Results 741-760 of 11,766 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (13 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: The Deputy will be pleased to learn that SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, is providing once-off support to address the short-term funding pressures being experienced by Specialist Training Providers (STPs) including the Rehab Group's National Learning Networks (NLNs). As Deputy will be aware, the Rehab Group's NLNs operating throughout the country offer vocational...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (12 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: 244. To ask the Minister for Finance if and when changes will be made to the qualifying criteria for the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54653/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (12 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: 255. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of a practice and approach by a bank (details supplied) in dealing with a mortgage offset facility; if he approves of this practice and approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55219/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (12 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: 258. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of a practice and approach of a bank in dealing with a mortgage offset facility (details supplied); if he approves of this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55254/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (12 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: 325. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can assist a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55099/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (12 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: 620. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54931/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (7 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: 168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when TII will conclude an agreement in relation to goodwill payments to landowners along the route of the proposed new road from Limerick to Foynes. [54296/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (7 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: 183. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address the issues raised in correspondence regarding the help-to-buy scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54350/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (5 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) offers a wide range of full and part-time Further Education and Training courses in County Clare. These FET courses are provided at levels one to six on the National Framework of Qualifications. The online resource, www.fetchcourses.ie was developed by SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, in partnership with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (5 Dec 2023)

Niall Collins: I propose to take Questions Nos. 624, 625, 626 and 627 together. Community Training Centres (CTCs) are non-profit making companies with Boards that are broadly representative of the community. Since 1977, CTCs have been involved in innovative training for marginalised groups and since the introduction of the Youthreach programme in 1989, their focus has been on Early School Leavers. Funded...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I thank the Chair and Deputies for the opportunity to speak to them this morning and for the committee’s consideration of the 2023 Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I am accompanied by officials from my Department. They are Paul Lemass, assistant secretary; Valerie Considine, principal officer; and John...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: That is a very pertinent question. It is something that we provided in 2022 and 2023. We have been clear, when we have been providing for it last year and this year, that it is on a one-off basis. There is no doubt but that we live in a world where pressures are expressed to us, as public representatives, and we have to try to seek to address them. I cannot give a commitment here and now,...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: We can give the committee an exact figure in relation to that. There have been about 8,000 registrations this year and we have an apprenticeship population heading towards 20,000 apprentices across all our programmes in apprenticeship training. We estimate that the one-off 33% reduction in the contribution fee will benefit around 11,000 apprentices.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: On the Acting Chair's point about the attendance of Minister, Deputy Harris, there is a Cabinet meeting today. The Cabinet meets most Tuesdays, as she is probably aware. I just wanted to flag that with her. She mentioned the figure of €61 million and €56 million of that funding is to address the university pension shortfall. The forecast is that that shortfall will be...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: Yes.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: We can give the committee a note on that which will reconcile all of the figures in the briefing note, if that is of assistance.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: There is that as well, because pensioners avail of that.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I am advised that the €0.5 million figure is net of all movements across the different subheads. We can provide the committee with a grid to reconcile all of those numbers.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: The €61 million relates to the closed pension schemes in the university sector. It is a legacy issue that is being dealt with.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: First of all, we built additional moneys into the base within the Department. The Acting Chair will be aware of that in the context of apprenticeships and, as I said earlier, future funding and closing the identified gap there of €307 million. We have closed that gap by €100 million over a two-year time span. As in any Department, there are competing asks and demands. The...