Results 2,061-2,080 of 6,100 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 May 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: 329. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in relation to a matter (details supplied), he will identify the income that University of Limerick receives per annum from its commercial owned company in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19685/24]

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: If these price increases tell us absolutely anything about the Government, it is that it is completely and utterly tone deaf to the reality for people across this State. People are already struggling. The cost-of-living crisis is still here. People are facing huge challenges every day because of it. What is the Government's response to that? It increases the price of petrol and diesel,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Go raibh maith agaibh as teacht os comhair an choiste. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and their opening statements. They were very interesting and it is very much appreciated. I will start with the Department first. I have an interest in local authorities and their use of apprentices and that kind of thing, especially given...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Is that craft or-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Could Mr. Beausang confirm that? I see people suffering because their houses are not up to standard and I see empty boarded-up houses, and those are the kinds of things that need to be turned around and that is what we need to look at. At the same time, it would be powerful to give young people opportunities in their local authorities and areas in which they can see the work they are doing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I am conscious of my time and I am worried the Chair will stop me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Does Mr. Beausang expect to hit that 10,000 target? The 2020 target was 9,000 and we are not hitting that yet. Does he think we will hit the 2020 target?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: At the same time, we are looking at the local authorities and that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I understand what happened in 2020 but if we are not hitting the 2020 target of 9,000 now, I do not see the benefit of us talking about another target we might not hit either. That is my concern.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Absolutely. May I ask another question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I have a question for SOLAS. Mr. Brownlee will be aware of backlogs and so on.. We have had discussions on the matter and tabled parliamentary questions on it. Last week, I got a response to a parliamentary question in which I was trying to establish how long it takes for an apprenticeship to finish. All going according to plan, it should take four years. There are backlogs, however. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I just-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Can Mr. Brownlee expand on that a little?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Could Mr. Brownlee expand on those workshops a little? Where are they? What are they covering? What are the crafts for which they are being used?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I am aware of time constraints. We discussed the target of 10,000. Obviously, there is a huge issue in terms of our housing crisis and having people and the capacity to build the houses we so desperately need. From what I understand, the figure of 10,000 includes both craft and consortia apprenticeships, and it is not an official target for craft apprenticeships or new registrations. Can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: If I am ever talking about housing and the need to ramp up the housing supply, the first question I always get asked is around the fact we do not have the people to build it. There are different issues. There is the apprenticeship side of things and then there are people building hotels and office blocks rather homes and all that kind of thing. That is why I feel strongly about this. One...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: There is, yes. I saw it on the news.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I am conscious of my time. That is something I feel really passionately about as well. On that whole issue of the 10,000 target, the growth of apprenticeships is something we hear about a lot from Government. That is extremely welcome. It is really good that people have different opportunities and all that. However, I was looking at the growth of consortia apprentices versus the growth...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Those are the figures.