Results 4,761-4,780 of 5,757 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The second part of this meeting, which will start at 5.15 p.m., will address skills development and apprenticeships. The committee recognises that it is hugely important for a modern economy that we do all we can to help support skills development and the skills development system. Regarding subhead B5, the metrics are very useful in terms of looking at this. There were 12 key high...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. I will now open questions on the other subheads in programme B.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Is there anything else on programme B?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We will now move on to programme C, higher education. I propose we start with subhead C4, universities, institutes of technology and others being granted aid, and subhead C11, student support and related expenses.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I take it Deputy Catherine Martin is talking about the Wake Up SUSI campaign, which we heard about eight months ago. It is probably only a small number of students who are affected but the feeling of the committee at the time was that they deserve the same level of support. One thing that struck us was that the CAO form does not specify that these colleges are not covered by SUSI grants....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We also have to take into account the 12,000 Irish students currently studying in England and Northern Ireland. In the event of a hard Brexit, we may have to cater for these extra numbers. Approximately 2,000 of those students currently avail of SUSI grants.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I said at the start we would not stray into policy areas but I support what Deputy Catherine Martin said. I had a conversation with the clerk to the committee earlier and we will table that issue at our next meeting in terms of a recommendation that we could make to the Minister.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am going to move on to other subheads in programme C. If members have any questions, please indicate which subhead they wish to speak about?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I refer to teacher training colleges specifically. In regard to budgetary allocations, I had a meeting with principals in my constituency of Kildare South last Monday week and one of the key things they felt was needed was far more training in the teacher training colleges and afterwards around mental health, supporting positive mental health in schools, special needs and autistic spectrum...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate that. For the Minister's information, we had a committee session around the whole area of positive mental health and we invited a number of witnesses. We will be in the process of finalising our report to the Minister in the coming weeks and we look forward to sending that on to him for his observations. We now move to programme D, capital services, which is on page 26 of...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is some 15 years since the devolved grant was brought into policy and I can see the fruits of that within my own county. However, I have not heard much about it recently and I wonder whether it is still being used to the same extent. It certainly seemed to be a very good use of money. I am conscious that subhead D3 also provides for grants towards rental of temporary school premises,...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister. Do members have any other questions on subhead D?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I would like to make a point in support of Deputy Byrne. Sometimes there is a lack of consultation with local communities about the proposed use of an old school. I have, however, seen really good results. For example, in Rathangan where I am from, the old vocational school became a day care centre. Step-down housing was also built for old people, which was fantastic. The new boys'...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: And so there should be.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I suggest that we ask the Minister to come back to us with best case examples of that. It would certainly seem appropriate to look at further educational use if a building is being deployed for a particular reason. If not, however, a possible further community use should be the fall-back position. I think we have concluded this part of the meeting, so I wish to thank the Minister, Deputy...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Resumed)
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Fine, that is fair enough. I thank Deputy Byrne for that. That concludes our consideration of the Revised Estimates for Public Services: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Message to Dáil (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: In accordance with Standing Order 90, the following message will be sent to the Dáil:The Select Committee on Education and Skills has considered the Revised Estimates for Public Services: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills. We will now adjourn until 5.15 p.m. when the joint committee will meet concerning an examination of the skills development strategy and apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 62. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the local enterprise office grant and support scheme will receive more funding in 2018 in order to allow a greater number of small businesses and start-ups to avail of support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23036/17]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 71. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to establish mini business development centres in rural towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23035/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (16 May 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department caps per-pupil primary school funding at 500 pupils; and the rationale and justification for this. [22951/17]