Results 1-20 of 2,826 for speaker:Marian Harkin
- National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I thank the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and his officials for bringing forward this important and innovative legislation, which I fully support. I believe it has huge potential benefits for the further and higher education sectors. I want to thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I think we all are largely agreed that this is a positive move. Yes, there are some queries and there...
- National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: From the north east.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I hear the Deputy's question because this is an issue that has come to my attention, especially in more rural counties. Apprenticeships are national programmes. As much as possible, SOLAS schedules craft apprentices to an available training location near to the home of the apprentice. If a placement is not available near an apprentice's home, SOLAS will endeavour to schedule him or her to...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputy. I absolutely agree. That is why an extra €79 million was acquired in this budget for apprenticeships, bringing the overall investment to nearly €411 million. That is clear evidence of the Government's determination to fund the apprentice system. It is more than just funding. It is also ensuring that more and more people see apprenticeships as a viable...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I fully appreciate what the Deputy is saying. Accommodation is a significant issue for all third level students. We are talking about apprenticeships in particular. I just had a look at the apprenticeships that are available in Galway-Roscommon ETB. I see that it offers training in various locations. For example, Galway Technical Institute offers training as an accounting technician,...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: To specifically answer the Deputy's question around capital, the allocation for the tertiary sector in 2026 is €810 million. Last year, the allocation was €677 million, so we can see that represents an increase of €133 million, which is quite significant. That will help to deliver research capacity and a pipeline of transformative projects, which will support a...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I will deal with two issues the Deputy raised, one of which is funding to community education, Youthreach and CTCs. I did say there is no specific additional funding in 2026. SOLAS has advised that the investment in community education increased by 55% from 2018 to 2024, from nearly €11 million to over €70 million now. Therefore, we can see that the funding is increasing. We...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputy. My Department has secured a gross allocation of almost €5 billion in budget 2026. That will support the delivery of inclusive high-quality learning opportunities across the entire tertiary education system. In 2026, we secured an additional investment of €79 million for apprenticeship delivery, as well as €2.5 million to permanently reduce student...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: As the Deputy said, this funding will increase the numbers of apprentices already here. We see that phase 2 training capacity has increased from 5,600 in 2023 to over 7,000 in 2025 across the country. He also mentioned the fact that more instructors are being put in place. Over 80 instructors were converted from fixed term to permanent, and that supports retention, which is the question...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: The Government's objective is that by 2030 we will have 12,500 apprenticeships in the system. We are already well on track to achieving that, with, I think, about 9,300 last year. The Deputy said we are relying on migrant workers. Certainly, they play an important role in the sector. We are pleased to see that the sector is working but we also have a responsibility to grow the number of...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: The Government remains firmly committed to apprenticeships and has significantly expanded the opportunities for learners in recent years. We fully recognise the vital role that apprentices play in equipping Ireland’s workforce with the skills needed to meet national priorities. That includes infrastructure delivery. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I have prioritised this area and...
- Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: My Department, in partnership with our agencies and the sector, has been undertaking significant work over recent years to increase the range of education and training pathways available to students. There is now an unprecedented range of options available to learners, spanning further and higher education, tertiary programmes and apprenticeships. While this increased diversity is...
- Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: In Budget 2026, I was pleased to secure a significant €79 million investment for apprenticeship delivery - the largest increase since this Department was founded. In the context of this significant new investment I have requested that the training allowance for apprentices working in the engineering sector are reviewed as a priority, to examine updating the training allowance for this...
- Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: The Government is focused on equipping Ireland’s workforce with the skills required to deliver on national infrastructure priorities. Workers are needed across the construction sector, and engineers will play a critical role in helping Ireland meet its construction targets. To support this, an alternative delivery model for civil engineering has been developed to entice stronger...
- Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: Whenever possible, SOLAS schedules craft apprentices to the available training location nearest to their home. However, this is not always possible. Apprenticeships are national programmes and not all apprenticeship programmes are available in every Education and Training Board or Higher Education Institute. If a placement is not available near an apprentice’s home, SOLAS will...
- Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I would like to thank Deputy O’Sullivan 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 infrastructural priorities under the National Development Plan. Workers are needed across different skills levels and the apprenticeship model is an...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (14 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: The Department of Education and Youth remains firmly committed to providing continued support and resourcing for south Dublin and across the school system nationwide. The Deputy mentioned a specific case in Ringsend. I do not know the details but, if he wants to send them to me, I will make sure they are passed on to the Minister and the Department. I agree that education is a silver...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I reiterate that the Government wants to grow and develop the tillage sector in the years ahead. It was for this reason that the Food Vision tillage group was established in 2023, to provide a clear roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector, while improving its environmental footprint. I heard what Deputy Ó Súilleabháin said. I am well aware of the...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (14 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I thank Deputy Hayes for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the support provided by the Department to schools in south Dublin. I acknowledge the strong support provided by the Government, including by way of supplementary capital funding, which has brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for the...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospice Services (14 Oct 2025)
Marian Harkin: I hear what the Deputy is saying and I can understand the concerns of many people. All I can do is update the Deputy on patient transport services in the south-east region. As I set out a few minutes ago, Wexford General Hospital continues to make significant efforts to ensure non-emergency services are provided for qualifying patients in the south east who require transport assistance to...