Results 3,801-3,820 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Will Deputy Ó Broin stop interrupting the Tánaiste?

Other Questions: Technological Universities Data (29 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Deputy for the interest he has shown in the technological university, TU, for the south east. He has been a great supporter for that designation. I also thank all the stakeholders for the work they have done so far and the work that is being done in the application process now for TU designation. The development of TUs is a key priority of the Government. Once operational,...

Other Questions: Technological Universities Data (29 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We have a pot of money for 2018 and I outlined the indicative budget for 2019. However, the drawdown will depend on the progress the consortia make. Some are ahead of others. I will invite all the consortia to meet departmental and HEA officials to help them make successful applications. The Minister and I, and the Department, want the TU applications to be successful. As they progress,...

Other Questions: Technological Universities Data (29 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: No, we are committed as a Government to the four consortia coming together to form four TUs. There will be money but there will not be as much money if a consortium falls behind. Money will be available in 2019 and 2020. These are long-term projects and we want them to succeed. They will change the landscape for students and for regional development.

Other Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (29 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Deputy Aindrias Moynihan for the question. SUSI uses Google Maps. We can certainly take on board what the Deputy has just said. Budget 2011 provided for a number of student grant measures which came into effect for 2011-12. These included the change in the assessment of the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 24 km to 45 km. The 24 km criterion...

Other Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (29 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We have looked at it and we believe that it is a transparent process. I hear the Deputy's comments but the process does indicate the shortest distance from A to B. As I said, we use Google Maps. I hear the Deputy's argument, but at the moment there is no review under way.

Other Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (29 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There is an appeals system in place and we have specialist equipment to check the shortest distance. There is an appeals system in place.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Diaspora Issues (29 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Senator Lawless for raising this important matter. I will try to answer the three questions he asked. The current position is that to qualify for funding towards tuition fees, students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia European Union, European Economic Area or Swiss nationality in their own right and have been ordinarily resident in an EU-EEA state or Switzerland...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Diaspora Issues (29 Mar 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: No. I will leave what I have said. The Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, will report to the Cabinet.

Provision of Objective Sex Education Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 Apr 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank those who have proposed this Bill which addresses an important matter that my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, has moved to address. The provision of sex education is an issue of concern. That it was the subject of an ancillary recommendation of the Citizens' Assembly when it considered the eighth amendment of the Constitution is a reflection...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Architectural Heritage (24 Apr 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: And Foxrock.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Architectural Heritage (24 Apr 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising the matter. I, too, pay tribute to the late Mr. Stephen Devaney. I certainly knew him and I am aware of the good work that he did to protect our conservation areas and to protect the beautiful county we all share with Senator Horkan. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, planning authorities are required to maintain a record of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Architectural Heritage (24 Apr 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There is something interesting for all of us who are from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. I see that my notes here mention the telephone box in Foxrock.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Architectural Heritage (24 Apr 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It was erected in 1926. That shows the wide range of structures across the county. This is thought to be the last surviving example of this type of telephone box in the country.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Architectural Heritage (24 Apr 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It looks good.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (26 Apr 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. From listening to the Senator, I know the issue is as important to him as it is to Edel, Linda, Georgina, Wendy, Sarah, Anne and the Senator's patient and also to the many other children around the country. I will try to answer the Senator's question globally and then specifically. I am taking this Commencement matter for the Minister, Deputy...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Institutes of Technology (1 May 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, has also been in touch with me in the past day or two. I have a comprehensive reply but if there are aspects I have not covered at the end, I will make a note and get back to the Senator on them. I visited Castlebar and saw the work that needs to be done. I agree that it should be done as quickly as...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Institutes of Technology (1 May 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I hear the Senator, and want to echo what she has just said. It is a wonderful facility. As I have said, I have visited it and I know exactly how important it is to Mayo, to the region and to the west of Ireland. I saw that roof myself. I thought the work would have started by now. It certainly needs to be refurbished and updated.

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (9 May 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There is a woman speaking.

Other Questions: Third Level Institutions (22 May 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The sale of the properties referred to by the Deputy is a key element of the funding strategy for the consolidation of DIT on the Grangegorman campus. The recent signing of a public private partnership contract to construct and operate two major new academic buildings on the Grangegorman site means there is now a clear timeline for vacating several existing DIT buildings around Dublin city....