Results 1,281-1,300 of 5,148 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Will the Minister provide an update on the dentistry school for Cork on which ground was broken but which has not yet been delivered?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Am I correct in thinking that the Minister was there for the breaking of the ground?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Okay, I will have to look back in that regard. Back in 2019, UCC was granted planning permission for a five-storey building in Curraheen but this did not progress. A fortnight ago, the Irish Examiner reported UCC has now "dropped plans for Cork University Dental School and Hospital to move to a bigger site, despite its dean warning that the current building is “untenable”...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: There are a few things here. Another piece in the Irish Examiner reads: The IDA said this school is “instrumental” in providing care to thousands of patients and training students. “We urge the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, and all relevant Government departments to acknowledge that the UCC Dental School can no...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: 5. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to tackle the growing backlog of apprenticeship off the job training. [9107/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I am asking this question again. Regarding the backlog of apprenticeships for off-the-job training, can the Minister of State update us on what he is doing to tackle this?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: The Minister and Minister of State have spoken positively about improving the output of craft apprenoticeships. They have also widened the opportunities for people to pursue consortia apprenticeships. However, the current situation is simply not good enough for those seeking off-the-job training. There are around 9,000 people waiting for levels 2, 4 and 6 training, which is a crazy figure....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: On the issue of people being trained for level 2 off-the-job training, which is welcome, and those seeking level 4 and 6 training, is it the case that people are being moved from levels 4 and 6 off-the-job training in order to accommodate level 2 apprentices? Have I understood that correctly? That issue has been raised with me a number of times. I would like to get an understanding on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Commercial-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: 3. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills following on from his confirmation that his officials were examining the issue of 51-week leases for purpose-built student accommodation, if he can update on same. [9105/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I seek confirmation the Minister's officials are examining the issue of 51-week leases for purpose-built student accommodation and ask for an update on that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I welcome that because it is an issue of huge concern among students. It is reflective of the wider housing crisis. The delivery of purpose-built student accommodation by large vulture funds is becoming mainstream and common, meaning many students are relying on it, so much so that vulture funds have more student beds in Dublin than all the Dublin...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: Yes, but we also need to be frank here. Because of the over-reliance on the private sector, specifically now on vulture funds for providing purpose-built student accommodation, we are in this crisis. Of course I want to see purpose-built student accommodation by universities at an affordable rate. I have a few concerns. It does not seem to me there will be a move towards TUs being able...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: 1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the new student accommodation policy for which he sought Cabinet approval, if he can he provide details of the refurbishment grant which he had outlined. [9106/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I ask the Minister to provide the details of the refurbishment grant for university student accommodation. Can he confirm as he had stated previously that it was the universities that had requested this?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I am somewhat perplexed by this whole thing. I am unclear as to why Cabinet approval was needed. I have concerns about how fully it was thought through. In 2022 the Irish Independentreported that: "Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is today seeking Government approval for a strategy around State investment in campus accommodation." This was to involve a "Grant paid to colleges, to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: This is a bit different from what I understood and many people would have understood from the original announcement of this policy. First, it was not clear that the Minister was talking about commercial units as well. It was not clear that he was only talking about technological universities. My understanding from the committee meeting we had was that it applied to the university sector in...

Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: I listened intently to the Minister of State's response to the Bill, which I commend my colleagues for putting forward. The reality is that we have worked with the Bills Office on this Bill. We have worked with and listened to families and parents and we have listened to children on this legislation. The Minister of State is kicking the can down the road with a promise of action down the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Mairéad Farrell: There is nothing to rent.