Results 3,401-3,420 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: English Language Training Organisations (25 Oct 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I hear what the Deputy is saying and we will consider what she has suggested. I had not heard that I was asked to meet that group, but I have no problem doing so.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Access to Higher Education (25 Oct 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Persons in the protection process currently have access to a range of higher education provision under the arrangements for non-EU/EEA nationals (i.e. payment of full economic fee). In the further education and training sector, persons in the protection process can access adult literacy and English language provision free of charge. A pilot student support scheme is currently in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (25 Oct 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The establishment of SUSI, within City of Dublin ETB (CDETB) as a single national awarding authority for student grants, represented a very significant positive development in the transformation of government service delivery in relation to supporting students in further and higher education. Although there were operational challenges arising from this change that impacted on students...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Oct 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Over €330 million is being invested in state-of-the-art new buildings and large-scale extensions.

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Oct 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There is €80 million----

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Oct 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: -----being spent on classroom extensions in existing schools and up to 20,000 replacement places are being provided, which is approximately 18,000 additional places.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (9 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator for being a voice in the Seanad during the years for children with special educational needs. I congratulate him on his Darkness into Light event which was held recently. The purpose was to highlight the issues encountered by people who had problems with their vision. I am the Minister of State with responsibility for the higher education sector, but I am delighted to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (9 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will relay the Senator's comments to the Department of Education and Skills.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Noxious Weeds (9 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising this difficulty in rural areas. We even had difficulties with this issue in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. I am taking this Commencement matter for the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Humphreys. She is aware of public concern about the impact of invasive species, including Japanese knotweed. Her Department is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Noxious Weeds (9 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will inform the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Humphreys, of the points the Senator raised this morning.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: He is a natural.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Business of Select Committee (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: This legislation is a high priority for the Government and is important and ground-breaking legislation. The Bill is seeking to establish technological universities for the first time in Ireland and that constitutes a step change for the institute of technology sector and will underpin the development of a new type of higher education institution. The Bill had been agreed on Committee Stage...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I move amendment No. 1:In page 9, line 19, to delete "2015" and substitute "2017". The purpose of amendment No. 1 is to amend the Short Title of the Bill by deleting "2015" and inserting "2017".

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Amendments Nos. 1, 14, 24, 63, 145, 180 and 199 are all technical amendments. This includes a number of technical amendments required to delete references to certain sections of the Bill that are being deleted due to the change of the process for designation. Institutes of technology are no longer required to merge in advance of making an application to the Minister for technological...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: First, there will be no go-alone status. The whole idea is that there is to be consortia. It is to be that two, three or four institutes of technology are to come together. For example, DIT, Blanchardstown and Tallaght are interested in coming together as a consortium. Kerry and Cork are also. We have been told that Athlone is not interested at present.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Deputy Byrne asked are the institutes of technology going alone, is the Government helping them or are we allowing them to decide themselves. For the main part, they have intimated consortia that they would like to be in. They are not going alone without any support. Even yesterday, I announced a budget. They had a budget last year. There will be budgets built in to support the formation...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I ask for time because this is important even though I think it was amendment No. 107. I am happy to deal with it now.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am very willing to answer that.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am at the committee's disposal. I am very willing. I was told we would start with the amendments and go through them, but I notice now that we have skipped to amendment No. 107. I have no problem whatsoever in-----

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It is amendment No. 107 because Deputy Burton has asked me to clarify. First, there is no transition period. Second, there must be more than two institutes of technology in a consortium before-----