Results 161-180 of 801 for at speaker:Mairead Farrell

National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Jun 2023)

Mairead Farrell: I commend Deputy Paul Murphy and People Before Profit on bringing forward this Bill. It has always struck me as completely and utterly unfair that young workers, those under the age of 20, have a lower rate of the minimum wage. A 19-year-old, for example, will earn just 90% of the minimum wage. An 18-year-old will only earn 80% of the minimum wage and a 17-year-old will receive just 70% of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (13 Jun 2023)

Mairead Farrell: 368. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of providing an income tax relief at a rate of €2,000, €3,000 and €4,000 for those tutors training craft apprentices in the education training boards, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27613/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Mairead Farrell: 1362. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in light of the technological universities' recent designation, and the requirement for successor funding for the necessary internal infrastructure and the need to maintain stable industrial relations at a critical time of change, this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUTF fund on 31 August 2023; the level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Jun 2023)

Mairead Farrell: 1368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how he intends the Committees of the Board, known as Councils, as part of the new national research agency referenced in the Research and Innovation Bill 2023, will operate; if they should be mandatory to ensure diversity of expertise and advice in relation to excellence in research and innovation and research priorities, including...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Mairead Farrell: I thank the Minister. That is interesting. I will do a bit more research on the financial support of apprentices. On the capacity issue, I have spoken to as many people as possible since taking on this role. From what I understand, some capacity is not being used. Perhaps the Minister could investigate that. Sometimes it is necessary to pop into the centres and seeing for oneself...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Mairead Farrell: We are all aware of the serious housing crisis in the State at the moment. We know also how this impacts on students and their ability to attend third level institutions across the State. I recall years ago in Galway when students simply had to line up outside the offices of theGalway Advertiseron a Thursday waiting for the notices, but that is not the case anymore. Many students are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Mairead Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. We are aware that the whole accommodation situation at the moment is a complete and utter disaster. Unfortunately, that is also the case for students. I commend the UCD students' union on the survey it did over a two-year period, which was published a fortnight ago. It contained very interesting findings but they were also very difficult findings. It...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Mairead Farrell: That is actually a very interesting piece of information and I thank the Minister. On digs accommodation, it is very welcome that the scheme has been broadened, especially as I consider the likes of University of Galway and the Atlantic Technological University, ATU. The changing of the eligibility requirements to avail of using the rent-a-room scheme is very welcome, especially in and...

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: The Minister of State's party says it is the party of home ownership, but when we look at the census figures released yesterday, they tell us the opposite. What they show us is that the percentage of people who own their own home has fallen in the period since the party went into government in 2011. In that year, it promised us new politics. More than a decade later, that new politics has...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: A report this week showed there are currently 20 times the number of short-term lets on Airbnb compared to long-term lets on Daft.ie in Galway. At the same time, there are 500 people in emergency accommodation in Galway. Many more are living with family members as a result of being homeless. People of all ages, single and in families, who are facing eviction as a result of the lifting of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Professional Accreditation of Higher Education Courses: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: She does not know how she ever found the time to work. The issue that is coming out clearly from everybody is accreditation and people going into courses. I am new to this committee so I have a number of questions on that issue specifically. I can hear what people are saying, which is that there needs to be that national body which has that kind of oversight but at this point in time, do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Professional Accreditation of Higher Education Courses: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: At this moment in time these colleges are not approved. Am I correct in saying that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Professional Accreditation of Higher Education Courses: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: On those 84 students, how much time had they done on the course at that point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Professional Accreditation of Higher Education Courses: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: When I did my leaving certificate, I did not get much career guidance at all, but most people coming out of school or most adult learners would assume that you are going to pay so many thousands of euro for something, you will be accredited at the end of it. Ms Hanrahan is saying that needs to be clearer. Could that be done legislatively to make it so that those private providers must tell...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Professional Accreditation of Higher Education Courses: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: When that was identified as a key barrier, was there an identification of the number of places that would have been impacted? Was it at that point that it was decided that we wanted to increase the numbers or was it just seen as constrained? Or was it seen as the case that at this point it was at maximum capacity?

Access to Autism and Disability Assessments and Supports: Motion [Private Members] (24 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: ...a number of issues. First, Ability West which provides services for people with disabilities in Galway has had to temporarily close a respite centre due to staffing issues. We are now entering the third month that it has been unable to facilitate respite care for service users. This is, of course, a vital service for people with disabilities and their families. Currently, the HSE is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: New School of Veterinary Medicine: Discussion (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Mairead Farrell: I lost my train of thought after the vote interrupted us. The working group for reform in Irish veterinary education was very clear in its opening statement that its preference is the University of Limerick, UL. I am interested in what it envisages in terms of the numbers of students. We see there is obviously a deficit at the moment. What levels do we need to train to ensure we meet the...