Results 2,141-2,160 of 11,777 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (20 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: In late 2020, the NTF Advisory Group agreed a 24 month work plan to examine a range of themes that will ultimately guide upskilling and reskilling priorities for the NTF into the future.  During its quarterly meetings over the period, the Group intends to consider a range of issues, including: - Automation and future world of work - Funding strategy - NTF Metrics and evaluation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (20 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (19 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: 486. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will confirm the membership of his Departmental working group on the review of the CAS AHB Green Book; the way and location a person or group may make a submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51217/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: Work on the establishment of the National Apprenticeship Office is ongoing at the current time.  The focus of the two organisations involved in its establishment, SOLAS and the HEA, has necessarily been on ensuring that apprentices have been returned to training following COVID-19 related disruptions to many apprenticeships.   Work in the establishment of the Office,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (19 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: 927. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte is a commercial semi-State body and therefore must abide by the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies; if the board of Coillte is accountable to him as Minister in this regard and as agreed by the shareholder letter of expectation (details supplied); and if the State assets are being disposed of by Coillte,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 151 together. The Further and Higher Education sectors provide a broad range of courses and programmes in Hospitality and Tourism nationwide. My Department is represented on the Fáilte Ireland Career’s Oversight Group and there is ongoing engagement between my officials and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Oct 2021)

Niall Collins: My officials contacted City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) regarding this matter. From these enquiries I understand that because the Donnycarney group was a pre-existing group, but new to the CDETB service, the first step was for the tutors to meet with the students and carry out an initial assessment. This happened during the week beginning the 27th September. While...

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...

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...

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 - 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...

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...