Results 341-360 of 1,021,384 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Vincent P Martin OR speaker:Gino Kenny) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I do not have anything more to add. We are taking this issue very seriously. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement with regard to this as soon as possible. However, there is a caveat having had regard to all of the indicators I set out, which the Deputy will appreciate as a former Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (23 May 2024)

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2024)

Departmental Programmes

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: 49. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what his Department intends to do to increase the number of Irish businesses using big data, the cloud, and AI. [23124/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: My question relates to the number of Irish businesses using big data. I want to ask the Minister of State about the digital intensity of Irish businesses, specifically SMEs. While I appreciate some businesses cannot be any more digitally intensified, there is scope there. We know digitisation is one of the twin challenges facing our economy now and into the future. I ask for an update on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2024)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy. Our Department is taking action on three fronts to increase the number of Irish businesses using big data, the cloud and AI. First, we are engaging with experts. I chair the newly refreshed enterprise digital advisory forum, which comprises industry and expert representatives and provides valuable advice and perspectives on how we can best help businesses to digitalise...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for the response. In his follow-up response, he might address how we compare with the targets set in harnessing digital 2030. The four Ds of demographics, decarbonisation, digitalisation and de-globalisation are key trends likely to transform our economy over the next decade. Increasing digitisation is foundational in terms of putting the economy on the front...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2024)

Dara Calleary: I agree with the Deputy. We tend to monitor them. We work with the EU so that there is independent monitoring. We are one of the most advanced EU member states in that context. The EU digital economic and society index, known as DESI, published as part of the report on the digital decade, shows that Ireland has a leading position in the EU in terms of SMEs, with a basic level of digital...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: It is a brave Minister who would mention the portal in the current climate, so fair play to you. The Minister referenced 22.7% of business using big data, which is a small figure. I appreciate he said the figures are not where he would like them to be. Of the 75% not using big data, a substantial portion could and should be using it. I would like a bigger focus on encouraging that. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2024)

Dara Calleary: Absolutely, but we already are a world leading digital economy. I want us to stay there and grow that in our indigenous enterprise space. We are there because of policy decisions taken by successive governments to invest in this space. We want to grow it by expanding the confidence of businesses to take the journey. That is why we expanded the trading online voucher and are investing in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (23 May 2024)

Small and Medium Enterprises

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (23 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: 50. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the main supports to the SME sector his Department is proposing, including additions to the increased cost of business scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23223/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (23 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: It is refreshing to see three Ministers from the Department taking questions. It shows the importance of the Department. My question relates to the main supports for the SME sector the Department is proposing, including additions to the increased cost of business scheme.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (23 May 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Shanahan for posing this important question. The Government has adopted a proactive approach in supporting the Irish SME sector across multiple crises over recent years. Over the two-year period to budget 2024, a total of €12 billion was provided in cost-of-living and doing business supports, comprising a mix of permanent and one-off measures, most significantly the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: This is absolutely vital work that needs to be done. We constantly talk about how we have to move beyond reasonable accommodations and in the context of universal design, facilitate all sorts of people. It is fair to say that major work has been done in new pathways and route maps for people as regards education. I visited the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence yesterday...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Before the Deputy entered the Chamber, I referred to the movement from second level to tertiary level, particularly for those who are in receipt of personal assistance hours. In many cases, they move from primary to secondary with school special needs assistants or other forms of assistance and then there is a cliff edge. There is no doubt that this cliff edge is extremely daunting. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I also visited Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, recently, which offers a particular course relating to skills for independent living. DkIT has particular issues with regard to SUSI. I hope this will be looked at as we carry out reviews. I am very glad the Minister spoke about the cliff edge that exists, particularly when kids hit the age of 18. With regard to services across the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have no problem at all in doing so. In the context of the discussion on personal assistants, we are in the same place now as our predecessors were 20 years ago in their discussions about special needs assistants in the primary sector. It is a natural and good progression. It is a good progression because many of the people we are talking about have come through extremely challenging...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (23 May 2024)

Third Level Education

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (23 May 2024)

Seán Canney: 19. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on the selection of the two locations for the new veterinary schools it is proposed to establish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/24]