Results 1-20 of 5,044 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (28 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department has not made any direct capital investment in data or IT infrastructure since its establishment in 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (28 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: A student attending a private college, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, which is not listed in the Student Support Regulations 2024 would not be eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme 2024. It is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (28 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: A pilot part time grant scheme will be introduced effective from September 2024. It will provide fee support to eligible part-time students attending specified publicly funded undergraduate courses leading to a major award. This is an important new initiative which will open the doors of higher education to many groups who cannot participate in full time programmes. The parameters of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (28 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: As outlined in my previous response, the Department of Education provides IT provision and support services to my Department on a shared basis. As such, that Department meets any costs relating to the IT infrastructure, data maintenance and cyber-security. Thus my Department has not incurred any direct expenditure in these areas since its establishment in 2020. The information in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (28 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department has provided funding to the Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC) since the Department was established in 2020. The table outlines the funding by my Department to the ICHEC per each year from 2020-2024. DFHERIS Funding for ICHEC 2020-2024 Year 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Amount...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department is committed to delivering a high standard of third-level education across Ireland, as we acknowledge the crucial role that further and higher education institutions play in both regional and economic development. While there are no current plans for the development of a future third-level institute in Portlaoise town, the established Portlaoise Institute provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 outlines the position with regard to approved institutions for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme. Ballyfermot College of Further Education is approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre which is managed and funded by City of Dublin ETB. As such, it is comprehended within Section 7(1)(d) of the Act as an “education institution in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residency Permits (28 May 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 €25,000,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Rights (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In November 2022, Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney were appointed to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This is the first time that State supports for PhD students have been considered holistically in this manner. During their exercise they met with over 35 stakeholder organisations, including an all-day workshop with student groups, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: There are well established routes from further to higher education, providing opportunities for further education and training learners to continue on with their studies if that is what they wish. The Higher Education Links Scheme gives learners the opportunity to use their QQI Level 5 or 6 major award to apply, through the CAO, for a place in the first year of a higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will be aware that over the course of 2023, Cavan Monaghan ETB (CMETB) was supported by SOLAS in developing its' Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Cavan town under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. The Cavan town proposal is one of twelve FET College...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The challenge facing students in accessing appropriate student accommodation is an issue which Government and I are actively addressing under Housing for All. I am progressing a new policy to provide State assistance to stimulate the development of new student accommodation. Last month the Taoiseach and I announced the investment of €100m in additional National Development...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the primary responsibility for the management of an institution rests with the Governing Body. Under the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 the statutory responsibilities of Governing Bodies includes management of the financial affairs of institutions to secure value for money and financial viability. The Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I can advise that the total level of Purpose Built Student Accommodation stock stands at over 48,000 with publicly owned or operated student accommodation beds accounting for 15,519 and the remainder being privately owned and operated. Current supply figures indicate that 14,599 purpose built student beds have been built since 2017. Of these, an additional 1,021 publicly funded beds were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Last month An Taoiseach and I announced €100m in additional capital under the National Development Plan that will support delivery of 1,014 new and additional student beds, with delivery commencing from the 2025/2026 academic year. This allocation enables the activation of Phase 1 of UCD’s stalled student project for delivery of 493 student beds for delivery in 2027/28. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Consortia-led apprenticeships were developed from 2016 onwards to respond to emerging skills shortages, and are providing employment, career development and a pathway to a recognised qualification for apprentices across nearly 50 occupations. This model has grown significantly with registrations rising by 134% from 2019 to 2023. Information on the number of multinationals participating in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is an important part of our democracy that everyone has the right and the freedom to protest in a peaceful manner and in keeping with the law of the land. This right of course extends to students, staff and researchers of higher education institutions, who are part of academic communities and also operate within the context of their institution's own rules and procedures. Critically,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I welcome the opportunity to set out some of the main actions led by my Department to help alleviate constraints that inevitably arise to meeting labour demand in a full employment economy. My Department's focus is to ensure that the workforce are equipped with the skills required to deliver Government priorities for residential construction and retrofitting, offshore wind energy and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (23 May 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: Apprenticeship Programmes (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Programme for Government commits to growing the footprint of apprenticeship in the education system significantly, and my Department launched the Action Plan for Apprenticeship in 2021, setting out the steps to achieve that goal and support current and future skills need for the economy. Budget 2024 provided €67 million for this growth and to prioritise work underway to...