Results 1,241-1,260 of 6,969 for speaker:Rose Conway-Walsh

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: That is what we all want to achieve. I am trying to get into the mindset of a second-year law student who is at home now wondering if he or she will be on campus half, three quarters or full time. That has knock-on effects on accommodation and other issues for students. There is significant pressure because of accommodation and the housing situation, especially in Dublin, with students now...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: What about English language students who are here now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: Most of them are unvaccinated. My concern is that there is this variant and the numbers are increasing exponentially. There are 10,000 mostly unvaccinated students. Will the Minister maybe contradict me on that or provide some information?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I intend to use my time to ask short questions and facilitate an exchange with the witnesses, if that is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: First, I acknowledge the work that has been done across the sector and the challenges that have been faced in the past year. On antigen testing, obviously I wish this had been done earlier. We are backing up into September. I am concerned that everything will happen in September. A total of €1.2 million was granted and a target of 8,000 students was earmarked. Will that target...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: That was my belief because during the summer many students, such as those in my house, live at home, which begs the question of from where one will get the students. The figure of 8,000 was not plucked from the air; there is a reason it was selected in terms of the integrity of what is being proposed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: We look forward to that. The Minister, Deputy Harris, stated today that a funding package to support sustainable reopening will be made available. It will be announced on 19 July, which is a key date for many people across the State. Has all the money allocated last year been spent or is some of it being returned to the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I am sorry for interrupting Professor Ó hÓgartaigh but I have several questions to ask. What I am trying to get at is that if the money has not been spent this year, will it be rolled over? Can we be guaranteed that the money that will be announced on 19 July will be new money rather than money that has been sent back or not spent?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: That is key. How many extra laboratory places or medicine places have been created with money that was allocated last year in terms of capital funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: We can never have enough places in that sense. Can the institutions provide lectures online next year for vulnerable students? Can lectures in lecture theatres be recorded and provided online so that those who cannot attend in person can avail of them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I will turn to the issue of apprenticeships if our guests do not mind. I am really concerned on this issue. I am concerned because the waiting list was 6,928 at the beginning of the year but in May it was 9,071. The Minister told me today that the current waiting list is in excess of 10,000. Our guests have indicated that 4,500 will be addressed in the famous month of September or in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: That is very concerning. If the Minister is stating that it is more than 10,000 for phases 2, 4 and 6 but Mr. Kearney is saying the figure is much lower, that does not fill me with confidence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I acknowledge that it is challenging, as was discussed already. Are restrictions currently in place in respect of the number of classes that can be held on site?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I apologise for interrupting. I will return to matters relating to universities and to the restrictions on the number of classes on site. What percentage of the normal amount of class time can students expect to have in September under the plans in place for universities? Dr. Ryan or Professor Ó hÓgartaigh may wish to respond on that issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: Yes, I will, if you allow me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I hope that student kept the Chairman long enough at the door to give us a chance; I am glad he was doing his job. First, I recently visited Ballyfermot College of Further Education, BCFE, the principal, Ms Cecilia Monro, and her team. The building belies the extent of their work, particularly around animation, as well as on other things. I could feel the student-focused ethos of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: No. I am asking if there will be restrictions on the numbers in classes. Will that mean that we can accommodate, say, 70% students who want to come back? Would it be 60%, or whatever? I want to get a picture of expectations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I thank the Acting Chair and I thank Ms Donegan, Ms Dolan and Ms Austick for their submissions. My first question is for the USI. Ms Austic stated that the USI is gravely concerned about the inclusion of the value-for-money criterion and the risk it poses in the context of pushing us further down the road of the marketisation and commercialisation of third level education. I very much...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: That is enormously important. I think we are losing that, in particular we are losing the ability to be able to critically analyse things, which is what is needed for the workforce. It is also what is needed on one's journey through education and in life. I have a couple of questions so I will move on. In the 180 pages of the Bill there is no reference to trade unions. At a time when...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I share Ms Donegan's concerns. Does Ms Dolan wish to speak to that?