Results 721-740 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (13 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The position with regard to specific issues raised in the recent programme referred to by the Deputy is that my Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) have established an independent review of the governance, HR and financial practices with the University of Limerick which was one of the Universities referred to in the programme. In addition the HEA has commenced the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (13 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation is responsible for the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI). I understand that its subhead provision for the PRTLI in 2016 was €30.4m and in 2017 it is €14.4m. The total Exchequer and non-Exchequer funding for Cycle 5 of the PRTLI was approved at the outset of the programme in December 2010, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Access to Higher Education (13 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There are currently 14,612 full and part time students in Department of Education and Skills funded Higher Education Institutions in the South East region. Data provided by the institutions to the HEA shows that Institute of Technology Carlow currently has 6,820 full and part time students and Waterford Institute of Technology has 7,792. Information provided by the HEA from their student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 to 324, inclusive, together. Based on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding in the academic year 2014/15 (and were therefore liable to pay the Student Contribution), and taking into account overall expected increases in student numbers, it is estimated that the net cost to my Department of abolishing the Student Contribution for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grants Data (13 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It is not possible to definitively calculate the cost of the various adjustments that have been made to the student support system since 2008, particularly in light of the demographic changes that have taken place. To put it in context, in 2008/09 there were 57,261 students who benefitted from grant support at a cost of €264m, whereas in 2015/16 there were 80,622 students in receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Students (13 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The most recent data available on the percentage of international students studying in Department of Education and Skills aided Higher Education Institutions is for the academic year 2015/2016. The information provided by Higher Education Institutions to the Higher Education Authority indicates that in the academic year 2015/2016, 8.7% of full time students were of Non-EU domicile of origin...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grants Data (13 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to increase financial supports for post graduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households. In response to this commitment, Minister Bruton secured additional funding of €4million in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants, from September 2017, for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grants Data (13 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Financial supports are currently available for those postgraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria of the Student Grant Scheme. Post-graduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible to have their post graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Alternatively, a postgraduate...

Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: So was Deputy Burton.

Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It started with schoolchildren.

Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: At a graduation.

Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Two women were kept in a car.

Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: So, she was not locked inside the car.

Seanad: Equality of Access to Education: Motion (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I welcome this opportunity to address the House. I look forward to engaging with Members of both Houses as we seek to address some of the important challenges that are currently facing the higher education sector. I look forward to engaging with colleagues from all parties and none on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills, which has a most important task regarding higher...

Seanad: Equality of Access to Education: Motion (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, also secured additional funding of €8.5 million for access measures in budget 2017.This will provide for new measures to support the national access plan. There will also be incentives for higher education institutions to engage directly with disadvantaged communities in order to attract more disadvantaged students. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Charges (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together. The report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education outlines three main funding options for the future funding of the higher education sector. These options are currently being considered by the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills. The outcome of the Committee’s deliberations will inform future...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (12 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As the Deputy may be aware, third level institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for the day to day management and operational affairs of the institute, including the management of its staffing requirements. My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (11 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt. In the assessment of means, a deduction can be made for holiday earnings made by the applicant from employment outside of term time but within the reference period. I increased the value of this income...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Courses Applications (11 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) scheme has been operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and regulated by the higher institutions themselves and not by my Department. The operational management of HEAR has now transferred to the Central Applications Office (CAO). I understand from the CAO that in order to be considered for the 2017/2018...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (11 Jul 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I published the General Scheme of a Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill on 15th May 2017, following approval by Government.  The purpose of this Bill is to address a number of issues that are currently impeding Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency with responsibility for external quality assurance and qualifications across the further and higher...