Results 541-560 of 1,030,930 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú OR speaker:Simon Harris)

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]

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

Seán Canney: A proposal to establish two new veterinary colleges has been put forward. When will the two preferred locations be announced in order that those involved can get on with establishing these veterinary colleges, which will be very important for rural Ireland and those involved in agriculture?

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

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Higher Education Authority recently ran a process to identify options to expand higher education provision in a number of priority skills areas, including veterinary medicine. Proposals were put forward by a range of higher education institutions under this process. The options identified have the potential to significantly increase the numbers of students...

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

Seán Canney: I wish the Minister well in his new position. This is the first time I have had the chance to do so publicly. I accept that the process is ongoing. I know that the Minister and his colleague, the Minister for agriculture, will look at the financial supports and how they will be brought together. The Minister mentioned that the decision on where these veterinary schools will be located is...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for his warm wishes. The decision relating to this matter will be based on a number of key indicators I have already outlined with regard to the provision of additional spaces. I know that the Deputy has a particular interest in one location is his area. He is to be commended for raising this in the Dail. The decision will be made in a collaboration between ourselves,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dental Services (23 May 2024)

Mairead Farrell: I concur with Deputy Stanton. This is a really important issue that has been raised previously. As the Deputy stated, it is an issue not just for those in the south of the country but also for everyone. There has been a 25% increase in the number of patients in the public system, and we are breaking at the seams in respect of the number of dentists there are versus the number we need....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dental Services (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: For the academic year 2022-23, UCC had an intake of 50 and Trinity had 45, so the total is 100 or thereabouts. I do not disagree. This goes back to much of what the previous contributor asked about with regard to workforce planning. These are the dialogues we are having in respect of not only dentists but also pharmacists, vets, carpenters, builders and bricklayers. Regardless of the...

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

Further and Higher Education

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

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on his plans to enhance disability supports for students in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19707/24]

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

Patrick O'Donovan: Inclusion is one of six strategic goals set out in my Department's statement of strategy. The national access plan, NAP, has identified a number of priority groups who are under-represented in higher education and need additional focus, including students with disabilities. The Department has provided funding of an additional €35 million to support the objectives of the NAP over its...

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

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I appreciate the response. As the Minister will know, students with disabilities suffer significant disadvantage when it comes to college attendance and face additional costs to provide for their needs and equipment. The disability access route to education, DARE, programme provides significant supports to students with disabilities to access third level. The Minister's predecessor...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: As I said in response to other Deputies who raised issues regarding the budget, I will be guided to a large degree by many of the issues that are raised directly by Members of the House, including people such as the Deputy. The proportion of new entrants in 2022 who had a disability was 12.5%, whereas the current figure is 13.8%, with a target of 16%, so we are going in the right direction....