Results 21-40 of 2,826 for speaker:Marian Harkin

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am pleased, on behalf of the Minister for agriculture, to have the opportunity to address the challenges currently being experienced by tillage farmers across the country. To be fair, coming on the back of two extremely difficult years weatherwise, thankfully, conditions for harvest 2025 were much more favourable. It allowed fieldwork...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (14 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputy for his comments. I agree with everything he said because I understand the local circumstances. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The Deputy will recognise that this Government recognises that transport connectivity is hugely important for people who live and work in rural Ireland. As recently as yesterday, the enhanced 563 service between...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospice Services (14 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I welcome the opportunity to address the House, on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on the Deputy's request for information on the Wexford patient transport service and the difficulties his constituents have encountered in contacting Wexford General Hospital's patient transport office. By way of general background, the Minister is informed by the HSE that the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (14 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank Deputy Scanlon for the opportunity to address the issue of public transport along the N17 corridor. Deputy Scanlon and I are well aware of the specific issues and I agree with him that we need to find better solutions. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Transport. While the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport,...

Cost of Disability: Motion [Private Members] (14 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputies for their contributions to the debate. I am happy to take the closing statement on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Calleary. The Government is well aware of the additional costs faced by disabled people. I re-echo the Minister’s statement when he said he was committed within the lifetime of this Government to addressing the cost of disability in both a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rental Sector (14 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: On the basis of the response I have here, it seems that the Government is trying to ensure a fair balance. The Government is focused on growing the supply of much-needed rental accommodation by keeping existing landlords in the market but also by attracting new landlords. I hear what the Deputy is saying, however. By doing this, we must ensure strong and balanced tenancy protections for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rental Sector (14 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am taking it on behalf of the Department of housing and the Minister, Deputy James Browne. On 10 June 2025, the Government approved policy measures, including modifications to rent controls, to come into effect on 1 March 2026, as the Deputy has outlined. The purpose is to boost investment in the supply of homes available for rent...

Financial Resolutions 2025 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I am happy to welcome budget 2026. It takes meaningful steps to delivering many of the commitments contained in the programme for Government. It is important to say that a programme for Government is a five-year commitment, and we have made a reasonable start in many areas. Looking at my Department, we are providing an additional €79 million in funding for apprenticeships, bringing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I would like to thank Deputy Currie for raising this important question. This Government is focused on equipping Ireland’s workforce with the skills needed to deliver new housing, drive retrofitting projects, and meet Ireland’s infrastructural priorities under the National Development Plan. Workers are needed across different skills levels and the apprenticeship model...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I would like thank Deputy Currie for her question and her interest in how our department is supporting the use and adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC). Advancing MMC is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and my Department works with sectoral partners such as SOLAS, Education and Training Boards, the National Construction Training Campus, and Skillnet Ireland to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: With thanks to Deputy Currie for her interest in the development of the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Located at the National Construction Training Campus in Mount Lucas, the National Demonstration Park for MMC will serve as a national hub to showcase MMC housing and systems. The Park will be central to advancing the take-up of MMC in Ireland as a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: I would like to thank the Deputy for her interest in the National Demonstration Park for MMC in Mount Lucas, Co Offaly, which is a central plank in our strategy for advancing the take-up of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The construction of the Demonstration Park is progressing well, with the enabling groundworks for Phase 1 expected to be completed by the end of October. These...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Oct 2025)

Marian Harkin: With thanks to Deputy Currie for her interest in the new National Demonstration Park for MMC which is being constructed in Mount Lucas, Co. Offaly. It is important to reflect on the objectives of the National Demonstration Park for MMC, these include:To provide an accessible ‘flagship’ location for MMC demonstration in Ireland, and in so doing to facilitate the showcasing of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Sep 2025)

Marian Harkin: I can assure the Deputy that the role of community education is a recognised and valued component in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector. Community education is crucial for individual growth, social cohesion, and democratic participation. It provides local, accessible learning opportunities, fosters skills development, and builds confidence, ultimately promoting greater community...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Sep 2025)

Marian Harkin: I can confirm to the Deputy that my officials are in the process of scheduling this meeting for November.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (30 Sep 2025)

Marian Harkin: A key commitment in the new Programme for Government is advancing Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). To increase MMC skills supply through the tertiary system, my Department works with sectoral partners such as SOLAS, Education and Training Boards (ETBs), the National Construction Training Centre (NCTC) and Skillnet Ireland. Budget 2025 saw €2.7 million allocated to construction...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (30 Sep 2025)

Marian Harkin: I would like to thank Deputy O’Connell for her question and her continued interest in the Careers in Construction Action Plan. The original Action Plan, launched in 2023, was developed in response to departmental research which identified key barriers to entering the construction sector, particularly for women, young people, and other underrepresented groups. These barriers included...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (17 Sep 2025)

Marian Harkin: I want to thank the Deputy for his question as it provides a welcome opportunity to detail some of the work being led by my Department to increase the pipeline of skilled workers required to deliver the Government’s housing delivery targets, particularly in relation to those key trades he mentions. The work of my Department in this regard can be broken down into three distinct...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Appointments (8 Sep 2025)

Marian Harkin: I have not had the opportunity to visit the Klear Further Education Services since my appointment as Minister of State. I have been advised that this service is an independent community-led organisation that receives funding from City of Dublin ETB in addition to other organisations. As part of City of Dublin ETB’s annual allocation, funding is provided to KLEAR Further Education...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Jul 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputy. The main area we are looking at there is the area of hairdressing. It is the one area where that would have increased. Gender balance in craft apprenticeships has increased significantly since the launch of the action plan, with the number of female craft apprenticeships more than doubling from 260 to 533, an increase of exactly 105%. I will be honest with the Deputy....