Results 61-80 of 1,059,348 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:James Browne OR speaker:Jan O'Sullivan OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Bernard Durkan OR speaker:Thomas Byrne OR speaker:Martin Kenny OR speaker:Robert Troy) in 'Committee meetings'
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Further and Higher Education
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: 11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Question No. 75 of 25 June 2024, the status of the proposed new further education college in Galway city; if the preliminary business case has now been completed; if the evaluation by SOLAS and the Department has been completed; if the project has now moved to the pre-tender stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: Next month marks two years since the wonderful announcement of the go-ahead for a proposed new further education college in Galway city. After the announcement, we moved on to the preliminary business case. We all welcomed the announcement. It related to a college for the future, a campus and lifelong learning. My specific question is on the status of the proposed new further education...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Niall Collins: The Deputy will be aware that Galway and Roscommon ETB is being supported by SOLAS in developing its preliminary business case proposal under the FET college of the future major projects fund. The development of a robust preliminary business case is fundamental to the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines. The proposal put forward by Galway and Roscommon ETB is one of 12 projects...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: I thank the Minister of State for the update. The news was great, but it was announced almost two years ago. Progress has slowed down a little, which is a concern. The project of Galway and Roscommon ETB, which used to be the vocational education committee, on which I sat, has been in planning for a very long time. Although we welcomed the announcement almost two years ago, it was after...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Niall Collins: I will ask the Department to revert to the Deputy with the breakdown she has asked for. On the engagement that has taken place with ETBs to support them in developing their preliminary business cases, SOLAS and the Department met representatives of all 12 ETBs over a two-week period in April and May of this year to further discuss their proposals in the context of affordability, value for...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: What is the date for submitting the revised business plans?
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Niall Collins: The ETBs were given until 2 September to submit their refined business plans.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: Is the Minister of State aware of whether Galway and Roscommon ETB has submitted its business case?
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Niall Collins: According to my information, a total of seven ETBs submitted their refined business plans by 2 September 2024. Submissions were received from Cork ETB, Cavan and Monaghan ETB, Kilkenny and Carlow ETB, Kildare and Wicklow ETB-----
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: Given the time allowed, I am sure I will be forgiven for being parochial. Did Galway and Roscommon ETB make its submission?
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Niall Collins: No. Its submission was not in on time. The five ETBs that did not submit business cases for evaluation are expected to do so by the next full sitting of the evaluation panel, in January 2025, and they will be considered.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: They will be considered at the point.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Niall Collins: Yes.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: So they will not be at a disadvantage.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Niall Collins: No.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: And the robustness of all the business cases will be considered afresh. Will the Minister of State indicate the timeline? What will happen at the pre-tender and design stage? What time is envisaged for that?
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: I welcome the fact there were 2,195 public beds. Where, however, is the vision for this area in terms of State-owned student accommodation in order that we can bring the prices down? A market is once again being created for the vulture funds and anyone with money who can then do what they want during the summer, although we have tried to curtail that lately with limits on time. I come from...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (8 Oct 2024)
Niall Collins: Previous speakers have raised this issue and we have discussed student accommodation. We have a long-term student accommodation policy, which was approved by the Government in 2024.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (8 Oct 2024)
Catherine Connolly: When is the strategy going to be published consequent on that plan?