Results 881-900 of 11,825 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (7 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: My officials are preparing a reply and a response will be issued to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: My officials have made enquiries with City of Dublin ETB (CDETB) in relation to your query. We understand from CDETB, that when making their application for supports under the Fund for Students with a Disability (FSD), that the learner concerned did not declare that they had a physical disability. CDETB have confirmed that they will now re-engage with the learner on their application for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: My officials are liaising with Skillnet Ireland on this question and a response will be issued to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (24 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: Traineeships are full-time programmes, between 6 and 20 months, offering occupation-specific training combining formal classroom training and workplace coaching. They are open to all potential participants, of all ages and backgrounds, and are free of charge to participants. Trainees may include school leavers, older learners, those in employment and those who are unemployed. To qualify...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (24 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: While there is a significant and growing surplus in the National Training Fund (NTF), plans to spend the NTF surplus must be considered within the context of budgetary policy and EU fiscal rules. Any increase in NTF expenditure, all other things being equal and without a corresponding reduction on the Vote, requires an increase in my Department’s and overall Government expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (24 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is an educational opportunities scheme that aims to provide second chance education to people who have been unemployed for at least six months. Operated through local Education and Training Boards (ETBs), VTOS provides learners opportunities to improve their general level of education, gain certification, develop their skills and prepare for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: I am glad to inform the Deputy that procedures have been put in place by SOLAS allowing for apprentices resident in the Republic to be employed outside the State, including in the North. The Department has been advised by SOLAS that the conditions are that the relevant employer is approved and registered to train apprentices and complies with specific taxation and company registration...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: As I said, we will endeavour to send the Deputy the information or criteria post-haste after this session.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: I hope the reply will be of use to the Deputy. The Department has placed an unrelenting focus on the area of apprenticeships. One of the first actions the Minister, Deputy Harris, and I took was to publish a dedicated action plan for apprenticeships to drive this important reform. The impact has been clear. The growth in apprenticeships in recent years has been significant. Since 2021,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: We will send the numbers to the Deputy afterwards. At the end of September 2023, 8,757 apprentices were waiting to access off-the-job training, of which 5,345 were waiting longer than six months. At phase 2, there were 7,096 apprentices, of which 5,194 were waiting longer than six months. At phases 4 and 6, there were 1,161 apprentices, of which 51 were waiting longer than six months. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: I recognise and acknowledge the concerns raised by the Deputies. Suffice it to say the eye was not taken off the ball on this. It has been a continual focus within our Department. At the same time, we have to protect the quality of training provided and we had to build capacity to deal with the backlog. The backlog has dropped since 2021 from in excess of 11,000 to approximately 7,500....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 134 together. The Education and Training Boards (ETBs) contract Specialist Training Provision (STPs) to provide learner-focused training and related services, to assist individuals to enter or re-enter the labour market. STPs address the identified training needs of people with disabilities who are experiencing exclusion and labour market...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Economic Policy (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: The initial implementation phase of the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy involved the establishment of a National Programme Office (NPO) in SOLAS, with six staff to drive its implementation along with the recruitment of Regional Literacy Coordinators in the Education and Training Boards. Minister Harris chairs the ALL Strategy Oversight Group and the NPO has recently established a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2024 (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a significant and growing surplus in the National Training Fund. However, plans to spend the NTF surplus must be considered within the context of budgetary policy as set out in the Government’s Summer Economic Statement. Any increase in NTF expenditure, all other things being equal and without a corresponding reduction on the Vote, requires an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: Following discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, approval for an offer to be made to the unions was agreed earlier this year. The proposal is that a grade of Adult Educator will be formally established with a standardised payscale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Teanga Gaeilge (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: Is príomhchuid é cur chun cinn na litearthachta sa Ghaeilge den Litearthacht d’Aosaigh don Saol (ALL ) - straitéis 10 mbliana an rialtais do litearthacht, d’uimhearthacht agus do litearthacht dhigiteach d’aosaigh. Tá sé luaite i Straitéis ALL nach mór freastal ar riachtanais litearthachta chainteoirí dúchais na Gaeilge agus gur...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 144 together. A key focus in Budget 2024 is to further reduce the cost of third level education and put money back into people’s pockets. The package of measures announced will address cost barriers and make further and higher education more accessible for more people than ever before. A significant step is removing PLC fees with effect...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: The Deputy will be aware that a number of Education and Training Boards have employed personal assistants to provide supports to learners under the Fund for Students with Disabilities. Officials in my Department and I have engaged with a variety of stakeholders on this issue, including SOLAS, FÓRSA, the ETBs and have met with a number of Personal Assistants also. Budget 2024 includes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2024 (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: The package of measures announced in Budget 2024 will break down cost barriers, making further education more accessible for more people than ever before. PLC learners eligible for SUSI grants will benefit from the increases announced in the maintenance grant rates and student grant income thresholds. Building on our decision to abolish the €200 PLC Levy from the 2022/23 academic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Niall Collins: At the end of September, there were 5,194 apprentices waiting longer than the required six months at Phase 2, 99 at Phase 4, and 52 at Phase 6. These waiting times reflect the strong growth in registrations for craft apprenticeship in a demand-led system, where employers in a buoyant construction sector are continuing to recruit strongly to meet their future skill needs. Craft apprenticeship...