Results 341-360 of 10,459 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department, in line with other government departments, requires Civil Servants to comply with Sections 31-34 of the Circular 4/2013, when returning from a Career Break. In particular, Section 31, which states that ‘in order to secure an offer of work, the civil servant must indicate at least two months before the end of his/her career break that s/he wishes to return to work....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Museum Projects (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Since its establishment in 2021, my Department has had no role in this matter. My Department has not provided funding for the development of a children’s science museum and does not have resources assigned to support it. Neither has my Department engaged with the OPW in respect of the project. Officials of my Department have reviewed the paper and electronic files available to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2024 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost-of-living. These cost-of-living measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee payable by higher education students that are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI). Under the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) the State provides funding, exclusive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Budget 2024 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost of living. These cost-of-living measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students who are eligible for Free Fees. Under the progression criteria of the Free Fees scheme, it is not possible for a student to avail of free fees where they are pursuing a second...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Equipment (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Attached for the Deputy's information is a table detailing my Department's total expenditure on mobile phones services for departmental staff in 2024. Prior to January 2024, mobile services contracts and expenditure for DFHERIS officials were managed and met by the Department of Education on a shared services basis under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Bodies (5 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have received a draft version of the 2023 Annual Report from the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The HEA has informed me that the 2023 Annual Report is currently being translated into Irish and going through final design stages. It is expected that this work will be completed within the next few weeks. The HEA will send me a copy of the final 2023 Annual Report once it becomes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (24 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) manages the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) for higher education on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). Funding under the FSD is provided to HEIs as a block grant to assist them in offering supports and services to eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Properties (24 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will be aware that Kerry ETB are being supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for the proposed infrastructure that will be delivered in Killarney under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. The proposal put forward by KETB is one...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Supports for students living in Palestine are delivered through a number of Irish Universities as part of the Scholars at Risk Programme and University Sanctuary Programmes, in addition to specific institutional responses. This includes specific scholarships schemes and other well-being supports. The Department of Foreign Affairs is also providing support to students from Palestine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. As per Article 17(4)(b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2024, a student or tuition student is ineligible for grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Placements for health and social care programmes are arranged at the level of each individual Higher Education Institution as part of their programme offering, to be delivered in conjunction with relevant clinical placement providers. Early Years Education programme placements are provided by early years education settings. Placement hours are a requirement of the regulator to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will be aware that I published the Annual Options Paper on Reducing the Cost of Education in September (). The paper identifies various options to reduce the cost of education, including options to reduce the student contribution paid by students. The Annual Options Paper has estimated the cost of removing the student contribution at circa €289m; this is the net cost...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government recognises third level education can be a significant cost for families and students. The Deputy will be aware that I published, in September, this year’s Annual Options Paper on the cost of education which sets out options for further enhancement of student supports across the various sectors and was considered as part of this year’s budgetary process. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the curriculum and student numbers on individual courses. The costs incurred by a HEI in increasing student places on a particular course or establishing an additional course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Bodies (23 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The following table includes a breakdown of all payments made to CEOs of State agencies under the remit of my department for each year since 2022 in tabular form. Name of Body Salary of CEO or equivalent paid at the Scale or Rate ( please check to ensure Grade salary scale details are up to date) Other payments/bonuses paid Describe nature of any benefit in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (22 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the curriculum and student numbers on individual courses. The costs incurred by a HEI in increasing student places on a particular course or establishing an additional course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances...