Results 81-100 of 1,061,990 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Pauline Tully OR speaker:Paschal Donohoe OR speaker:Róisín Shortall OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Pippa Hackett OR speaker:Gerald Nash OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald OR speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Richard Bruton) in 'Committee meetings'

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (8 Oct 2024)

Disability Services

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (8 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: The Minister of State and I are here again. A number of colleagues from Cork North Central and I raised a joint Topical Issue two weeks ago on a very similar issue. I wish to put on record that I appreciate the Minister of State being here again. She has been a great advocate for reintroducing the pilot scheme and trying to get therapists back into schools. We were here two weeks ago...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (8 Oct 2024)

Anne Rabbitte: I feel that this is a never-ending saga. The Deputy asked me to reference Cork. I think it all focuses on Cork but I will stay on point for a moment on this. The frustrations of families of children with additional needs who attend special schools is acknowledged, as is the urgent need for therapy provision within special schools. The Deputy asked whether the HSE wants this to succeed....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (8 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: As I said at the outset, I appreciate the Minister of State's genuine interest in this and it is appreciated by us all in CHO 4. One thing I need to reiterate is that six schools were identified, four of which are in Cork, and to my knowledge, and I have spoken with two principals today, not one of them has received a single therapy in the six weeks during which the scheme has been live. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)

Niall Collins: Deputy Connolly asked what the next steps are when the business case is submitted. Following the evaluation process, the ETBs which have met the required standard will move to the next stage of development and progress to the pre-tender, project design, planning and procurement strategy phase. For projects that do not meet the required standard, our Department will write to SOLAS to confirm...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Oct 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Will the Minister of State send me the breakdown of the profile?

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)

Question No. 12 answered with Question No. 6.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of craft apprentices waiting for off-the-job training; the steps he has taken to address the backlogs in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39992/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: How many craft apprentices are waiting for off-the-job training and what steps have been taken to address the backlogs in the system? I ask the Minister of State to make a statement be made on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Niall Collins: Our Department continues to oversee the implementation of the plan put in place by the National Apprenticeship Office in November 2023 to significantly increase apprenticeship capacity, responding to rising craft apprenticeship demand as a result of our buoyant economy. In budget 2024, €67 million was allocated to apprenticeship, on top of which our Department reprioritised a further...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: The 34% increase in craft training capacity is welcome. The Minister of State said the number of people waiting six months or longer for craft apprenticeships has now halved. SOLAS appeared before the education committee on a number of occasions. At the most recent meeting, SOLAS stated it hoped the backlogs would be caught up with by 2025. Will the Minister of State clarify if that is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Niall Collins: The normal waiting times for off-the-job training in the education and training boards range from three to six months. Any apprentices waiting longer than six months for phase 2 training are part of the phase 2 backlog and considered to be waiting overlong for training. In July 2023, 6,166 apprentices were waiting six months or longer. In August 2024, that figure had dropped to 2,484. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: Does the Minister of State have any information on the average completion time for craft traineeships? If not, perhaps he could follow up with a written answer. As he said, there are delays from time to time for people who are waiting for their placement or block release. Typically, a course or traineeship may take four years, as the Minister of State stated. Is there any analysis of how...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Oct 2024)

Niall Collins: I will ask officials in the Department to furnish the Deputy with the information he requires. I do not have the details on a national level or at micro level regarding Cork. I will ask those to be furnished to the Deputy as well.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (8 Oct 2024)

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (8 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: 14. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports and engagements his Department has with the disability access route to education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40058/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (8 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: This question is about the disability access route to education, DARE. What supports and engagements has the Department had with this scheme? How much funding is being made available to the scheme, either directly or indirectly, by the State, made possible through the fund for students with disability? Will the Minister of State tell us a bit more about the scheme?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (8 Oct 2024)

Niall Collins: The DARE scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association, IUA, on behalf of the higher education institutions which set the policy criteria for the scheme. Applications to the scheme are submitted to the Central Applications Office which co-ordinates the scheme for participating institutions. All matters pertaining to admissions to higher education are a function of the higher...