Results 901-920 of 10,778 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department has previously been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) that, for security reasons, not to disclose details of its cyber security operations (including details of commercial relationships, audits/exercises and expenditure) which could in any way compromise the Department’s information security posture. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 562 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: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme (AIS) was a measure implemented to assist apprentices due to the particular challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Similar to other Covid-19 measures, the AIS has ceased. Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 to 2025, all employers of apprentices receive financial support either through the direct payment of training allowances to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The resourcing and funding of the diploma in special education is a matter for the Department of Education and as such my Department does not have any remit over same. The 2018 Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE)recommended the provision of a national online training programme. Arising from that recommendation the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Climate Action Plan (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Green skills are essential for meeting the ambitious climate targets set out by the Government in the Climate Action Plan and for the green transition. My Department has been working with SOLAS and the HEA to develop the green skills required to achieve the targets laid out in Actions JT/24/1 and JT/24/2. I am pleased to confirm that both these actions have been completed as of Q2 this year....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme (AIS) was a measure implemented to assist apprentices due to the particular challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Similar to other Covid-19 measures, the AIS has ceased. Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 to 2025, all employers of apprentices receive financial support either through the direct payment of training allowances to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Apprenticeship funding is determined as a part of the annual Estimates process and is provided from the National Training Fund. As part of the implementation of the national Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, a €2,666 grant was available to employers in January 2022 on any national apprenticeship programme with a greater than 80% representation of a single gender who employ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In 2024, funding of €500,000 has been provided for a bursary for underrepresented apprentices in education and training boards and in higher education institutes. This is called the Access and Inclusion bursary and is administered by the National Apprenticeship Office. As of April, of this year, the National Apprenticeship Office has paid the Access and Inclusion bursary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: 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 including the type of course and the individual circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In 2023, my Department provided €2.2 million to Higher Education Institutions and Regional Colleges in Northern Ireland to fund mobilities for their full-time higher education students.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Co-Centres Programme was established with the ambition of creating a dynamic research network across Ireland, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, to deliver economic, societal, health and environmental impacts. Two Co-Centres are being funded by Taighde Eireann / Research Ireland, Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and UK Research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The North South Research Programme (NSRP) is funded by the Government’s Shared Island initiative and delivered by the HEA on behalf of Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The first round under the North South Research Programme was allocated in October 2022. Funding, amounting to €37.28 million, was awarded on the basis of excellence,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The data needed to make the estimates requested by the Deputy are not held by my Department nor the agencies under its remit. Work placements are organised at the level of each individual Higher Education Institution (HEI), as part of their programme offerings to be delivered in conjunction with relevant placement providers. The type and duration of work placement required varies by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: For the Deputy’s information please see figures below: Student Assistance Fund (SAF) Core Funding €9,100,000 Overall cost to Exchequer by increasing SAF by €2.5m €11,600,000 Overall cost to Exchequer by increasing SAF by €5m €14,100,000 Overall cost to Exchequer...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: For the Deputy’s information please see figures below: Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) Core Funding €8,040,900 Cost to Exchequer by increasing FSD by 25% €10,051,125 Cost to Exchequer by increasing FSD by 50% €12,061,350 Cost to Exchequer by increasing FSD by 75% ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a higher education admissions scheme for Leaving Certificate students (under 23) whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. The scheme is run by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) participating in the scheme and is not within the remit of my Department. The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In October 2022, an independent and comprehensive National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers was announced; the first time that this issue has been considered holistically in this manner. The first report of the Co-Chairs, Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney, was published in summer 2023. In it, they recommended an increase towards an optimum PhD stipend level of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Funding for the National Apprenticeship programme is determined through the annual Estimates process, led by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. In advance of Budget 2025 on the 1st October, my department published the Funding the Future - An annual options paper on the cost of higher education 2024, on the 16th September, which can be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The main support in place at present for part-time students on master’s courses is Springboard+. This is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It offers free and heavily subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. Courses range...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Oct 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: We are working on compiling a response to the question raised, and have reverted to the Deputy's Constituency Office seeking further information. We will respond to the Deputy once this information has been provided to my officials.