Results 941-960 of 10,569 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Not to point out the obvious, but we do not own the accommodation. In most of the cases, it is private. In Dublin, for instance, at the end of May 2024, the data that the universities provided themselves, as well as for digs accommodation for Maynooth, shows that there were 140 rooms for Trinity, 228 rooms for UCD, 217 for DCU, and 174 for Maynooth. It behoves all Deputies to recognise the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy will be aware, there is currently no borrowing framework in place for the technological university sector. Housing for All contains a number of key actions relating to student accommodation, one of which involves the examination of a borrowing framework and financing options for the technological universities. The TU study is progressing in tandem with the standardised...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: All options, including but not limited to a borrowing framework, will be considered in this regard. I visited the Munster Technological University in Kerry last week to look at the science, technology, engineering and maths building that is in bundle 1 of the PPP. This is not exclusively about borrowing capacity. It is important to point out that direct Exchequer funding is being used by a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: PPPs have their place in the economy as well as direct Exchequer funding for capital works. In a previous role we would have discussed this topic at length. PPPs have their place and are important. The structure of them, how they are laid out, the impact they have in terms of cost for the service user, in this case the student for accommodation, and site acquisition are something that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Artificial Intelligence (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank Deputy Stanton. The answer is "Yes". In my first response, I stated this was one of the greatest risks to the integrity of the third-level sector - and to the second-level sector to a degree - when it comes to ensuring what is submitted by the learner or the student is the work of the learner or the student rather than the work of somebody else. That is going to be very...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Artificial Intelligence (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I should have said in my earlier response there are a number of courses that are already developed and in train through the higher and further education systems to see AI for a power of really positive good. It is the higher education institutions themselves, together with the Higher Education Authority, that develop the degree, postgraduate and masters courses. Through academic autonomy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank Deputy Farrell for raising such an important issue. To reiterate the Government's position, it is imperative we all see an end to this brutal war. The Government continues to urge Israel and Hamas to accept and fulfil the three-phase proposal outlined by President Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council. It is vital all parties work towards reviving a political process that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The figures I have available show that at present, there are 35 Palestinian students registered with Irish universities in the academic year 2022-23. All are undertaking postgraduate studies, with a quarter in UCD. A question has been asked before about the different between the Palestinian students and the Ukrainian students. As the Deputy will be aware, the EU temporary protection...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: That is no problem. I will arrange to do that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will deal with the questions in reverse order. I will come back to Deputy Durkan directly once we have had a chance to engage with all of the local authorities with respect to unused planning permissions in the private sector. On digs accommodation, the census carried out before the end of May showed that, in Cork, there were more than 400 available rooms in digs accommodation out of a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am sorry; I did not interrupt Deputy Gould.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: If the Deputy asks a question, he should at least give me an opportunity to answer it. I did not interrupt him. As somebody who stayed in digs in Cork myself, in Hartlands Avenue, a number of years ago, I know that these are private family homes into which people bring students. We have to be very conscious that they are private homes. The vast majority who have stayed in them would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Artificial Intelligence (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: When the Deputy and I last discussed this topic, in May, we talked about how artificial intelligence holds transformative potential for workplaces in Ireland and what we are doing to ensure that workers of all types have the skills needed to meet challenges around displacement and opportunities to enhance their roles via artificial intelligence. Al is also promising to transform how...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. The higher education tuition fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the type of course and the student's access route. The assessment of a student’s application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended. Typically there are two rates of fee, an EU rate of fee or a non-EU...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I understand what the Deputy raised but the crux of the matter is the residency issue for three out of the previous five years. That is a long-standing policy within the Department and the Government, as he will appreciate. It comes on the basis of proving that the person has a direct connection to the State and is ordinarily resident here. We appreciate that it obviously costs an awful...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In answering the Deputy's question, we have to be conscious of EU law. We have to make sure that all persons within the European Union are treated equally. The exemption cannot just be available for an Irish citizen within the European Union. Again, I do not know the details of whether the person is within or outside the European Union. It might be better if I get the details and am able...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 65 and 72 together. The first national student accommodation strategy was launched in July 2017. It runs until 2024. The officials in the Department and I are developing a new strategy for student accommodation, which will be published this year. The strategy will align with the long-term student accommodation policy and methodology, which were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I do not have a date. As soon as I have it, I will bring it to the attention of Deputies. I recognise this is an important issue, as does everybody on all sides of the House. That is why the Government has put the money it has into the sector for the universities I identified. It is the same reason, in last year's budget, we made substantial changes to the tax code in respect of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am aware of the difficulties faced by many students in accessing affordable and suitable student accommodation. The Government is committed to addressing this challenge. This morning, the Cabinet approved the drafting of amendments to the residential tenancies (student-specific accommodation) Bill via an emergency Bill which will deal...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: This is the second memo that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I have brought on this issue. The first was to seek Cabinet approval. Today, the Government approved the priority drafting of the residential tenancies (student-specific accommodation) Bill. This will be welcomed by Deputies on both sides of the House, including the previous Minister and now Taoiseach, as well as myself. It...