Results 9,601-9,620 of 11,795 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (7 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on the behalf of Higher Education Institutions. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs, in line with their institutional autonomy, who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO, and it is not within my remit to influence...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (7 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: The substantive post of Chief Science Advisor was abolished in 2012 and the current Director General of SFI has been given the title of Chief Science Advisor on an unremunerated basis. My Department is conducting a review of science advisory structures, including whether there is a role for a chief science advisor, to see how best to meet future needs in this regard. This review is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy for her question. As she is aware, the development and promotion of apprenticeships is a significant Government priority in responding to the key skill needs across the economy. These requirements are identified through work carried out to project workforce and skills needs in key economic sectors. In particular, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs plays a crucial...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: An integral part of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is the establishment of the national apprenticeship office and a stakeholder group to inform that office in doing its work of co-ordinating and researching the particular demands of the whole apprenticeship area. I have already referred to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. The development of any apprenticeship is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: I could not agree with the Deputy more. The Minister, Deputy Harris, and I have taken every opportunity to seek to promote the whole area of apprenticeships. In conjunction with the action plan, we are taking concrete steps to embed apprenticeship offerings and further education and training options into the Central Applications Office, CAO, process. This will mainstream apprenticeships...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy. We are committed to significant expansion in apprenticeships to secure the targets set out in the apprenticeship action plan, given the key role of apprenticeship in meeting key workforce needs. Apprenticeship is a demand-driven educational and training programme, which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: As I pointed out to the Deputy, the new national apprenticeship office is to be established and a director appointed this month. That office emerges from the apprenticeship action plan and will act as an umbrella and overseer of the entire apprenticeship landscape. Allied to the national apprenticeship office will be the national apprenticeship alliance, a stakeholder group which will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: Of course it is a concern. The level of dropout from any course is a concern but it is not exclusive to apprenticeships. There are turnover and different dropout rates throughout our third-level sector. That is just one of the challenges. It is about choice as well. Sometimes, people make a career choice which is not suited to them or does not work out. Our job is to identify the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: Some 17 apprenticeships are in development and this will be of interest to Deputy Stanton as well. A further 19 apprenticeships are at an exploratory stage. They are wide and varied and include dental technician, accountancy, artificial intelligence, barbering, beauty and engineering. Deputy Moynihan specifically referenced childcare. The apprenticeship council, SOLAS, and staff at my...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: 514. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their amended EU digital Covid certificate. [49354/21]

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: I am delighted to take up where my colleague left off and comment on the budget for our Department. By any yardstick, since its inception, this new Department has hit the ground running and made an impact. It has mattered most to students, who are the most important stakeholders that we strive to serve within this new Department. The total spend of €374 million is a significant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a broad range of further education and training provision available from Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board. It takes place in a wide range of settings including PLC programmes at Monaghan Institute, a wide range of adult and community education programmes, Youthreach, as well as apprenticeships, traineeships and other upskilling and reskilling...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: The development of new apprenticeships is employer led and is subject to a defined development and approval process, the details of which are publically available on www.apprenticeship.ie. The Apprenticeship Council, SOLAS and staff from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science have met with and communicated with representatives from the early...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 promotes general access, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship by offering targeted supports to encourage participation from under-represented groups such as women, those with disabilities and those from ethnic minority backgrounds. Targets and interventions for specific groups will be detailed through an Equity of Access subcommittee of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: Actions in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 continue to be implemented, to work towards delivering a flexible and responsive system for employers and potential apprentices, which is attractive and easy to engage with and delivers high standards and sought after qualifications. A Steering Group, with representatives of SOLAS, the HEA, QQI and the Department is overseeing the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 was launched on 19th April and sets out a five year plan which sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The actions set out in the plan seek to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. The Plan addresses the clear...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: A core focus of my Department's Statement of Strategy is to enable individuals to access the skills required to progress in a way that meets the needs of our economy as it evolves and recovers. Central to this is the partnership approach between Government, Industry, the National Skills Council, the National Training Fund Advisory Group, the Regional Skills Fora and the Further and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: Currently, cypersecurity related apprenticeships are available at QQI qualification level 6 and level 8. Apprenticeships are contracts of employment and persons seeking to become registered apprentices must meet specified criteria in relation to educational attainment and other areas as specified by employers. Targeted supports to widen engagement with cybersecurity apprenticeships...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: Fostering Inclusion is one of the three core pillars of Future FET:Transforming Learning, the National FET Strategy 2020-2024 launched in July 2020.Work is continuing across the sector to enhance the inclusivity, accessibility and flexibility of FET provision. Within their annual service planning processes, the Education and Training Boards consider the needs of the most marginalised groups...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: The further education and training (FET) sector plays a critical role in labour market activation and in upskilling and reskilling people. This role is particularly important as we respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and to the skills challenges associated with workplace changes, particularly related to the climate and digital transitions. The national Strategy, Future FET Transforming...