Results 401-420 of 10,554 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Over the last number of years, SETU have been working closely with Wexford County Council (WCC) to help identify an appropriate site for a permanent home for their Wexford Campus. As part of this engagement, a preferred site was identified. Following a lengthy negotiation process between WCC and the Vendor, agreement could not be reached on price. WCC have progressed the acquisition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Graduate entry medicine (GEM) is a pathway for degree holders who want to pursue a medical career on an accelerated four-year programme. Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding. They are also not eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme as they do not meet the progression criteria of the Scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Confucius Institutes are an initiative of the Chinese Government, intended to promote study and awareness of Chinese language and culture worldwide. There are three Confucius Institutes in Ireland; in UCD, UCC and the University of Galway. Ireland's universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, and the management of their day to day...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Construction Industry (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I welcome the opportunity to set out some of the main actions led by my Department to help alleviate constraints that inevitably arise in meeting labour demand in a full employment economy. A key priority is to equip the current workforce and those entering it with the skills required to deliver national priorities for residential construction and retrofitting, and delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1721 and 1728 together. My Department and officials do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate official text. My Department will continue to monitor developments in relation to AI, in particular with regard to potential applications that may be identified by other Government Departments and whether specific training is appropriate. The information...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant in major restructuring events. The EGF does not provide supports directly to workers. Instead, it co-funds active labour market supports that Member States offer. Under the EGF rules, in general, Member States may apply for EGF...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant in major restructuring events. The EGF does not provide supports directly to workers. Instead, it co-funds active labour market supports that Member States offer. Under the EGF rules, in general, Member States may apply for EGF...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: A Pilot Support Scheme was introduced in 2015, for prospective students who are in the broad international protection system. It provides supports to students who are pursuing an approved course in an approved college. It offers grant support along similar lines to the current Student Grant Scheme (the SUSI scheme) to eligible applicants who are in the protection system and who are either:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: In October 2022, an independent and comprehensive National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers was announced; the first time that this issue has been considered holistically in this manner. The first report of the Co-Chairs, Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney, was published in summer 2023. In it they recommended an increase towards an optimum PhD stipend level of €25,000,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy may be aware, the objective of the statutory based student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grants purposes, students are categorised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Staff of my Department are accommodated in premises in St.Stephen's Green. They are also in Marlborough Street and Tullamore on a shared basis with other Departments and Offices. The full address and Eircode can be found below: Address Eircode 52 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 D02 DR67 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 D01 RC96 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Travel (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The details sought by the Deputy are as follows: Year Minister & Accompanying official Purpose/visit Flights Hotel Transfers and other Miscellaneous costs 2023 Saint Patrick's Day visit San Francisco/Vancouver March 2023 Minister Harris San...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy may be aware, the objective of the statutory based student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grants purposes, students are categorised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: In October 2022, an independent and comprehensive National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers was announced; the first time that this issue has been considered holistically in this manner. The first report of the Co-Chairs, Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney, was published in summer 2023. In it they recommended an increase towards an optimum PhD stipend level of €25,000,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: A new Student Accommodation Strategy is in development following Government approval of the long-term Policy in January 2024. The Strategy aims to increase supply of state supported student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance, promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Apprentices are primarily employees and all 77 apprenticeship programmes currently available are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer, with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements. The Government is seeking to boost the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The information in relation to details of any public contracts in the Department provided to companies or individuals who do not pay tax in Ireland, including the names of the contractor, value of the contract and purpose of the contract, in tabular form is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available. The Deputy's office has been contacted to confirm the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (22 Jan 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I can confirm that my Department has had no contract with any of the aforementioned companies.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (7 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568, 572, 573 and 574 together. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous under the relevant legislation. This autonomy includes the development and implementation of policies, procedures, day to day management and the administration of their academic affairs. As such neither I nor my Department have a direct role in these matters.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (7 Nov 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Springboard+ is a Government initiative managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of my Department, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science (DFHERIS). Since 2022, eligibility for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) for Springboard+ courses is determined ostensibly on the same basis as Irish citizens. However, specific...