Results 101-120 of 5,220 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (26 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Student Grant Scheme is the principal support for students in financial terms by my Department. It provides grant assistance to eligible students attending approved full-time courses in approved further or higher educational institutions who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria of the relevant scheme. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the national student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (26 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. My Department receives, on a daily basis, numerous correspondence from students, parents, and politicians on behalf of their constituents on a wide range of issues such as individual SUSI grant applications, information sought on what support is available to students who wish to attend further and higher education in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (26 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (26 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Students subject to a student contribution charge with a reckonable income under €55,924 under the Student Grant Scheme who fulfil all other eligibility criteria under the Scheme will be eligible to receive a 100% Student Contribution Grant from September 2024, which in effect means that they will not be liable to pay any fees. The Student Grant Scheme 2024 has been published and is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy will be aware, Kildare Wicklow ETBs proposal for Bray Institute of Further Education was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund and is now at the next stage of the process – The development of a Preliminary Business Case. The development of a robust business case is fundamental to the requirements of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I welcome the Deputy's question and I am happy to advise him that many of the suite of apprenticeships programmes currently in place equip participants with relevant skills that are essential to support the success of Ireland's wind energy sector. In light of the extensive supply chain required for wind farm development, these apprenticeship programmes include the wind turbine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have been engaging with Minister O’Brien and our officials on the decision of some private student accommodation providers to move to 51-week leases from the traditional leases which reflected the academic year. I recognise that while there may be a market for 51-week leases among some members of the student population, it is not desirable for the vast majority of third level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I recognise the importance of enhancing environmental and climate expertise within the planning profession. Indeed, it is clear that sustainability needs to be embedded in a whole range of disciplines in order to prepare learners for the world of work. At the same time, it is important to recognise that it is higher education institutions and relevant professional regulators who are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Inclusion is one of the six strategic goals set out in my Department's Statement of Strategy. The National Access Plan has identified a number of priority-groups who are underrepresented in higher education and need additional focus, including students with ADHD. My Department has provided funding of an additional €35 million to support the objectives of the NAP over its lifetime...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for her question. I am working to ensure that we have more graduates in healthcare disciplines, and particularly the therapies, to supply the children's disability network teams, and the broader healthcare workforce needs. Work is ongoing in collaboration with the Department of Health, HSE and the Higher Education Sector to maximise the expansion in key discipline areas...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under Government initiatives for student accommodation, two proposals have been submitted by the University of Galway. The Higher Education Authority progressed due diligence assessment on the proposals, however during the assessment stage the proposals were withdrawn by the vendors. The Department and the Higher Education Authority will continue to engage with the University of Galway in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Our health and social care professionals are vital to so many of our public services, advocating for the most vulnerable in our society. Ensuring we have a sufficient supply of social work and social care professionals is a priority for my Department. That is why I was delighted to recently announce the launch of two new pathways in social work which will both increase the number of people...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy will be aware, Galway Roscommon ETBs (GRETB) proposal for the construction of a new FET College of the Future on a site owned by GRETB adjacent to its Mervue Training facility was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund and is now in the next stage of the process – the development of a Preliminary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: An inclusive higher education system is a national and European priority. Supporting Inclusion is one of the six strategic goals set out in my Department’s Statement of Strategy. The National Access Plan (NAP) which was launched in 2022 aims to support inclusion and diversity in our student body, address the wider struggles and challenges for students, and deliver sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am very concerned by the desperate situation of civilians in Gaza. This remains a central priority for the Government, including at EU level, where Ireland is consistently calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Horizon Europe is the European Union’s leading research and innovation programme and encompasses all European Member States as well as 18 Associated Countries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Higher Education Authority ran a process to identify options to expand higher education provision in a number of priority skills areas, including Veterinary Medicine. Proposals were put forward by a range of higher education institutions under this process. The options identified have the potential to significantly increase the numbers of students who would be able to take up places on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Wellbeing and student mental health are priorities for my Department. In terms of providing supports and funding to the higher education sector for mental health services, higher education institutions (HEIs) receive funding from a variety of sources that contribute to the expenditure associated with the full range of institutional activities. This includes recurrent funding allocated by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In Cork Education and Training Board, apprenticeship funding rose from €17.1m in 2023 to €17.9m in 2024. Two workshops, one electrical and one plumbing were completed in 2023 following an investment of €1,000,000. Cork Education and Training Board is increasing its craft apprenticeship provision from 440 training places in 2022 to over 600 training places in 2024 across...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The tertiary education and research system supports learners to achieve internationally recognised qualifications which prepare graduates for careers and further learning, both in Ireland and internationally. The outcomes of higher education graduates, including outcomes relating to international mobility, are tracked through a number of sources. The Higher Education Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I wish to advise the Deputy that policy and regulatory questions relating to the Professional Masters in Education, and the teaching profession more generally, are a matter for the Department of Education and my colleague Minister Foley. However, the Deputy will be aware that my Department does support access to Initial Teacher Education (ITE) for targeted priority groups under the...