Results 2,401-2,420 of 6,100 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: Well, I am to a certain extent, because there have been occasions where I have heard what in my view was money being reannounced. On looking into it further, I have seen that had been announced two years running and had been within the base of the budgets at that time. In my view, when the Minister previously announced that 521 beds, I think it was irresponsible to reannounce them because...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: Absolutely.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: They did not-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: How many beds-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: How many-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: How many beds exactly does the Minister expect and anticipate? To be clear, I asked the universities a straightforward question. I did not ask them to comment on policy. I would not expect them to comment on policy to me. I am sure they would go directly to the Minister in that regard. I asked the universities specifically how many vacant and derelict properties they have on site and how...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: That is fair. I am just wondering about the numbers and what has come back to me.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: No, I made it clear I was asking with regard to the grant announced last week.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: I have a question on them as well. I am aware that I am limited on time. This is something I am trying to get my head around. Last week, the Minister mentioned that the TUs were to submit the plans to develop student accommodation projects. Obviously, the TUs cannot borrow at the moment because they would need to be deemed autonomous public sector bodies to be able to borrow off balance...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: Are the technological universities then okay to borrow?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: I am talking about off-balance sheet borrowing. If they have been approved by Eurostat, they can borrow off balance sheet, which means that such borrowing would not be part of the Government debt. What is the story there? Has that been approved or not?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: It has not been approved. Okay.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: I am just asking-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: That is what I was thinking because I did not see the Eurostat part.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: Has it been okayed by Eurostat?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: When does he expect that to happen?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: Is it the case that they can borrow off balance sheet?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: I am aware of that as well.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: However, it is my understanding that the TUs thought there was going to be a proposal as regards borrowing off balance sheet.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Mairéad Farrell: There is nothing there in that regard. It would have to be internally from the Government, presumably with - let us be frank - external financing as well. Is that what the Minister is saying? I know that decision has not been made but is that where we are.