Results 4,041-4,060 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank, in particular, Deputy Thomas Byrne, the other Deputies present and the Members of the Seanad for getting this Bill through. I also thank the people who helped us, namely, William Beausang, Padraig Hennigan, Wendy Ross and Joe Gleeson. We have worked on the issue for years and tonight we are successful. The Bill will be transformative for education. The Royal College of Surgeons...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Group 1 comprises four amendments to transfer a subsection from section 55I to section 55G and make the relevant consequential changes. It is to correct a drafting error identified in the section following the Bill's initial passage through the Seanad.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Group 2 comprises amendments Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive. Again, they are technical drafting changes to better align the text of section 79 of the principal Act with provisions introduced elsewhere in the Bill. It will allow Quality and Qualifications Ireland to more accurately represent the different classes and types of award included in the national framework of qualifications when...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Is that agreed to?

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Amendment No. 8 is required to correct a cross-reference in section 34. Group 5 contains amendments to section 37. Amendment No. 9 is a technical amendment to correct a drafting error identified in section 37.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Senators for their contributions. We have put together a really strong Bill which will underpin quality and the agenda in the higher and further education sector. Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, will be a much stronger, more effective and responsive regulator. The Bill will enable it to tackle many challenges, especially among English language colleges and education...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Catchment Areas (13 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Deputies Ryan and O'Reilly for raising this matter. I am sorry that the Minister, Deputy McHugh, is not here. I have been given an answer by the Department. I will go back to the Minister with the extra information. I will make sure he contacts both Deputies. I spent approximately 18 years working as a school principal. I understand all the issues around education. I am pleased...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Catchment Areas (13 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will relay to the Minister that the Deputies wish to meet him. They referred to the need to provide additional capacity from next September. The information I have in front of me indicates that the Department is in ongoing direct contact with the patron of Skerries community college regarding capacity in the school. The Deputies have stated there are approximately 900 students in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Catchment Areas (13 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am aware of that issue.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Institutes of Technology (13 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I know he has a particular interest in this issue but I do see that we are joined by a school and students. As Minister of State with responsibility for higher education, the epicentre of everything I do is ensuring that students and young students coming through our education system get the very best. I have said on numerous occasions in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Institutes of Technology (13 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I wish to be very clear that any institute of technology can decide to seek to join an existing consortium if all parties agree. That reset button is there from the Department of Education and Skills. We would welcome any positive moves from any institutes of technology. Senator Nash is referring to Dundalk Institute of Technology in particular but I would say to the other consortia to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (19 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am committed to continuing the process of investing in our higher education system and to the development and implementation of a sustainable funding model for the sector. The Government's commitment to investment in higher education is clearly demonstrated by the scale of investment in higher education in recent years, particularly in the previous three budgets. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (19 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We have increased funding by €370 million over the past two years and into 2020. That money is in response to the Cassells report. As the Deputy knows, we are sending that report to Europe for an evaluation. It is not just about higher education. We also want an evaluation regarding apprenticeships and to know about future skills needs. All of that will be evaluated and dealt with...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (19 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am sure the Deputy has read the Cassells report. What is in that piece of work is all about the lecturer and student ratio. I believe we need to make decisions for Ireland and more importantly for the students. We must look at apprenticeships, the future jobs, what is being delivered and the funding. The Deputy asked if I have a steer on it. The single steer I am giving publicly is...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (19 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: That is fine. That was one of the models. Another was to continue as we are, with the students continuing to pay and extra funding from the State, which we are providing. The third was the student loan.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (19 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The establishment of technological universities, including one in the south east, is an important part of the Government's higher education policy. Under the statutory framework detailed in the Technological Universities Act 2018, it is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant institutes of technology participating in a technological university development consortium to progress...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (19 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am sorry that Deputy Browne is not hearing anything because I am hearing a lot. As the Deputy stated, the combined profile of the two south east institutes of technology is more than 15,000 students and some 2,000 staff. Progress has been made. I was very disappointed that the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, branch members of IT Carlow voted in June to reject the agreement reached with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (19 Nov 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Deputy knows how difficult it is to ensure there is a strong budget behind what we hope to do. The huge amount of €90 million shows our intent and the Government's policy. We will continue to put money towards the development of technological universities. As Minister of State, I have visited Waterford at least four times and the same with Carlow. In the interim, they have also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Chairman and committee for their invitation to attend to discuss the issue of Traveller participation in higher education. Our third national access plan for equity of access to higher education sets out our current strategy to address under-representation in higher education by groups identified in the plan. The plan identifies Irish Travellers as one of the target groups that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Chairman for all of the work she does. It is acknowledged throughout the Traveller community. Last week, I launched the action plan for increasing Traveller participation in higher education. I mentioned figures earlier but the Chair is right that there is not meaningful inclusion and in asking whether Travellers drop out or get pushed out. It was very interesting that there...