Results 581-600 of 10,490 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: There are 11 projects being progressed through PPP projects in two bundles. Bundle 1 consists of six projects that are currently in construction. Bundle 2 consists of five projects, two at the SETU campuses of Waterford and Carlow, two at the ATU campuses of Galway and Letterkenny and one in TUS Limerick. The new Engineering, Computing and General Teaching building planned at SETU...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) launched a recruitment campaign in November 2023 as part of the plan agreed with my Department to significantly increase State training capacity to meet the rising demand for craft apprenticeship. The NAO allocated €149,000 to this campaign which targeted potential recruits on social media, radio, and digital audio and video. To support the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 19 together. I am developing a new Student Accommodation Strategy to create an environment where accommodation cost and availability does not act as a barrier to attending third level education. The strategy will include measures to increase the supply of state supported student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery through standardised design...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Increasing the number of places on key health and social care programmes is a priority for my Department. In October 2022, the Higher Education Authority sought proposals from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in a number of critical disciplines, including Pharmacy. The HEA assessed the proposals for new programmes with assistance from a panel of experts. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am conscious of the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to attending higher education. As part of Budget 2025 we have introduced a range of cost of living supports and permanent adjustments to further support students with tuition fee and other costs. The cost-of-living measures includes one off funded reductions in the student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department is continuing to oversee the implementation of a plan put in place by the National Apprenticeship Office to significantly increase apprenticeship capacity and respond to rising craft apprenticeship registrations as a result of our buoyant economy. As of end-August 2024, a total of 2,484 craft apprentices are waiting six months or longer for Phase 2 off-the-job training this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 624 and 625 together. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the curriculum and student numbers on individual courses. The costs incurred by a HEI in increasing student places on a particular course or establishing an additional course can vary depending on a variety factors...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 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. In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The appeals process for the leaving certificate results are the remit of my colleague, Minister for Education with whom I have consulted in this response. Advancement to Higher & Further Education is the remit of my department and I will also address that in this response. This year the closing date for submission of Leaving Certificate appeal applications to the State Examinations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In both 2023 and 2024, a 33% reduction in the student contribution was provided for apprentices registering in higher education. In each of those years this measure cost €3.8 million and it is estimated that it benefitted over 11,000 apprentices. In Budget 2025, a once off 33% reduction to the student contribution has been provided for apprentices. The cost of the measure will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In terms of funding available to the higher education sector for mental health supports, higher education institutions (HEIs) receive funding from a variety of sources that contribute to the expenditure associated with the full range of institutional activities. Funding includes recurrent funding allocated by my Department to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy may be aware that the institution to which she refers is funded by the Department of Education. Private higher education institutions, including the institution to which the Deputy refers, may be able to receive funding or subsidies from the State for limited courses that are approved for funding under specific initiatives. Through the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) the State...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Free Fees Initiative, the State pays tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, on behalf of eligible students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the residency requirements in their own right. In order to meet the residency...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department is continuing to oversee the implementation of a plan put in place by the National Apprenticeship Office to significantly increase apprenticeship capacity and respond to rising craft apprenticeship registrations as a result of our buoyant economy. As of end-August 2024, a total of 2,484 craft apprentices are waiting six months or longer for Phase 2 off-the-job training this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Consultations (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Attached for the Deputy's attention is an excel file prepared by my officials, which provides a breakdown on the amount expended by my Department in 2023 and to date in 2024 on consultancies. A further comprehensive breakdown on the nature of the work conducted can be found in the Pivot sheet.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: A meeting was requested on the 06th September 2024. Due to diary commitments a meeting has not yet been scheduled.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Ireland is experiencing record numbers of people in employment, resulting in a highly competitive market for talent. In the context of these labour market conditions, there are a number of areas which are experiencing shortages of trained professionals. The November 2023 Skills and Labour Market Research Unit "Difficult-to-Fill Vacancies Survey" identified Science, Technology &...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: This Government has made significant investment to grow the apprenticeship system. In Budget 2025 my Department secured a significant investment of €77.4m into the apprenticeship system. This represents the single largest investment in core apprenticeship funding since the formation of my Department in 2020 and, since then, investment in apprenticeship has increased by 83%. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Following on from improvements made to the Student Grant Scheme in both Budget 2023 and 2024, a range of further measures were announced as part of Budget 2025 to enhance the scheme and other supports. Improvements to the Student Grant Schemes effective from September 2025 include: Increasing the Special Rate of Maintenance Grant threshold from €26,200 to €27,400. Increasing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Since the establishment of my Department in June 2020, a key objective has been the continuing enhancement of quality education provision at third level. My Department has worked to drive performance & governance reform and improved outcomes as we work to deliver a world-class tertiary education system that is accessible, adaptable, and aligned with the evolving needs of society. On...