Results 3,161-3,180 of 5,157 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Professional Accreditation of Higher Education Courses: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: One of the things we heard clearly in the previous session was about the oversight of the supervisory body. I ask for the views of the witnesses on that, both in terms of the accreditation of courses and about the other thing that came out towards the end of the last session, namely, placements and the streamlining of same. The witnesses in the previous session said that Tusla organise it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Professional Accreditation of Higher Education Courses: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: When that was identified as a key barrier, was there an identification of the number of places that would have been impacted? Was it at that point that it was decided that we wanted to increase the numbers or was it just seen as constrained? Or was it seen as the case that at this point it was at maximum capacity?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Professional Accreditation of Higher Education Courses: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: A few things came up in the earlier session. More generally, when people are coming into nursing for example, it is points-focused. We see in other countries that it can be done in more of an apprenticeship-type programme. How is the analysis of that and of our international comparisons going?

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: The Minister of State's party says it is the party of home ownership, but when we look at the census figures released yesterday, they tell us the opposite. What they show us is that the percentage of people who own their own home has fallen in the period since the party went into government in 2011. In that year, it promised us new politics. More than a decade later, that new politics has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: 81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his plans for student accommodation, in terms of both digs and vacancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25327/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: We are all aware of the serious housing crisis in the State at the moment. We know also how this impacts on students and their ability to attend third level institutions across the State. I recall years ago in Galway when students simply had to line up outside the offices of theGalway Advertiseron a Thursday waiting for the notices, but that is not the case anymore. Many students are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. We are aware that the whole accommodation situation at the moment is a complete and utter disaster. Unfortunately, that is also the case for students. I commend the UCD students' union on the survey it did over a two-year period, which was published a fortnight ago. It contained very interesting findings but they were also very difficult findings. It...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: That is actually a very interesting piece of information and I thank the Minister. On digs accommodation, it is very welcome that the scheme has been broadened, especially as I consider the likes of University of Galway and the Atlantic Technological University, ATU. The changing of the eligibility requirements to avail of using the rent-a-room scheme is very welcome, especially in and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: 83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his plans to increase the throughput of apprentices in the ETB system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25328/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: This question in some senses leads on from the previous discussion that we had earlier ion student accommodation and housing. We are all aware that as a result of the financial crash a way fewer apprentices were coming through the system. We are also aware of the backlog as a result of Covid. Could the Minister outline the plans he has to increase the throughput of apprentices?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: That is quite interesting. I think we are all aware of the important role that people who are going through apprenticeships will play and are playing in the future of our society, especially when tackling the infrastructural deficit we have, and the acute housing shortage. It is very important that we get the message out about how positive these jobs are and the availability of them. What...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank the Minister. That is interesting. I will do a bit more research on the financial support of apprentices. On the capacity issue, I have spoken to as many people as possible since taking on this role. From what I understand, some capacity is not being used. Perhaps the Minister could investigate that. Sometimes it is necessary to pop into the centres and seeing for oneself...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: I studied in what is now the University of Galway. When I was studying, there were options for taking courses through the medium of Irish. One I availed of was French. This allowed me to study French through Irish. The Minister stated that there were 106 courses. Is he looking to expand that number? Given the objective of trying to deliver public services to people who want to speak...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Costs (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank my namesake for raising this important question. It boils down to the issue of access to education and the barriers to same, including financial ones. We are now aware that the student accommodation crisis is acting as a another barrier. When I was involved in college politics, fees were a hot topic - they still are - in terms of being a barrier to accessing education. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: 91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to his new Research and Innovation Bill 2023, the reason there was no public consultation with the third-level research sector; and if he will meet with representatives as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. [25330/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: My question relates to the new research and innovation Bill. I am aware that the Minister met with a wide range of academics on this topic. He will have heard their concerns, which they have also raised with me, that they feel no official public consultation took place in respect of the Bill. Will the Minister respond to that particular issue? Will he allow people with concerns to voice them?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: I welcome what the Minister has said about the forum. Will the Minister provide a little detail as to how many people can participate? I am aware that the Minister has met stakeholders and is, of course, aware of some of the concerns that have been raised around the need for the Bill to set out that there will be parity of esteem between disciplines. That is completely understandable. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: I wish to raise another issue. This is something with which I am sure the Minister will agree and relates to the statutory body that is going to be established under the Bill, namely, research and innovation Ireland. The Minister is probably aware that section 4 of Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 amends the Official Languages Act 2003 to the effect that the names and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: We can lead from the front.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (1 Jun 2023)

Mairéad Farrell: I welcome the tabling of this question by Deputy Burke. We need to do everything in our power to expand the number of courses. What the Aire mentioned regarding placements is the crux of the issue and goes across the medical profession. It has been raised with me since I took on this brief. One issue that keeps coming to the fore relates to the fact the putting together of the placements...