Results 441-460 of 10,490 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (15 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Free Fees Initiative, the State provides funding supports for students attending undergraduate higher education courses. Under the progression criteria of the scheme, it is not possible for a students to avail of free fees where they are undertaking a second course of study having previously completed an undergraduate course of study at level 8. The objective of this policy is to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: For the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes including for the motor mechanic programme, the sectoral gross wage norms are either agreed within the relevant sector through collective bargaining agreements, or are set out in legally binding Sectoral Employment Orders recommended by the Labour Court. Periods of off-the-job training are funded from the National Training Fund with payments made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (15 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: An official from my Department has advised that the student outlined by the Deputy was awarded the €500 student contribution grant by the awarding authority, SUSI, for the 2024/2025 academic year. Following a request in September for a review of their application due to a reduction in household income, SUSI requested further documentation from the student in support of the declared...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Engagements (15 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Minister has attended international events and engagements where the media has been in attendance. However, as the media organisations were not part of the Ministers’ delegation no costs were incurred by this Department for their attendance.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (10 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible 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 the Deputy may be aware, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (10 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department was established in mid-2020. Following its establishment, my officials contracted Crowe Ireland on a consultancy basis to assist with the development of the organisational structure and operations of the new Government. Department details are supplied below and are also published here: . Company Crowe Ireland Date March 2021 Report...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Chairman. I thank the committee for rescheduling this meeting, which was due to be held in the summer but was postponed due to a bereavement. I thank my officials for joining me today. My Department is committed to supporting the success of all learners and drive improvements in the overall performance of the tertiary education system as well as providing continued support...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In the three-year period between 2021 and 2023, 1,526 were recorded as having left their apprenticeship. The total apprenticeship population-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: There was €77.4 million investment to grow apprenticeships. This funding represents an increase of approximately €39 million from 2024-2025, a 13% increase. The funding will provide for 6,800 craft registrations forecast in 2025. There is €5.9 million to grow the consortia-led apprenticeship, €4 million to enable transition to the single system of apprenticeship...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The registrations for craft in 2023 were 6,588, for consortia-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Well, no, from 2023 to 2024 we hope to have the capacity in the system to allow for growth of 34%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: We are also using the money, as I said on the day I spoke in the Dáil, with regard to the €77.4 million-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: We had a backlog, as the Deputy will be aware.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: We have cleared that backlog substantially, and this represents a more than a 30% increase in the capacity we were able to deliver in 2023 versus 2025.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy and other colleagues have raised in the Dáil on many occasions-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: -----we had a backlog problem. We have invested heavily in that and cleared that backlog, as she is aware. The capacity in the system will allow us to deliver in excess of 30% more. With regard to the ETBs alone, the training capacity in the ETBs has increased by 34%, from 5,600 places in 2023 to more than 7,500 places in August 2024.