Results 1-20 of 491 for speaker:Maeve O'Connell

National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (16 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I welcome the opportunity to debate Second Stage of the National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill. In progressing this Bill through the Oireachtas, it is vitally important that we ensure the National Training Fund's original principles are maintained. Established in 2000, the National Training Fund has spent more than two decades, as we know, funding training for those in employment and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (16 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: 40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is considering extending the Human Capital Initiative Programme; if not, if replacement programmes are being developed in lieu of an extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55835/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: 55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which his Department will invest in apprenticeships following the significant allocation made in Budget 2026. [55836/25]

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I am delighted to stand here today and say I have great confidence in the Tánaiste, Simon Harris. Before I was elected, which was only last year, I was a lecturer in TU Dublin and I saw at first hand the work he did to transform that sector when he was the first Minister for higher education. I saw him raise the status of apprenticeships. I saw the pride of those students increase...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I apologise; I was in the Chamber earlier on. Dr. Murray highlighted the importance of apprenticeships being employer-led. One of the challenges that has been raised with us is the challenge of getting smaller employers to take on apprentices. I would appreciate the insights of the other members of the panel but what does Dr. Murray see as the barriers to those smaller employers taking on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: We have heard testimony here of a tradition of doing that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Mr. Nolan spoke about the dropout rate in the UK under the new model of apprenticeships. There was a lack of investment, many of the courses were slow and there was a long line for training. I understand why that was not hugely appealing to people. I am looking over at Mr. Friel and I can see why it would not be hugely appealing to students....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: No, not at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I have a similar question for the other witnesses and follow-up questions. Before I was elected to this House, I was a lecturer in TUD, but I also taught out in Blanchardstown, which was very apprenticeship-focused. As such, I dealt with a different range of students over the years. How do we make it more attractive for students? I certainly feel that one of the barriers with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I appreciate those insights.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I am coming back to Mr. O'Mahony and Mr. Friel around the student experience. I would agree. Blanchardstown campus had one building that was the apprentice building and most people never went into it at all, which was quite weird. I agree that the physicality of things can result in a lack of integration. From their perspectives, is there anybody on the student unions who would, as part...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I have a follow-up question to that. There is an awful lot of part-time students, evening students and students like that on campus. They always complain that they do not feel part of the institution and do not feel as welcomed. I was a lecturer and I used to hear all of this. Is it a particular issue with apprenticeships or is this a failure of all the third level institutions in dealing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I do not know if there will have enough time to answer but I will ask the question. In terms of the pay, I hear the arguments. I have had students myself. Students can work 30 hours in retail while doing a degree, so why would they do an apprenticeship and take less? I totally get that. From the employer's perspective, employers have said to me that they can understand from their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I totally buy into that as a strength to manage that other side. I thank Mr. Nolan.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (8 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: 14. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures his Department is evaluating to promote the conversion of older buildings for housing delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53387/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (8 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: Will the Minister of State outline the measures his Department is evaluating to promote the conversion of older buildings for housing delivery?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (8 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I welcome all those supports. In my constituency, we have some of these issues in the context of neighbourhood centres, which are neither shops nor accommodation. That is frustrating. I would like to follow up on the derelict sites levy, which is to become a tax. When do we anticipate that it will be activated to try to encourage more of these properties to be brought back into use?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: I thank the witnesses for coming here today. I effectively have two big questions. I want to give our witnesses a bit of an introduction to me. I am not a permanent member of the committee, so they would not have my bio. Before I got elected last year, I was a councillor in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, but I was also a lecturer in TUD, and my area of focus was governance and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: It is mostly for Mr. Creegan.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (8 Oct 2025)

Maeve O'Connell: 130. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of registered derelict or vacant housing properties in Dublin Rathdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53386/25]