stations in County Clare that were closed as part of this programme and the status of each: Garda Station Current Status Broadford Sale agreed. Sold at public auction. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (9 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 335 together. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate of approximately 2,500 properties. This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (9 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: It has long been the policy of the OPW to seek to reunite the historic demesne lands of Castletown Estate. The Commissioners of Public Works acquired Castletown House and 13 acres of land in 1994. In 1997, one hundred acres south of the house was acquired. The farmyard adjacent to the house was acquired in 2001. In 2006, lands associated with the Batty Langley Lodge were acquired with former...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (9 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works was made aware by a Local Authority, in 2021, that this property had been placed on the Derelict Sites Register. The building referred to is a registered property, and is in the ownership of a company which remains live on the Companies Register. The Commissioners of Public Works therefore have no legal interest in this building, and are not aware of any attempt by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme - Ireland’s largest study of flood risk, was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence...